Biomass
- October 12, 2020
- finalscenedev
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Biomass" is a single-player Role Playing game with an intriguing story, splendid gameplay, and beautiful atmosphere. The demo version offers 3-4 hours of content, which can be continued in the full game. The game features full controller and keyboard/mouse support, with a soundtrack available on Soundcloud. Join the discussion on Discord and follow the developer on Twitter to stay updated.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by excellent pixel art and a compelling soundtrack.
- Combat mechanics are engaging and challenging, with a variety of weapons and boss fights that require skill and strategy.
- The narrative is intriguing, with a mysterious story that encourages exploration and player choice, leading to multiple paths and endings.
- Checkpoints are often placed far from bosses, leading to frustrating backtracking after deaths.
- The game can be cryptic and lacks clear guidance, which may leave players feeling lost and unsure of how to progress.
- Combat can feel clunky and inconsistent at times, with issues related to parrying and hit detection that detract from the overall experience.
- story110 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in this game is largely minimalistic and fragmented, requiring players to piece together its narrative through sparse NPC interactions and environmental storytelling, typical of souls-like games. While some find this approach intriguing and immersive, others feel it lacks depth and clarity, leading to confusion and a desire for a more straightforward narrative. Overall, the story is described as mysterious and compelling, with a unique atmosphere that encourages exploration and interpretation, though it may leave some players wanting more substantial content.
“The story revolves around the player character's pilgrimage to the strange lighthouse at the center of the flooded city, fighting through three different human factions and 'pallids' - strange monstrosities devoid of the lighthouse's light.”
“The story that we get in small parts as we explore the game world is intriguing and exciting.”
“To go deeper into the story would be spoilers, but that's a fine place to stop; like the character you play, you're introduced to a multifaceted story whose complexity is shown through multiple opposing perspectives, all demonstrated to you through the path you take on the game's single-day narrative, and though ignorant, with enough experience you'll learn to appreciate and understand what's happening.”
“I really prefer more story to imbibe, and so this was very lackluster for me.”
“Almost nothing in this game's story is explained.”
“The story is difficult to piece together; even for a souls-like, on one hand this may be confusing, on the other it's cool and mysterious.”
- gameplay96 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring solid combat mechanics and interesting systems like the biomass resource management, which adds depth to the experience. However, players note some flaws, including a lack of clear explanations for mechanics, finicky parrying, and occasional balancing issues with enemy damage. Overall, while the gameplay may not be revolutionary, it offers a fun and engaging experience, especially for fans of souls-like and metroidvania genres.
“Great, unique 2D action RPG with a unique and interesting world and story and very solid combat gameplay.”
“It has fun mechanics you can use to your advantage, a handful of secrets, multiple routes/endings, and really fun combat.”
“Between dodging, parrying, weapon clashing, the various weapon combinations and moveset combos, a host of gameplay-adjusting character mods, and myriad enemy types, there's never a dull moment.”
“The gameplay itself is relatively simple, and the upgrade list mainly gives you more health, stamina (for ranged), and damage (melee or ranged).”
“Another issue is that the game itself barely explains most mechanics - I've seen quite a few people complain about this lack of handholding.”
“Gameplay can feel a bit slow and plodding at first, due to the movement of the player character (think slightly faster than NES-era Castlevania).”
- music60 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience during both combat and exploration. While many players find the soundtrack to be immersive and evocative, some express frustration with repetitive loops that can become tedious over time. Overall, the combination of sound design and music contributes significantly to the game's rich ambiance and emotional depth.
“The art and the music are just dripping with ambience and style.”
“The atmosphere is stunning, and the music does a great job complimenting it.”
“An amazing music track builds in the background, and you feel as though you're unbound from the depths, free to explore this new and strange world.”
“The soundtrack is extremely striking, but only at certain specific moments. The ones that marked me the most were the Red Mother theme song, the one that happens after you enter the Meridian Gate, and the one from the West Tower right after deactivating the festivity system. The others, however, did not attract me much or arouse my interest as much as these.”
“The soundtrack is reminiscent of Blade Runner and manages to evoke feelings of awe, relief, and even terror in the player.”
“Uses the art style and music to build atmosphere really well, going from melancholic to creepy.”
- atmosphere58 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning pixel art, immersive sound design, and a hauntingly beautiful world that evokes feelings of loneliness and contemplation. Players appreciate the enigmatic lore delivered through subtle storytelling, reminiscent of titles like Hollow Knight, and the effective use of music to enhance the overall experience. Despite some critiques of gameplay mechanics, the atmospheric elements consistently draw players into a captivating and moody environment, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Stunning ambient and pixel art immerse you in the atmosphere of the game, allowing you to forget for many hours ahead.”
