With their large worlds and rich amounts of content, open-world games can be particularly daunting to newcomers. Biomutant is no exception to this rule, especially with the sheer amount of customization options that are available.
With a heavy focus on crafting and exploration, Biomutant can be complex to dive into, especially to players new to the genre. However, there are a number of important tips to keep in mind that can make this unique game easier to approach.
Don't Get Too Caught Up In Character Creation
With five different races to choose from at the start, many new players might believe that creating the perfect character is a necessity for the game ahead. However, players can think of this step as more of a jumping-off point rather than a choice that will dictate the rest of the game.
While these choices will improve various stats or give specific resistances to different elemental types, these stats will be alterable later on. In fact, total respecs of a character's stats are possible partway through the game.
Choose A Class That Fits
Just as there are five races to choose from, there are five classes as well (disregarding the mercenary, a pre-order bonus). Choosing a class that fits the playstyle a player wishes to focus on is an important decision. Each class comes with various perks and often focuses on a specific playstyle, such as ranged weaponry, psi-abilities, and more.
For example, the Saboteur can duel-wield weapons and benefits more heavily from dodging attacks, while the Commando can take more damage than other classes. However, some classes are more well-rounded than others, such as the Dead-Eye, whose perks can suit both melee and ranged combat.
Morality Isn't As Important As You Think
Biomutant introduces its morality mechanics almost immediately from the beginning of the game. Players are asked to choose between light and darkness, and this dichotomy can be seen in future dialogue choices as well. In fact, morality will eventually decide which one of two tribes the player will align themselves with, with one tribe being more aligned with light, and the other with dark.
However, this will not lock a player's choice in. A light-aligned character can still make dark choices, and vice versa. While story and character choice are often a massive focus in video games, they can be seen as more of another customization in Biomutant.
Crafting Is The Best Way To Get Stronger
Biomutant offers a surprisingly robust crafting system, which can be used in a variety of different ways. For example, components can be combined to create new weapons, new items can be upgraded, and more.
This method easily allows a player to forge new items and steadily grow stronger over time. Interestingly, items players discover that are too high in level or that are unwanted can also be broken down, which can create materials that are actually useful in the game at present.
Dodging and Parrying Are Essential
While such a tip might seem pointless, being able to dodge and parry forms the bedrock of most combat situations. For example, dodging can easily be used to avoid the more dangerous attacks an enemy might have. It can also be used to create distance between a player and their foes, which is a useful boon for ranged fighters.
On the other hand, parrying can be riskier, but with a much greater benefit. Parrying an attack when a lightning symbol appears above an enemy can not only nullify the damage a player would have taken, but can leave an enemy open for vicious counterattacks, especially with the use of certain perks.
Don't Forget About Fast Travel
As in most great open-world games, traveling between different areas on such a large map, especially when backtracking, can be a huge hassle in Biomutant. Thankfully, fast travel helps to minimize much of that annoyance. Interacting with any fast travel station players find is all that is required to activate it, and many are found close to important areas, such as near characters and forts.
While traversing the world of Biomutant can be greatly entertaining in itself, as can the use of various mounts available to the player, fast travel is often the most efficient way to do so and should be kept in mind.
Use Wung-Fu's Unique Strengths
'Wung-Fu' is a mechanic unique to Biomutant, and can provide more power to a character than its name might at first suggest. Wung-Fu allows players to unlock attack combos and encomes both ranged and melee attacks. Over time, gamers can unlock new combos, which fall into certain pillars of combat. These attacks can include anything from throwing a melee weapon at enemies, to rapid punches, to ground slams, and more.
As such, Wung-Fu can provide useful abilities for new players by offering important qualities in the abilities gained through it, such as high damage, or attacks that affect a large area.
The Basics Of Combat
Of course, every newcomer to Biomutant should make sure that they understand the basics of the game's combat systems. For example, even though a character might specialize in melee or ranged combat, that doesn't always mean that they should forsake the other. Multiple ways to engage enemies can provide opportunities that only one could not.
Additionally, movement is incredibly important. Players will often face large groups of enemies, and staying mobile is often key to not being overwhelmed. Interestingly, time will briefly slow whenever a player is shooting or in the air. This can help provide a respite from enemy onslaughts, as well as make it easier to aim or move when airborne.
Make Sure To Follow Side Missions
Biomutant is home to a number of side missions, a commonality in the open-world genre. Throughout a player's time exploring the world of Biomutant, these side missions can be useful to grow stronger. Side missions are plentiful can provide a bevy of different rewards. This can include everything from new lore, to experience, to crafting items and loots for new equipment.
Of course, such side missions are not required, but if a player is feeling that they are underpowered or are wishing merely to experience more of what Biomutant has to offer, then they can be a prevalent and useful way to accomplish those goals.
Explore!
In any open-world game, exploration is often one of the largest draws. Not only is seeing such a vast world unfold incredibly entertaining, but finding new encounters, items, and areas is always a thrill. If they take the time to comb through the world of Biomutant, players are sure to find new content.
While a playthrough of Biomutant could be completed in a bit more than ten hours, there is enough content hidden away to vastly boost that play time, especially for players determined to comb their way through its open world.
