Review - MULLET MADJACK

Developer: HAMMER95

Publisher: Epopeia Games, HAMMER95

Available On: PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S

Review System: Xbox Series X|S via Game Pass

Anime has been around since the end of World War II, but it exploded into the scene during the Golden Age of the 80s and 90s. Sci-fi and fantasy anime, like Gundam Wing and Dragon Ball Z, became a phenomenon, but some shows made an impact among the more popular shows. City Hunter, Dirty Pair, Gunsmith Cats, You’re Under Arrest, and Bubblegum Crisis are just some of the shows that blazed a trail at the time. Imagine an entire game built around that era. Imagine a game like MULLET MADJACK. 

In a world where the internet and humanity have merged into one society, MULLET MADJACK is as wild and crazy as the title suggests. It is furiously kinetic and energetic, brimming with attitude and impact. It's a forceful game that is inventive in its approach and a feast for the eyes. While the gameplay may not be for everyone, MULLET MADJACK is a total blast!

TOTAL PWNAGE

In the future, the internet and humanity have merged into one being. There are the streamers and the moderators. The streamers ensure the people are entertained, and the moderators make it happen. When an online stream princess is captured by hostile robots, MULLET MADJACK answers the call. The Peace Corps tasks him with entering a hostile robot fortress, straight out of Peach Trees in the movie Dredd. The goal is to take down the robot army and save the Princess in a modern-day Donkey Kong. However, there is a catch. You only have ten seconds to live. Dopamine is life, and if there isn’t a constant surge of dopamine, you die. 

MULLET MADJACK is a balls-to-the-wall action first-person shooter inspired by experimental games like Post Void, along with endless runners, roguelikes, boomer shooters, and classic anime aesthetic. The goal, like all first-person shooters, is to destroy enemies and stay alive. However, speed is of the essence. Speed is everything. MULLET MADJACK is about clearing levels as fast as possible, along with how quickly one can pull the trigger and how many robots can be eliminated. This is a speed-demon game, and for those obsessed with speed, MULLET MADJACK takes things to 100mph and even faster. 

Robopacalyse

Complimenting this central focus are mechanics for boomer shooting and roguelikes. Shooting is classic, from-the-hip with straightforward aiming, while levels constantly change their layout. Granted, the levels are long hallway corridors and not the labyrinths or mazes one is accustomed to in boomer shooters. Still, even a hallway can be a gauntlet from hell itself, and in MULLET MADJACK, that is the case. 

The enemies in MULLET MADJACK are not the squishy russian mobsters from Hotline Miami, though they sure dress like them. These enemies are fiendish robots. These enemies are tough, from their metal exoskeletons to their circuits. They intend to end your life as quickly and painfully as possible. These include drones, spider bots, and amalgamations of machinery. For every ten floors, there is a boss that takes place in a small arena. These Robot Lords play out in a more standard fare, with the clock stopped and a health bar present. They are, nonetheless, a barrel of fun to face and conquer. I felt my knuckles turning white as I fought them during my ascension to the top. 

Bio-digital jazz man

Like a roguelike, MULLET MADJACK does have various upgrades to choose from. During the run, the upgrades are temporary. For every 10 floors completed, a permanent upgrade is available to use between runs. If players die, they start at the beginning. Fortunately, every 10th floor is a checkpoint. The temporary upgrades involved new weapons, faster speed, and even the ability to throw bottles. Permanent upgrades allow for special acquisitions, such as the ability to have a temporary upgrade carry over into a new run. 

Finally, there is the heart of MULLET MADJACK: the literal battle of time itself. Players have only ten seconds of life. Getting hit loses a second. Shooting an enemy gains a second. Getting stylish gains 2 to 3 seconds, depending on the style, which means using a kick to slam an enemy into an electrical wall or exploding a fire extinguisher. There’s even the chance to take headshots or shoot an enemy where the sun doesn’t shine. The stylishness and creativity only increase as the levels go on. Of course, failure to keep up with slaying enemies will run out the clock and lead to a game over. There are chances of staying alive. Smashing a soda machine and drinking cola fills the time to 10 seconds. Gathering special objects and performing a brutal melee kill will also fill the meter. There is an upgrade that increases time by 1 second as well. 

Gotta go fast

If Sonic the Hedgehog were a first-person shooter, it would be MULLET MADJACK. Playing the game is ferociously and aggressively kinetic, a feverish race against every second. Every second counts, and every movement feels like a true race. Shooting and blowing apart robots never gets old, and through a sublime presentation, the game is a constant rush of euphoria and excitement on a level few games can do. The running and movement feel tight and refined while the action is brutal and thrilling. Experimenting with the different weapons and enemies felt like a refreshing drip of excitement. MULLET MADJACK switches things up as well, from car chases to sniper shootouts. 

MULLET MADJACK is unashamed in its references and visual portrayal. The anime aesthetic is on par with early SNK titles such as The King of Fighters and Metal Slug. Everything bursts with animation and color to make the gameplay experience extremely memorable. The music and voice work are fantastic as well, and the game finds little references to various movies and games from Mario to They Live. 

I Am Speed

Perhaps the only drawback to MULLET MADJACK is the repetitiveness of the action, and perhaps it can be a little too fast for the player. The gameplay may not be for everyone willing to keep up and perhaps yearn for a slower experience. Additionally, while the game does switch things up, players spend most of the time running down corridors to reach the exit. Fortunately, there is somewhat of a remedy to this. 

MULLET MADJACK has a multitude of difficulty modes. There is no easy, normal, or hard. The modes are divided into three tiers. In those tiers are different difficulties. There are easy modes, challenging modes, playing as the devs intended, and hard modes with permadeath. While this may not remove the fast-paced nature of the game, it does give options for players. There is even an endless mode for players who want to see how far they can go.

Dial M for MULLET MADJACK

MULLET MADJACK is a mad and crazy game that is endlessly fun to play! The anime-inspired aesthetic lends itself to a kinetic and sublime action experience that the greatest action anime animators would be proud of. Its gameplay is polished and refined to a sheen, and the challenge gets better with each floor conquered. It’s a mad world and a mad dash for MULLET MADJACK. Get the dopamine flowing. You've got a stream princess to save!

MULLET MADJACK IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED