Mycopunk Review: A Delightfully Chaotic Co-op Shooter

Embarking on a mission for the vast Saxon mega-mining corporation, under the peculiar guidance of a cockroach manager named Roachard Cox, seemed straightforward enough: infiltrate a facility, eradicate the fungal infestation, extract a critical core, and return to the extraction point with time to spare. Yet, as often happens, simplicity proved elusive in the fungal-infested world of New Atlas.

Mycopunk thrives on its inherent disorder, presenting a cooperative player-versus-environment shooter experience. The objective is to cleanse New Atlas of a rampant fungal infection and gather valuable Saxonite resources for the corporate overlords. The game intelligently balances challenge with enjoyment, offering customizable difficulty settings and swarm intensities. This flexibility allows players to tailor their experience, whether they prefer an overwhelming number of foes or a more manageable fight. Moreover, the design intelligently eliminates traditional shooter frustrations such as ammo scarcity and stamina limitations. Instead of scrambling for bullets, players replenish ammunition by damaging enemies with their secondary weapon, encouraging diverse weapon usage. The absence of a stamina bar also facilitates constant movement, crucial for navigating the fast-paced combat against quick-moving robotic adversaries. Each of the four distinct characters—Scrapper, Wrangler, Glider, and Bruiser—possesses unique movement abilities, further enhancing the dynamic gameplay and ensuring that strategic positioning and swift maneuvers remain at the forefront.

Beyond the primary missions, Mycopunk offers a wealth of activities and features that add depth to its early access experience. Players can explore four unique locations on New Atlas, each providing different fungal resources for weapon upgrades. Mission types vary from straightforward fungus elimination tasks to escorting valuable payloads and even engaging in large-scale planetary defense operations. The latter involves activating a railgun to neutralize rival spy ships, often leading to hilariously chaotic moments among teammates. Furthermore, the game’s home base acts as a vibrant hub with minigames, car races, and charming developer-pet screensavers, showcasing a lighthearted touch. The upgrade system is also innovative, requiring players to strategically arrange molecular-string-shaped upgrades into a hive-like inventory to maximize bonuses. While the game does exhibit some minor glitches common in early access titles, such as enemies attacking through walls, these do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. The grind for progression can be slow, and prolonged play might lead to repetition, but Mycopunk’s core mechanics and engaging chaos make it a highly entertaining and promising title.

Mycopunk demonstrates that even in the face of chaos and unforeseen challenges, creativity and thoughtful design can transform a seemingly simple concept into an immensely enjoyable and rewarding experience. It reminds us that embracing the unpredictable, adapting to difficulties, and collaborating with others can lead to unexpected triumphs and endless fun, both within and beyond the digital realm.