User:HumanxAnthro/sandbox/Dr. Muto

Gameplay
Dr. Muto is a platform video game where the player is the titular mad scientist. He has experimented since he was a student at school, where he blew up a science fair and brought his robot girlfriend to prom, resulting in marginalization by his family and peers for his endeavors (GameSpy review, GameZone Xbox review, IGN review). His latest machine is meant to solve Planet Midway's energy crisis and receives public attention, but when he turns it on, the planet explodes into several small pieces and giant chunks (Hyper, IGN review, ONM preview March 2003 p. 54). In order to restore the planet, the scientist needs Terra and isotopes to create his Genetor 9000. They are hidden on four other planets that are under rule of the conglomerate Burnital Industries, led by Professor Burnital, who is gradually revealed to be responsible for Midway's destruction (GameSpy September 9, 2002, ONM preview March 2003 p. 54, ONM preview March 2003 p. 55, OPMAU PS2 preview p. 68, ONM preview issue 120, Cube (AU) review pp. 58-59).

The four planets are the junkyard-filled Totitec, the water-themed Aquem, the smog-dominated Flotos, and Mazon which has several mines (G-Force August 2002 preview p. 33). The game's hub is Muto's labratory, also on a giant planet chunk, which rests a talking computer named AI (a HAL 9000 parody), a telescope to view the four other planets, and other inventions (IGN review). In addition to providing humor such as comments about Muto's existence and double entendres, AI provides context to levels and guides the players (Cube (AU) review p. 59, EGM Nov 2002 PS2 preview, IGN review). Dr. Muto consists of a total of 22 levels (Superjuegos 128 preview, Play (UK). March 2003 preview), and common stage types include open-roaming areas, 2D levels, and those with multiple paths and upper and lower platforms (IGN review). The gameplay is generally straightforward (GameSpy September 9, 2002 preview), as finding a secret Terra usually involves executing an order of events or hitting a switch (GSpot review).

Dr. Muto can jump, double jump and hoover (although must have a Super Boots gadget on him to do so), climb up ledges, and swim, but as a result of his tiny feet, walks in a prance with his body tilted back and is unable to run (GameZone PS2 review, IGN review, OPMAU PS2 review). He is armed with the Splizz, a remote gun that can activate switches, unbox packages, blast and electrically stun enemies, and extract DNA from animals (ONM preview March 2003, p. 54, Cube (AU) review p. 59). A map, named The Masterplan, lists the Terras that are on each planet and instructions on how to obtain them (ONM March 2003 preview p. 55, Nintendo Power February 2003 preview). In addition to Terra for the Genetor 9000, Muto collects scrap metal, which unlocks several gadgets such as Super Boots for additional jumping height, a Pocket Rocket for killing foes, and others for invulnerability and invisibility (OPMAU PS2 review p. 69, ONM preview March 2003 p. 54). Blueprints for creating gadgets and animal morphing are obtained by collecting blue orbs known as isotopes (GSpot review, Nintendo Power February 2003 preview). Ten different foes and hazards are encountered throughout the game, and include roaches, fire beetles, robotic dogs, monkeys and policemen, bazooka-armed guards, motorcycle-riding chicks, lava, and chemicals (G-Force August 2002 p. 33, Cube (AU) review p. 59, ONM preview Issue 120, ONM preview March 2003 p. 55, GameSpy September 9, 2002 preview). Also in the levels are blob-appearing Gomers, slaves to Burnital Industries, which are necessary for activating certain switches and opening boxes; the Splizz gun can be used to stun them and then shoot them at the intended target (GameSpy September 9, 2002 preview, ONM preview March 2003 p. 54).

The main gimmick of Dr. Muto is the titular character's ability to morph into animal versions of himself, such as a labcoat-wearing mustached mouse, Arachnidoc (an eight-eye spider wearing two-eye glasses), Doczilla (a gorilla that's a hairier and more muscular version of Muto), Docfish (a fish), a fly and a Pterodactyl (G-Force August 2002 preview, IGN review, ONM preview March 2003 p. 54, OPMAU PS2 review pp. 68-69, ONM NGC review). The mouse can get into small areas as well as jump and swat, but can be crushed by bigger hazards (GSpot review, IGN review). Doczilla moves more sluggishly but can hang from monkey bars and is powerful enough to turn large switches (OPMAU PS2 review p. 69). Arachnidoc can climb webs, shoot webs to move across gaps and poop out bombs (IGN review). In underwater sections, Docfish can swim and jump out of the water at great heights, eat Charks, can use his fins as projectiles, and can become a buzzsaw (IGN review). The Pteradoctyl can fly and spit fatal green liquid out of his mouth (OPMAU PS2 review p. 69). Several essential areas can only be accessed by traversing in these forms, and some locations limit what Muto can turn into (GSpot review, OPMAU PS2 review p. 69). Morphs requires different quantities and types of animal DNA between; Doczilla, for example, only necessitates DNA from ten spider creatures and 20 roaches, while others require more animals (GSpot rev, OPMAU PS2 review p. 69).