“This game has an amazing atmosphere, and an enigmatic lore, delivered to you in a similar way to Hollow Knight: small snippets that can be pieced together into a surprisingly detailed lore.”
“The atmosphere is stunning, and the music does a great job complementing it.”
“It captures the same sort of vaguely disturbing and lonely atmosphere that Metroid is known for, and despite the presence of NPCs, it is great at making you feel truly alone and unwelcome when it counts.”
“Uses the art style and music to build atmosphere really well, going from melancholic to creepy.”
“Lastly, I want to mention that Biomass has a big emphasis on the psychological narrative and building atmosphere, including a very unusual game format.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a distinct and charming pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for retro gaming, reminiscent of Atari and Super Nintendo aesthetics. While the low-detail visuals contribute to an immersive atmosphere, some players find the color palette repetitive, which can detract from exploration. Overall, the art style and presentation are praised for their ability to create a rich, mysterious world that enhances the game's narrative experience.
“The game has a simplistic but incredibly charming pixel art style, which allows for surprisingly richly detailed environments that help immerse you into the world of biomass itself.”
“This whole marvelous mystery-ridden world is presented in beautiful pixel graphics that build a very diverse setting.”
“The graphics and world they created is so freakin cool and the music and sound effects are also spot on.”
“Visuals: almost feels like an Atari game, the color palette can get old and make exploring a bit less interesting and more confusing.”
“The graphics evoke something that is between an old Atari game and Super Nintendo/Genesis era games.”
“Somehow the low detail that comes with pixel graphics and the vague story make this strange world surprisingly immersive; you just need to fill in the blanks for yourself.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its branching paths, multiple quest outcomes, and a full-fledged New Game Plus mode, encouraging players to explore different strategies and experiences. While the quality of bosses varies, the overall content and mechanics provide ample opportunities for completionists and fans of atmospheric metroidvanias. Players are likely to find that multiple playthroughs are necessary to fully appreciate the game's depth and narrative.
“It seems like there is a lot of replay value as there are a lot of different branching paths.”
“Some of the quest lines have multiple outcomes, so it has additional replay value for all of you completionists out there.”
“Without going too deep into spoilers, I'll just say that replay value is part of this game; you are not meant to see everything in a few playthroughs.”
“Biomass is a deceivingly artistic game despite having souls-like mechanics; it's very much focused on the world-building and psychological story, plus a unique game format when it comes to replay value.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding mechanics in the game "Biomass," noting that the focus on a unique resource allows for engaging gameplay without immersion-breaking elements like cut-scenes or tedious quests. While some experience grinding is necessary initially, it becomes less critical as players improve their skills, and the developers have made adjustments to minimize exploitative farming tactics. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as integral to the game's design, enhancing exploration and interaction with the environment.
“There are no immersion-breaking cut-scenes, there are no points where the game takes away control from you, and there are no tedious side or escort quests... when you are playing Biomass, you are just... playing Biomass.”
“Sometimes, you'll need to do a little experience grinding to make things easier, but this becomes less and less necessary as you progress and 'git gud' with the combat mechanics.”
“All the mechanics of the game revolve around biomass, which involves attacking enemies or using certain items to fill the biomass dots that serve to heal, produce consumable items, or evolve your weapons and physical attributes. The only caveat is the time it takes to farm biomass, which I initially saw as the most profitable way to replay the game. However, the interactions with certain NPCs and the way you solve problems or interact with items provide new routes and environments to explore.”
“Props to the developer for pushing those changes so quickly; now it should be more difficult to find abusive tactics regarding farming and stats.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally immersive, with its unique color palette and design enhancing the experience. The themes of body horror, human cruelty, and quasi-religious ascension contribute to a profound emotional atmosphere, though not in a traditional narrative sense. Overall, the game's artistic choices create a compelling emotional landscape that captivates players.
“I don't mean in a mushy sort of 'the story is really emotional' way, but rather in the sense that the game is totally immersive.”
“The world of biomass is an imaginative one, touching on themes of body horror, human cruelty, and quasi-religious ascension.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences significant stability issues, particularly when using certain features like the light saber, which can cause freezing and potential softlocks. However, it is noted that these glitches are less frequent than in previous versions.
“The fact that I went for the lightsaber... it's too much for the AI, it seems, and it freezes.”
“There are some big glitches that could softlock the game, not nearly as many as before though.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the character design is simple yet effective, there is a notable lack of player character development, which may leave players wanting more depth in their character's growth and progression.
“- Simple yet effective character design”
“But there is no player character development.”
“- Simple yet effective character design.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for neglecting essential frame settings, which has resulted in performance issues, particularly for a 2D game developed in Unity. Users have noted that these oversights hinder smooth gameplay.
