Some games just immediately catch your eye when you see a screenshot or video and that is exactly what happened when I got an email with a trailer for MULLET MADJACK. This new game comes from Epopeia Games and HAMMER95 and blends a ’90s anime aesthetic with boomer shooter gameplay mixed with roguelite elements. The game has been out on PC for a bit but is now on Xbox Series X which is where I spent some time with it for this review.
The year is 2090 and a super rich AI known as Robillionaires runs the world. Humans now need dopamine every 10 seconds to keep living. Those who oppose the AI are known as Moderators and that includes our character MULLET MADJACK. Jack decides to fight back and attempts to rescue the Influencer Princess who is a pretty big deal in this world as she has two billion followers. You have to rush through and ascend floors in a skyscraper to reach in and win a price while being streamed to the world while you’re at it.
As stated, Jack only has 10 seconds to live before needing a hit of dopamine. That means you have to constantly be moving and killing enemies to keep the timer on your life going as each kill refills it. Run out of time and you lose your progress and any upgrades you’ve gained. The game is made up of ten chapters with ten floors to complete in each. Each chapter ends with a boss fight and every run is randomized hence why it’s a roguelike. Dying doesn’t start you over at the start of the ten chapters but rather the most recent chapter you were on so you do keep some progress which I liked.
Every enemy you kill in the game gives you up to a few seconds added to your life. There is a range of difficulty options to choose from that affects this including one that removes the timer entirely if that’s how you really want to play it. You have a large range of ways to dispatch the robotic enemies too starting off with a basic gun, kicking them, to swords, shotguns, and much more. Upgrades to yourself can be gained along the way too such as the ability to slow down time when your health timer is running low, new one-liners to use which can be pointless but funny, explosive ammo, and more. Of course these are all randomized each run as well. Boss fights don’t have a timer though so you don’t have to be in as much of a rush when you’re facing off with them in their arenas.
The stages start off simple but can get chaotic as you progress acid pools and holes will need to be avoided and things like wall running will be introduced. Despite the challenge, I always found myself having a great time with the gameplay blasting enemies apart or kicking them into hazards in the level like fans. Downsides to the game is that when I did die playing through the same looking floors again did get repetitive and it wasn’t always clear to me when I was taking damage to my health. Minor nitpicks in the grand scheme of things but they are worth mentioning.
Visually I really liked the game as the 90s anime look speaks to me a lot as someone who grew up watching in that era. The anime cyberpunk vibe is colorful and really pops while playing. The synthwave soundtrack was also enjoyable and catchy with sound effects from the guns being satisfying as well. Overall, the team did a great job on the audio and visual presentation in this one.
MULLET MADJACK is pretty much downright boomer shooter, fast-paced fun. Having to rush to stay alive makes it feel different from other similar games and the roguelike elements and difficulty options help encourage a ton of replayability. All of that action is complimented by a great presentation. It can feel a little repetitive at times but I don’t think that will stop you from having a great time shooting through these robots.
*Mullet Madjack is available now on Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Xbox Series X version reviewed. Review copy provided by the publisher for this review.
Mullet Madjack
$19.99
Pros
- Fast-paced, fun, addictive gameplay
- Feels great to play
- Excellent '90s anime aesthetic
- Catchy soundtrack
Cons
- Can get a little repetitive if dying a lot
