Review of Mullet Madjack

The bad news is that millionaires continue to rule over a violent and hopelessly dreary future. Good news! It appears to be an anime from the 1990s.

Mullet Madjack
Platform: PC
Developer: HAMMER95
Publisher: Epopeia Games, HAMMER95
Release date: May 15th, 2024
Availability: Digital
Price: $19.99 via Steam

Mullet Madjack is one of the most vulnerable game heroes. In his first appearance as the title character of HAMMER95, he will perish in ten seconds if you don’t help him. You see, we all spend our entire lives online in a nightmarish society run by robobillionaires with no morality. Additionally, if you’re a moderator—a downtrodden type—the only way to prolong your nanolife is to webcast a murder in order to obtain a dopamine rush. Yes, in the era of social media, this is The Running Man.

The idea of Mullet Madjack may seem gloomy, yet any pessimism is offset with a sharp sense of humor and graphics that pay homage to Madhouse’s animation from the 1990s. In practice, that means a nonstop barrage of jabs from the musket-wielding Madjack and a boisterous streamer while our hero tries to save his influencer princess. Regretfully, it appears that the e-girl who has millions of fans is constantly in another tower. Of course, Mullet parodies a variety of topics, including hyper-capitalism and brand fetishism, in addition to the Super Mario Bros. reference. To avoid coming off as sanctimonious, the game deftly makes multiple references to both VHS-based exploitation films and gaming culture.

Here Are No Twitch Bans

Madjack and his steamer companion don’t whine about being taken advantage of, like a lot of us do. Rather, they provide false affirmations such as “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” Maybe pretending to be happy when you have to act brutally in order to entertain people is a coping mechanism. With a few exceptions, though, the dialogue is incredibly funny, particularly when Mullet dabbles in gallows humor or offers gory animated scenes at the conclusion of each chapter.

Still, the constant action usually overshadows the humor. Our endearingly coiffed protagonist travels through mainly linear stages in each stage, but the game progressively adds elements like some verticality and even basic parkour. You’ll progressively push back at death with a rifle or blade, along with a potent melee kick, earning a few seconds for each opponent you kill. Thankfully, you can execute a stylish finishing technique that delivers some in-your-face destruction and a big 10-second life bonus if you find a hammer or cleaver.

Get to Know Your Fans

You will undoubtedly shot a lot, but you will also take advantage of strategically placed ambient elements. A fire extinguisher shot into an opponent’s vicinity will completely destroy them, and kicking a robo-foe onto a whirling circular blade would shower a stream of pulpy viscera. Sometimes an enemy will even be stationed in front of a vending machine. Here, a strong punt will electrocute the unlucky foot soldier and win you a case of energy drinks that will help you feel better. Mullet Madjack is essentially an interactive version of the movie Crank, in which Jason Statham’s character must maintain a high pulse rate to survive.

Going through the escape door can become a little boring after a time, even in parts where you have to slide down ramps and tumble over adversaries. Madjack, pleasingly, throws things off. You will be able to select a new roguelike-style perk from a selection of three at the conclusion of each stage. While some of these offer more basic assistance, like bigger magazine sizes or an extra second of life upon hitting a headshot, other bonuses grant access to more powerful weapons. The third-tier nailgun feels almost too strong right now, but you can only afford it once you’ve saved up multiple permanent upgrades.

HAMMER95 also has some inventive boss encounters under his sleeve. Your initial encounter is a standard arena-style fight, but what comes next is a furious battle against a building full with snipers. These sequences are clever in that they momentarily stop Madjack’s countdown counter, so you can play defensively without worrying. Additionally, although while the landscapes remain the same, you will encounter new opponents that brandish powerful shotguns or shields.

In summary

Mullet Madjack runs smoothly on portable PCs such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, producing sixty frames per second with ease on both devices. Wicked City and Ninja Scroll fans should be enthralled with the developers’ decision to forgo high poly counts in favor of a style that pays homage to Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s flicks, which helps keep the refresh rate feeling alive. The main problem for some people might be a lack of sensuality. Although Madjack lacks the bods, it does have the blood.

In addition to the game’s legendary campaign, an infinite mode exists. While more elements are always welcome, more variation—possibly with an alternative set of benefits—would have been wonderful to see here. However, HAMMER95 deserves praise for their accessibility strategy. Not only is there a large variety of difficulty settings, but there are also ways to turn off the screen shake and flashing, so anyone craving some vintage ultraviolence can enjoy Madjack.

The publisher offered a review code for the PC game Mullet Madjack.

Review Overview

Gameplay – 85%

Controls – 85%

Aesthetics – 90%

Content – 80%

Accessibility – 95%

Value – 90%

88%

VERY GOOD

Summary : Otakuland’s main thrill coaster is called Mullet Madjack. The gameplay channels the intensity of speedruns, first-person shooter firefights, and brutal finishers of DOOM, requiring players to kill in order to survive. However, this trip through 90s anime and VHS static may not last as long as a roller coaster.