Developer Play on Worlds has revealed a new Metroidvania,Maui the Shapeshifter. The game offers an interesting twist on the genre, making Maui’s shapeshifting powers the abilities players will gain over the course of the story to help them beat bosses and unlock new areas.
Maui is an incredibly well-known Polynesian Demi-God, thanks in part to the Disney movieMoana, andMaui the Shapeshifterexplores the character in much more detail, putting his abilities at your fingertips. Where characters inother Metroidvaniasmay already know how to slide, grab ropes, and climb, in this game, Maui takes on new forms that give him the ability to do each of these and more. You grow your arsenal of animal transformations over time until nothing can stand in the Demi-God’s way.
More Maui
The story ofMaui the Shapeshiftersees the titular Demi-God fight to defend a Polynesian island’s lush wildlife and rainforests from a corrupting force that fell from the sky known as Cemyk. The island is brimming with challenges to complete and secrets to discover, but your main job as Maui is to traverse it, use the spirit Aumakua’s aid to collect more animal forms, and push back against the corruption that’s arrived from another world.
Of course, you’ll also be able to use Maui’s fantastic fish hook to slice your way through the thick jungle on the island, as well as any enemies that don’t immediately run away when he transforms into a seal and breaks through the floor.
The game will feature a wide range of biomes, from rocky mountains and lush jungles to a volcanic summit, the legendary Menehune Village, and even the spirit realm. There will be NPCs to chat with and solve puzzles or problems for, helping you unlock even more abilities, many of which work with the game’s slot system to crate unique builds.
What caught my eye aboutMaui the Shapeshifteris how the Demi-God’s powers are the upgrades you’d expect to see in a Metroidvanias. In games likeTales of Kenzera: Zau, for example, you unlock new abilities that play into puzzle-solving and combat, but there’s something about taking on a whole new form that makesMaui the Shapeshifterfeel fresh.
I’m eager to see how much more Polynesian mythology we’ll get to explore whenMaui the Shapeshifter is released. The game doesn’t have a release date just yet, but it’s worth adding to yourwishlist on Steamif you like the look of it and don’t want to miss it.
