---
key: mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-06
type: mechanic
id: metroidvania--family-group-06
lang: en
title: 'Forms, bodies and companions'
summary: >-
  Changing the shape, body or controlled satellite gives different sizes,
  properties and methods of interaction.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-06/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-06.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-06.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Metroidvanias
  - Capabilities
sourceIds:
  - source-4e22a7f341a5d0ce
sources:
  - id: source-4e22a7f341a5d0ce
    title: Subnautica
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/264710/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: metroidvania
    id: family-group-06
    title: Metroidvanias
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/metroidvania/#family-group-06'
    categoryIds:
      - section-3
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Forms, bodies and companions'
    description: >-
      Changing the shape, body or controlled satellite gives different sizes,
      properties and methods of interaction.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/subnautica-prawn.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Subnautica
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/264710/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/264710/ss_883a98ad56021ce409219e1b749818866b6115cd.1920x1080.jpg?t=1777456112
      credit: Unknown Worlds Entertainment
      rights: © Unknown Worlds Entertainment. All rights reserved.
      caption: Prawn Suit provides a different controllable body
      alt: Prawn Suit provides a different controllable body
      markers:
        - x: 80
          'y': 73
          label: The pilotable Prawn Suit exosuit
    tips:
      - >-
        Show which dimensions and properties change with a different controlled
        body.
    examples:
      - title: Subnautica
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/264710/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/metroidvania
---
# Forms, bodies and companions

id: metroidvania--family-group-06
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-06
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/metroidvania--family-group-06/

Changing the shape, body or controlled satellite gives different sizes, properties and methods of interaction.

## At a glance

![Prawn Suit provides a different controllable body](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/subnautica-prawn.webp)

[Subnautica](https://store.steampowered.com/app/264710/) · © Unknown Worlds Entertainment. All rights reserved.

1. The pilotable Prawn Suit exosuit

- Show which dimensions and properties change with a different controlled body.

- [Subnautica](https://store.steampowered.com/app/264710/)

## How it works

Changing the shape, body or controlled satellite gives different sizes, properties and methods of interaction.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-group-06-variants"></a>

- Compact shape, Morph Ball. Rule: Changing shape reduces the body and opens narrow tunnels. <a id="variant-mv-059"></a>
- Shapes of animals and creatures. Rule: Different bodies provide their own sets of moves, attacks and interactions. <a id="variant-mv-060"></a>
- Flight form. Rule: Transformation changes the method of air movement and the allowed passages. <a id="variant-mv-061"></a>
- Fluid, misty or ethereal form. Rule: A special condition allows you to pass through certain gratings and materials. <a id="variant-mv-062"></a>
- Resizing. Rule: Reducing or increasing changes the availability of passages, mass and interactions. <a id="variant-mv-063"></a>
- Detachable body part. Rule: The head, hand or other part independently reaches the inaccessible mechanism. <a id="variant-mv-064"></a>
- Remote drone. Rule: An auxiliary controlled body explores places inaccessible to the main character. <a id="variant-mv-065"></a>
- Possession or takeover of a body. Rule: The player temporarily controls another creature and uses its properties. <a id="variant-mv-066"></a>
- Switching characters. Rule: Several heroes have different means of exploring the same world. <a id="variant-mv-067"></a>
- Commanded satellite. Rule: An ally performs individual actions, holds the mechanism or helps pass the area. <a id="variant-mv-068"></a>
- Copying enemy abilities. Rule: The behavior of a defeated or captured enemy becomes the hero's action. <a id="variant-mv-069"></a>

## Context and limits

The author's working taxonomy of mechanics, access rules, structural patterns and support systems. This is not an industry standard or a statement that every item is required or present in every game. Hybrids and support are highlighted separately. Any finite list is limited by the level of detail; combinations and new options remain open.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Subnautica](https://store.steampowered.com/app/264710/) (id: source-4e22a7f341a5d0ce)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors