Metamorphosis (video game)

Last updated

Metamorphosis
Developer(s) Ovid Works
Publisher(s) All in! Games
Composer(s)
Platform(s)
Release12 August 2020
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Metamorphosis is an adventure video game with platforming elements, inspired by the imagination of Franz Kafka. The game was developed by Ovid Works and published by All in! Games on August 12, 2020. Metamorphosis is available on PC (Steam and GOG), PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. [1]

Contents

Development

The game is based on Franz Kafka's literary work, including The Metamorphosis (1915) and The Trial (1925). [1] [2]

Gameplay

The game is a first-person puzzle platformer in which players take the role of Gregor, a man who awakens after a hangover to find that he has been transformed into an insect. [3] The game's setting is loosely based in the early 20th century. [4] Gregor also learns that his friend Joseph has been arrested for unknown reasons. [2]

Reception

The game had a mixed critical reception. It currently has a score of 69 on Metacritic indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [5] Ewan Wilson of NME described the game's surreal atmosphere and focus on absurd bureaucracy to Terry Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil. [4] Christopher Byrd, in a review for the Washington Post , described the game's humor and writing as a highpoint, but criticized the stiff character animations. [2] Lara Arlotta of Eurogamer praised the game's use of Kafka's work, but criticized its technical flaws and lack of replay value. [6] Alex Santa Maria of Screen Rant awarded the game 3 out of 5 stars, with praise for its visual design and gameplay but criticism for its story. [1]

In 2021 the composers of the music for the game, Garry Schyman and Mikolai Stroinski, received the Society of Composers & Lyricists Award for Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media, [7] and two nominations for the Game Audio Network Guild Awards for Music of the Year and Best Music for an Indie Game. [8] They employed expressionist techniques in their score, introducing twelve-tone rows, Sprechstimme vocal technique (singing-speaking hybrid) and angular melodies. [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Santa Maria, Alex (12 August 2020). "Metamorphosis Review: Breaching The Hive Of Red Tape". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Byrd, Christopher (16 September 2020). "'Metamorphosis' Review: The Kafka industry makes its way to video games". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Bolt, Neil (21 August 2020). "[Review] 'Metamorphosis' Takes Players on a Weird, Kafka-Inspired Trip to Bugtown". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 Wilson, Ewan (19 August 2020). "'Metamorphosis' review: short but imaginative, miniaturised odyssey". NME. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Metamorphosis". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Lara, Arlotta (1 September 2020). "Metamorphosis - recensione". Eurogamer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "SCL Awards". thescl.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Ferme, Antonio (28 April 2021). "G.A.N.G. Awards Winners: 'The Last of Us Part II' Leads With Eight Wins". variety.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Penney, Andrew (16 October 2020). "How Mikolai Stroinski And Garry Schyman Created An Enchanting Score For Metamorphosis". thegamer.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
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