Metamorphosis taking shape for 2019 release on PC and consoles

Written by Jack Allin — April 14, 2019 at 10:16

Pulse Entertainment's Bad Mojo showed us in 1996 that being an insect can be a lot fun (in a game, that is). Now indie Polish developer Ovid Works is revisiting the concept in their upcoming Kafka-esque environmental puzzler Metamorphosis.

Salesman Gregor Samsa mysteriously finds himself transformed into a "tiny bug and embarks on a quest to save himself and his friend Joseph, who has been arrested for reasons unknown." Unfortunately, Joseph "can't recognize your new arthropodal body," thrusting you into a "perilous journey through a strange world which, like yourself, has turned twisted and unfamiliar." You must rely on your wits to "unravel the truth and return to the life you once knew," but at this size, what once seemed so mundane has now "become an expansive obstacle course. You’ll have to leap, climb, and chart your path by using your newfound abilities to navigate the dingy nooks and crannies that exist within the cracks of civilization." 

As its title would suggest, the game is inspired by Kafka's short story "The Metamorphosis". It's not a straight adaptation, however, but rather a "tribute to his strange, haunting, darkly comic worlds." Presented in stylized first-person 3D that "adds a layer of the fantastical to even the grittiest environments," Metamorphosis promises to offer "challenging environmental puzzles that have you searching for clues, creating diversions, and overcoming obstacles." You'll encounter a number of "eccentric, colorful characters spanning the world of both humans and insects" along the way, and exploration will involve "unique movement mechanics that make full use of your tiny body and sticky limbs."

Production on Metamorphosis is creeping steadily along, and the game is currently on track for a PC release on Steam sometime "soon," along with PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions. In the meantime, you can follow its progress through the official website while you wait.