- Dr. Muto
-
Dr. Muto 
Developer(s) Midway Games Publisher(s) Midway Games Platform(s) Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance Release date(s) PlayStation 2 & Xbox
GameCube
- NA December 17, 2002
- PAL March 21, 2003
Genre(s) Platform game Mode(s) Single-player Rating(s) Dr. Muto is a 2002 video game by Midway Games for the Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance.
Contents
Plot
Dr. Muto, a scientist, had built a machine that would provide free, renewable energy for his home planet of Midway. However, the machine was sabotaged by Muto's rival, Dr Burnital, and malfunctioned, destroying the planet. Dr. Muto survived, living on a chunk of the destroyed planet, and now plans to build a machine, the Genitor 9000, that will rebuild Midway. However, the pieces necessary for the assembly and running of the machine are scattered across a number of planets and must be collected. There are 4250 isotopes and 86 bits of terra and they are all needed to complete the game.
Characters
- Dr. Muto
The protagonist of the game. Dr. Muto can use a Splizz Gun to morph into a mouse, gorilla, spider, fish, and flying squirrel, each of which has unique abilities that enable him to complete different stages of the game.
- AL
Muto's computer and guide. In the game, he needs the isotopes to power up the Genitor 9000. AL also helps Muto in his adventures and was seen on a map screen to know where Muto is. AL is a parody of HAL 9000 from 2001 A Space Odyssey[citation needed].
- Jankey
Jankey is Dr. Muto's servant. He is a parody of the stock character Igor. Jankey has a wheel for feet, and is very strong, but grotesque looking and stupid. However he is very loyal to the doctor and has a good heart.
- Vinny Bino
The boss of the Totltec world, Vinny was a spoiled child, and failed school because nobody was "good enough for him". In Totltec, Vinny creates a device called the Goomatron. In his boss battle, he uses a bulldozer-like suit. The death animation for Bino shows his suit malfunctioning before he falls into a vat of acid and dies.
- Carla "Squid Kisser" McPhearson
The boss of the world Aqeum. In her boss fight, she uses a robotic squid with one switch to control it. Carla's death animation shows that she can't control the squid, then crashes into one of the generators and dies.
- Steele, uh, just Steele
The boss of the world Flotos, Steele plans to use his ship to take over Flotos. In his boss fight, Steele uses jet pack to fly. His death animation shows his jet pack malfunctioning and he falls, but ejects and begins parachute to safety. However, his parachute rips, and Steele falls into a black hole.
- Professor Burnital
The boss of the world Mazon and main antagonist of the game. Burnital vows revenge against Muto for humiliating him in front of the military, his teacher, the rest of the world, and wrecking his life. He has wrinkly, leathery skin, and is short-sighted. Burnital plans to create a super laser machine to finish off Muto once and for all. In his boss fight, Burnital uses a robot that can stick to the floor. His death animation shows the robot going haywire, while Burnital makes an escape with the escape pod. He tells Muto that he will fight him another day. While inside the escape, Al catches him, because the escape pod was designed by Muto. Burnital then dies when the pod crashes with him in it.
- SOBs (Servants of Burnital)
Burnital has created these minions to finish Muto once and for all. These exist in every level but Midway.
Gameplay
In the game, Dr. Muto has the ability to morph into many creatures, and use a variety of gadgets to get through the game.
Morphs
Dr. Muto is able to turn into 5 different creatures with the use of the Splizz Gun in the game. These can be unlocked by collecting items like isotopes and animal DNA. These morphs also have special extras.
- Gerbillous Doctorus Mouse or Rat
The first morph in the game. It allows you to enter small spaces, and attack enemies with his tail. It resembles a mouse. With 30 charks Rat.
- Docgantor Gorilla or Mech Gorilla
This morph may be slow and clumsy, but it is super-strong, can create a powerful "butt-bounce", climb walls and hang on to bars. It resembles a cross between a gorilla and a dinosaur. With 30 tarfish Mech Gorilla.
- Arachnidoc Spider or Roach
This morph allows you to enter in small spider holes, and climb webbing on the walls. Also, it can throw powerful spider eggs that act as mines, and attack enemies. It resembles a deformed spider. With 30 peliquis Roach.
- Spiny Docfish Guppy or Electric Eel
This morph allows you to swim underwater, and attack enemies with a powerful spike attack. It resembles a blue fish. With 30 airbags Electric Eel.
- Terodoctyl Flying Squirrel or Bat
This morph allows you to fly in the sky, complete flying ring courses, and shoot slimy hairballs at flying enemies. It resembles a flying squirrel. With 13 tarantulas Bat.
Gadgets
There are seven different gadgets Dr. Muto can use.
