Only a cyborg can stop the coming doom. Will they be able to handle every Metal Mutation they encounter?
The line between human and machine has slowly begun to blur as technology has advanced. In Metal Mutation, one sees how corporate greed had led to possibly dooming the Earth’s future. How does one control a nano virus without succumbing to it? What will happen if the chaos is not brought under control? From T0 Studio comes an intense cyberpunk roguelite adventure full of monsters, mayhem, and nano-virus enhancements. Are you ready to be part of the cyborg revolution?
A space station containing a special nanotech has crashed into Earth. It allows them to manipulate tech in many ways, including the enhancements possessed by the cyborgs. As a result, many corporations banded together to form a massive research station stretching to the sky. Because of the danger, it poses to the cyborg subculture, the Cyborg Liberation Movement is formed. In the aftermath of the attack on the facility, and while both factions are focused on each other, a deadly new mutation of nanoparticles has begun to infect everything.
Where once the cyborgs were seen as lesser beings, they are now the only hope anyone has of surviving against the Metal Mutation. To stop this very real threat, a Cyborg has joined forces with a powerful AI named Valkyrie. Together they have a chance at defeating the threat. But will the combined power be enough to save everyone?
Dropping into Metal Mutation, everything is straightforward. At the beginning of any play-through, one is guaranteed a few basic abilities. By default, the LMB dishes out a physical attack with the player character’s sword. Tapping the button would dish out a basic 3 hit combo. Despite the default weapon not having any elemental base, combined with the space/jump button, a devastating multi-hit combo could be unleashed on a horde of enemies. This was especially useful when enemies would swarm together into a single line.
Simply jumping would place a useful shield around the player’s character. Once they were in the air, a grid-shaped shield would protect the player character in mid-air. The Valkyrie unleashed a basic projectile attack, taking the form of a flurry of bullets when F was pressed.
As useful as the basic function of Metal Mutation’s sword was, it was getting attacks imbued with different elements that made it fun. The first ice ability, if chosen from the list of three, unleashes a special ice attack. After a successful four-hit combo, the sword would dish out a line of ice spikes throwing any affected enemies skyward.
Powerful as it was, the Rotating Iron with fire-based powers, triggered with the e key, was far more devastating to an enemy. In a brilliant show of oranges, reds, and yellows, spinning blades covered in flames would strike the enemies. In addition to the physical attack, the blades’ fire also burned the enemies continuously. Fire-based attacks were some of the most effective in Metal Mutation against swarms.
The Valkyrie AI was often bestowed with either AOE or projectile attacks. Out of all the ones to come across, the Lightning beam ability was her most direct. Consisting of bright purple energy, it was spectacular for even just the visual effects. Valkyrie’s projectile fire rounds were worth a chuckle. As long as the enemy was even slightly in front of a player, the fireballs would follow the enemy until they met their target.
One can also come across pick-ups that imbue the sword with a specific element. When imbued with lightning, the blade, in addition to its physical cutting, can shock the enemies as well. A second attack was also available for anyone with a knack for timing. Holding the down RMB, and releasing just as a flash occurs, will send the blade flying. It will spin in the air for a short time, damaging any enemy close enough to its edge. Combined with the aerial combo, it is no issue to land a combo of more than 40 strikes.
Swords are not the only weapon one can acquire either. If the speedy dispatch of enemies is what one truly wants, the lance is a great option. Not only does it have a fair amount of reach, but it is also exponentially faster at dishing out damage. Regardless of the element, when wielded properly, it can take enemies out in half the time that the sword does.
After a certain number of hits, one or two enemies might have the E button floating above them. Hitting this will trigger a devastating attack that sees the player character jump into the air. Before the enemies can get in a strike, a nanotech bow forms and blasts the ground below with a high-powered arrow. It was a great attack, but when there were seemingly endless enemies, the special attack was not as available as it should have been.
Basic enemies came in varying sizes and types. Some were simple nano-enhanced rodents, while others appeared to be mutated parrots or nanite-infected rhinos. Smaller enemies provided little issue other than interrupting the start of a combo. Larger enemies were able to stop a combo dead in its tracks.
Boss-level creatures of Metal Mutation appeared as severely mutated versions of themselves. The lion mutation, classified as a Level 3 Mutation, swung wide with its claws. Aside from its crazy fast physical strikes, it also created an AOE that could damage a player severely if they were not careful. This creature was not as dangerous as the horse-shaped mutation. In addition to its ability to spit lightning, it would turn invisible without notice.
One might be able to block an enemy’s attack in Metal Mutation, provided they hit Shift at just the right time. Pulling this off successfully would both fend off an attack and stagger most enemies. With quick reflexes, most enemy damage could be avoided.
The artwork of Metal Mutation portrays a cel-shaded industrial future. It was wonderfully done. Despite how bland industrial colors can sometimes be, developers made a wide variety of classic shades of industrial colors work for the world they were looking to portray. Each monster character and type in Metal Mutation had their own color schemes, making them very easy to tell apart. It was especially useful when trying to determine the best element for a battle against a specific boss.
Metal Mutation’s music was not as techno centric as the game’s overall theme might imply. If it could be given a specific name, industrial metal would be the closest to it. It made sense to have blood-pumping guitar riffs blaring through one’s speakers or headphones. A more easygoing tone just wouldn’t work in the post-apocalyptic setting of Metal Mutation.
Metal Mutation is a great roguelite that does not feel too hard or too easy. Enemies come in a variety of sizes, and the bosses are as interesting as the abilities one can wield. It’s not hard to get lost in all the action going on at once. Basic attacks are made even better when the same ability is enhanced repeatedly. I recommend this title for anyone who wants actions from beginning to end when entering any level containing enemies. There’s a decent amount of content and at $16.99, I’d be more than happy to gift someone the title through Steam.
