M.O.Z.I.: A Survival Horror/TD FPS TBA Soon

Lately, we are seeing a lot of video games that turn out to be effective and functional blends of genres that no one would have thought to mix in the past. In many cases, to the surprise of many of us, these combinations seem to work really well, no matter how different those genres are. And in this case, M.O.Z.I. seems to be exactly one of those titles. Developed and published by Mihanikus Games, this video game proposes mixing a full-fledged sci-fi action FPS with horror, survival, and even tower defense! Yes, you read that right, we said tower defense… Do you think the result could be appealing? Judge by yourself.

M.O.Z.I. has a spectacular visual appeal that grabs our attention from the start. Its graphical style makes us feel like we are starring in one of the modern movies from the Alien universe, maybe Prometheus (2012), to mention just a small reference. Not long ago, we also saw StarRupture, a curious mix of FPS, survival, and strategy that could have some similarities, but I think in this case, the approach is completely different. Just in case, here’s the official trailer, courtesy of IGN:

The Unusual Proposal of M.O.Z.I.

Okay, here we come across the descriptive text that the developers themselves include on their Steam page, which, if you ask me, presents some contradictions that I will gladly comment on later. Here’s their description, according to Mihanikus Games:

M.O.Z.I. – A post-apocalyptic FPS with elements of horror, survival, and tower defense. Deadly Wasteland, Dying Planet: radiation, mutants, aliens, and savages are all out to get you. Defend yourself, gather food and resources, and upgrade your equipment. Survive.

Your past is intricately woven into the present. You’re not alone. Shared hardship and hope, but no time for doubt or inner conflict. The mission is paramount. Yet the embers of memory are still smoldering in your heart. Will you find the strength and courage to face and accept the truth?

• #SHOOTER: Stay alert and shoot first. No allies here, only foes. Arm yourself with alien and human weaponry, modify and upgrade for survival.
• #HORROR: Alien creatures and mutants roam the ruins and wastelands of a once-thriving planet. Lurking in dark corners, waiting for your slip, eager to breach your suit like a tin can.
• #SURVIVAL: Develop, collect, and use batteries, water, food, and spare parts in the ruins of alien and human settlements. They will help you survive and deliver transport and cargo to your destination.
• #TOWERDEFENSE: Use powerful weapons, your skilled hands, and brain to protect those you care about. Set up turrets, secure the perimeter during stops, and fend off attacks while on the move.

Now then, while we don’t have much information beyond what’s shown in the trailer you probably watched above, and the Steam description, what we can do is apply a bit of common sense to analyze it, which brings us to the contradictions I mentioned earlier: in the first part of the description, we read “Deadly Wasteland, Dying Planet“, which sets the stage for the action, a dying planet, maybe the victim of some cataclysm, or simply a place we arrive at and try to establish a base… Whatever the case, so far, so good. Let’s continue…

“Your past is intricately woven into the present” … umm… isn’t it always? I mean, if my past weren’t woven into my present, I wouldn’t be me, right? The entire combination of factors that make me who I am today is the result of the decisions, opportunities, and, most importantly, the mistakes I have made in the past. Isn’t that the case for everyone?…

“You’re not alone” … Okay, perfect, good to know. “No allies here, only foes.” Right, so when they say I’m not alone, they mean I’m surrounded by enemies. Great, I’ll be ready from the start. “…to protect those you care about.” Umm… those who!? I mean, aren’t I supposed to have no allies here? Then I should be able to shoot anything that moves without worrying about hurting anyone I care about, but if I also have to protect those I care about, then… where are they!? So I’m not alone, but I am alone because there are only enemies, yet I have to protect those I care about… are the ones I care about my enemies? Do I protect them by shooting them? “No allies here“… so I have to protect the people I care about, but the people I care about are not my allies?

Maybe I’m overthinking this, and the game’s entire story takes place in the protagonist’s mind, whoever we are. In the video, we can see other people talking to him, maybe through a radio (?), and he actually responds, so we could assume, perhaps, that those people are somewhere far away (?). If that’s the case, what is he doing here if he has to protect them? Is he talking to his enemies? Because remember, “No allies here…“

Okay, jokes aside, the truth is that M.O.Z.I. has a graphical style and setting that already make it worth keeping on our radar permanently. Whether or not that Steam description becomes longer and more detailed in the future, I definitely want to experience this firsthand when it comes out. Don’t you? I already added it to my Wishlist, and if I were you, I’d do the same!

Meanwhile, since we have time, as we always say, why not take a stroll through the comments and let us know what you think about this game? And while you’re at it, tell us what you think about its interesting and contradictory description XD… You know, gamer, “No allies her…” I mean… we’ll be reading you! 😉

Images Source: IGN Official YouTube Channel, M.O.Z.I. on Steam