Splizz Gun
You get the Splizz Gun at the start of the game, it allows Dr. Muto to extract DNA from enemies, electrocute and shoot lasers at enemies, and allows him to morph into five different creatures.
Pocket Rocket
This gadget allows you to either shoot rockets at enemies in third person mode, or guide your own rocket in first person mode.
Super Boots
These are boots which allows Dr. Muto to jump higher than normal. You get them at the start of the game, but there are just one or two more per planet.
Rocket Boots
You get them at the start of the game, but there is just one more per area.
Invisibility Generator
This gadget will allow you to go past enemies unnoticed for a short time.
Invulnerability Field
This gadget equips you with an iron armor that will protect you from enemy damage and some hazards for a limited time. However, it cannot protect you from falling from great heights or being crushed by machinery.
Planets and Levels
Midway
The home of Dr. Muto. He is the only person left on Midway because he destroyed the rest of the world by accident. There is only one chunk left of this planet, floating in space. Named after the software house, Midway Games. There are only 2 bits of terra and 100 isotopes. The only genetor piece is the sink and to get it you use a blast for a few times.
Totltec
A junkyard of a planet. Is contaminated and filled with toxic, green goo. Totltec is inhabited by Vinny, a boss cyborg, mutant insects, and his security forces. In here, the Goonimator is stored, and Dr. Muto must destroy it. This planet acts as Burnital Industries' junkyard. The levels here are The Junkyard, The Vats, The Factory, and Vinny's Dump'.The isotops number is 900 and 21 bits of terra for the genetor 9000.
Aqeum
The least polluted planet of Burnital Industries. This is where the insane and deranged mutant mermaid Carla McPhearson inhabits the water, along with mutant fish, "Charks", and Carla's henchmen. Some areas of this planet are polluted by oil, coming from Burnital's gigantic oil rig. The levels are The Lagoon, The Oil Rig, The Hydro Station, Water Works, and Carla's Hole. There are 1200 isotops and 28 bits of terra for the genetor 9000.
Flotos
Flotos is a gaseous planet in which you must use Teradoctyl to get around the planet and lower its defenses. The setting is a group of facilities that are remaining on Flotos. All of its crust was used for valuable fuel. The stages are The Sphere, The Cube, The Furnaces, Jupiter City, and Steele's Garage. There are 1600 isotops and 28 bits of terra for the genetor 9000. It is the longest and the toughest to do.
Mazon
Professor Burnital's planet in which Dr. Muto defeats him. This is Burnital HQ, where Burnital lives. This planet is an underground factory. Before you can fight Professor Burnital, you need to find the key to his lair in his workshop, then solve an alien puzzle device that leads to his lair. The stages are The Workshop and Burnital's Lair. There are only 450 isotops and just 7 bits of terra for the genetor 9000.
Reception
Scores Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings PS2: 72.2% (39 reviews) [1]
GC: 70.2% (15 reviews) [2]
Xbox: 73.0% (27 reviews) [3]
GBA: 68.0% (2 reviews) [4]Metacritic PS2: 67% (21 reviews) [5]
GC: 63% (6 reviews) [6]
Xbox: 70% (13 reviews) [7]Review scores Publication Score GameSpot 6.5 / 10 [8][9][10] GameSpy 
[11]IGN 8.5 / 10 [12][13][14] It was released in November 2002 to mixed reviews but sold poorly.
References
- ^ "Aggregate score for PlayStation 2 at Game Rankings". http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/561450.asp.
- ^ "Aggregate score for GameCube at Game Rankings". http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/561449.asp.
- ^ "Aggregate score for Xbox at Game Rankings". http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/561451.asp.
- ^ "Aggregate score for Game Boy Advance at Game Rankings". http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/583521.asp.
- ^ "Aggregate score for PlayStation 2 at Metacritic". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/drmuto.
- ^ "Aggregate score for GameCube at Metacritic". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/drmuto.
- ^ "Aggregate score for Xbox at Metacritic". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbx/drmuto.
- ^ "PlayStation 2 review at GameSpot". http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/drmuto/review.html.
- ^ "GameCube review at GameSpot". http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/drmuto/review.html.
- ^ "Xbox review at GameSpot". http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/drmuto/review.html.
- ^ "GameCube review at GameSpy". http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/dr-muto/562965p1.html.
- ^ "PlayStation 2 review at IGN". http://ps2.ign.com/articles/376/376899p1.html.
- ^ "GameCube review at IGN". http://cube.ign.com/articles/427/427817p1.html.
- ^ "Xbox review at IGN". http://xbox.ign.com/articles/376/376951p1.html.
External links
Categories:- 2002 video games
- Game Boy Advance games
- Nintendo GameCube games
- Midway Games
- 3D platform games
- PlayStation 2 games
- Xbox games
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