Get ready to enter a retrofuturistic world filled with strange and deadly specimens in the newly released Transmogrify. Developed by Odyssey Entertainment, this game brings a unique twist to the conventional run-and-gun genre. Instead of using lethal weapons to take down enemies, you play as Chris, a janitor who is stranded at Future Perfect Labs after a containment breach. Armed with the experimental Transmogrify device, you can turn living matter into usable tools and structures to escape the infested lab.
Transmogrify was originally conceived during the 2015 Ludum Dare game jam with the theme of “Unconventional Weapon.” Andrew Staunch, founder and developer at Odyssey Entertainment, wanted to create something that felt different from the standard run-and-gun game. The challenge of making the weapon non-lethal was posted on Twitter by a user, and Staunch was inspired to create Transmogrify.
As you traverse through the game’s strange sci-fi worlds, you’ll uncover the secrets of Future Perfect Labs with your brilliant AI companion, Grace. Each world is degenerating into chaos as the entire system veers towards collapse. You’ll need to use your puzzle-solving skills and lateral thinking to get to safety.
According to Strauch, Odyssey Entertainment’s founder, “We want players to feel smart as they teach themselves to solve puzzles and discover new ways to do so. We want them to feel empowered as they act on their environment in different ways, and to empathize with Grace’s plight as the story unfolds within this facility.”
The game’s soundtrack is experimental and retrofuturistic, adding to the overall feel of the game. Transmogrify is the first project from Odyssey Entertainment, with team members who have previously worked on games such as Dwerve, Zoe and the Cursed Dreamer, Cart Crawlers, Treasure Chain, Decentraland, Towertale, Mini Metro, Camera Anima, and Möbler.
Following a successful Kickstarter in 2020, Transmogrify is now available on Steam for £20.99 with a downloadable demo at the time of writing. The developers have said they’re committed to improving the game post-release with general fixes and quality-of-life changes, as well as introducing new game content and major updates.
If you’re looking for a unique twist on the classic platformer genre, Transmogrify could be worth a look, I’m tempted to play on stream, even though platformers aren’t normally my thing. The combination of puzzle-solving and the ability to turn monsters into nightmarish contraptions looks like it makes for an engaging and challenging gaming experience.