Sometimes, you don’t want to fire up an epic RPG, or get lost in a story-driven session. Sometimes, you just want to kick doors, shoot robots in the head and save the day, all while chewing your favourite bubble-gum. Mullet MadJack from Brazilian Hammer95 Studios does just that and a whole more. Namely, delivering a standout title assaults your senses with its unique brand of rogue-lite FPS action.
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The game is set in the year 2095 and shows a cyberpunk vision of the future. People live more online than day-to-day and mega corporations rule.
The big bad are a shady cabal of ‘Robillionaires’ who have taken over the world, and humans are addicted to dopamine. You play as Jack Banhammer, a ‘moderator’ hired by Peace Corp.
Your job is to set out to rescue the Influencer from a skyscraper filled with killer Robillionaires. All in exchange for a pair of shoes.
That’s the tale. It’s a great excuse to fight your way, floor by floor, killing endless robots with the goal of saving the girl and bagging yourself a new pair of kicks. It’s a love letter to late 80s-early 90s anime and the tale feels perfect for this set up, as it does just enough to pull you through things.
Speed Has Everything to Do with it
But, it’s the gameplay where the game comes to life and then some. You have ten seconds to clear the floor, but landing kills gets you more time. Speed is key. Chaining your demolition of mobsters to keep this gory dance going requires strategy.
On each of the ten floors, you’ll face a challenging boss on your climb to the top. With Mullet MadJack being a roguelite, die at any point and you not only lose any upgrades you have, but you’re heading back to the first floor.
Mullet MadJack is like virtual crack, honestly/ It’s so addictive as you try to pull off that perfect run.
You start with your trusty revolver, but then gain new goodies with each floor cleared from more powerful boom sticks; like shotguns and railguns, or you could nab a buff that adds classic red barrels or sees you getting more secs for kicking a certain enemy type.
Style and Substance
When not rushing from floor to floor, there are some very nice cutscenes that ooze style, and fit perfectly with the classic anime vibe. This is all backed up by an outstanding Synthwave sound track that I could listen to for hours.
Beyond the core mode, there is a mode rush and endless mode, as well as a few modes that up the main game challenge. Or, if you want to just enjoy your robot killing, the timer can be removed to enjoy the tale.
Feast for the Senses
Mullet MadJack is visually stunning. Each scene is packed full of colour, vibes and character. Each floor feels different, and the enemies all look amazing. Any foe could slot into some classic animé. There is also a host of filters and the like, to add more visual flair to things. However, enemy variety is a little limited.
Mullet MadJack is a game about shooting fast and kicking doors faster, it’s not the deepest or smartest but it is a tonne of fun from the first shot to the last and one hell of a ride in-between and is my first GoTY contender for 2025. A ‘must play’.
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