Otherskin, by Game Atelier and published by FDG Entertainment, surprised me with its polish and ambition. The combat demands precision and timing; however, the melee-to-ranged flow feels smooth and rewarding. Moreover, users consistently praise the creative morph abilities and beautiful world design. As a pro player, though, bugs and poor collision undermine high-skill play because they break combos. Quick studio fact: Game Atelier comes from AA roots, and therefore, scope and QA challenges are expected for a team of this size.
I loved the level variety and hidden mechanics. The biomes feel packed. Reviews saying levels have unique mechanics match my runs. I found many secrets. But losing morphs when you leave levels hurts completion goals. It blocks 100% runs. If Game Atelier adds persistent unlocks or optional modes, completion will snap into place. Studio note: Level-based design often trades persistent progression for focused set pieces.
The planet Vandermire hooked me fast. The story setup is tight and cinematic. Alex as the 13th volunteer and the AI suit give the game emotional stakes. Steam users praise lighting and the Hidden Oasis encounter as a turning point. But stutters and soft-locks pull you out of the moment. Fixes would boost immersion. Industry tip: Self-contained levels let designers craft unique beats per area. It shapes pacing.
I loved how morphs change movement options. They open routing possibilities. However, hitching on loading zones kills speedruns. You need clean transitions. Users with high-end rigs still reported stutter. That shows streaming or engine strain. Once patched, the game could become a speedrun staple for routing variety. Engine fact: Unreal Engine 5 offers great visuals but needs careful asset streaming to avoid hitches.
When I play Otherskin, restarts and backtracking make completion frustrating. I need checkpoints or fast-travel to keep runs smooth. Puzzles are satisfying and reward observation, but losing morphs between visits undercuts replay value. A persistent unlock system would make full clears more worthwhile. With some progression polish, this game could be a true gem for completionists like me.
Exploration is where Otherskin shines for me. Morphs double as traversal tools, opening new paths and secrets that keep me searching. The Metroid Prime-style exploration vibe and environmental storytelling through ruins and logs make the Magna feel alive. Each biome has its own mood, and lore delivery encourages discovery. Performance issues break immersion, but at its best, the planet is a joy to explore.
I really appreciate the mechanics in Otherskin. Suit upgrades let me fine-tune combat, mobility, and survivability. Switching between melee and ranged feels fluid, with cancels and dashes rewarding skill. Still, combat lacks weight — better hit feedback would help. The overall challenge mixes puzzles, traversal, and fighting, leaning toward skilled play. With deeper combat polish, the mechanics could feel as sharp as they look.
For me, Otherskin has strong speedrunning potential. Losing and regaining powers adds roguelike freshness, and the repetition feels like Returnal in a good way. Routing options are already interesting, but the lack of timers, splits, or practice modes holds it back. Once performance stabilizes and support tools arrive, I can see this becoming a real runner’s favorite. Until then, it’s about routing, practicing, and waiting for updates.
Fans of atmospheric and innovative action titles will enjoy games like Metroid Prime Remastered with its classic exploration and puzzle-driven progression, or Returnal, a fast-paced alien survival roguelike where each failure shapes the experience. Prey (2017) offers an immersive sim with alien powers and choice-driven gameplay, while Control combines strange environments, tight combat, and ability upgrades for a stylish experience. For players craving heavy melee combat, The Surge 2 delivers weighty close-quarters battles and modular upgrade systems.
