Mullet MadJack is an action-packed first-person shooter with rogue-lite elements. The game is colorful and intense, reminiscent of titles such as Killer 7 and Madworld in terms of art style and insane shooting mayhem. The game is violent, but because it is stylised, it is never harrowing. Mullet MadJack might be the most fun first-person shooter that you play all year. The game is bright, but cel-shaded, and kills are over the top and graphic, with heads and limbs exploding at every trigger pull.
The game is mission-based, similar to Madworld. The premise is simple. Make your way through ten levels. The ten levels combined make up one section, and there are ten sections. If you die, you are sent back to the start, but can keep some permanent upgrades. The levels are similar, and there are enemies around every corner. There is a nice variety of weapons and upgrades. The music is fast and matches the intense style of gameplay. Overall, Mullet MadJack is an addictive experience that has a visceral element. It is fun to blow enemies apart.
Stylised Gore (Presentation and Graphics)
The general presentation of Mullet MadJack is colorful and vibrant. The character design is somewhat similar to anime, but the way the menus can be interacted with is top-level presentation. For example, there is an option to unbox the game like it was a PC or Mega Drive/Genesis game from the early 90s. There’s a funny, ironic voice-over and jokes throughout the unboxing experience. Little additions like this are typical of the game and show the developers have done everything to make the presentation of the game as high level as possible.
I’ve compared the game to Madworld, and the general style, both in terms of graphics and in terms of tone are similar. However, Madworld was black and white, whereas Mullet MadJack is full of color. Another element that is similar are the gory deaths. In Mullet MadJack, you can use your gun, or Sword to blow off heads and cut off limbs of your robot enemies. Even though technically they are robots, they tend to bleed a lot. The gore is stylized and probably won’t bother those who are against video game violence, especially as, technically, the enemies are robots.
Anime Storyline (Story and Sound)
There isn’t much of an impactful story in Mullet MadJack, but what there is in terms of story is presented in an over-the-top, anime style. There is an anime-style female character in the top left of the screen that is constantly complementing your gunplay, and she tells you things that are useful if you are focusing on the story. Between sections (when you beat ten levels) there is a boss. These make for a nice change compared to the normal enemies, as enemy diversity isn’t a strong point of the game. The first boss reminded me of the giant eye boss from Majora’s Mask. You sometimes have to use different tactics when facing the bosses in comparison with regular play.
In terms of sound, the tracks are appropriate and fit with what is happening on screen. The sound effects are very good, especially the sound when your shot hits. The pause menu plays a track similar to elevator music, which matches the tone of the pause menu and shows how the sound design is well thought out.
Satisfying Gameplay
The gameplay is very satisfying and addictive. At its core, Mullet MadJack is a roguelite first-person shooter. Some upgrades that you get after beating levels are permanent. This means you can build your profile and character even between runs. Runs themselves are action-packed and full of enemies. The player kicks down doors within levels, and usually on the other side, there are enemies that instantly attack you. This means you have to be quick with your trigger finger. Although, you can choose weapons like swords where you have to be close to make a hit, but the premise is the same as with a gun.
There is a time limit in the game, and to earn more time, you have to kill enemies. The player earns different amounts of time depending on the part of the body that you strike. For example, a headshot could earn you five seconds, while a limb shot will earn you two seconds. This means that you are rewarded for skillful play. Often, you make it to the end of the level with barely any time remaining. There are also several difficulty levels, so you can customize the action to make it easier or harder. The presentation of the customization of the gameplay is clear in that the options are not made confusing with small text, complicated menus or hidden behind barriers that require knowledge of game lore to access. The options literally jump out at you. This makes the game accessible for a wide range of people.
Conclusion
Overall, Mullet MadJack is a visceral roguelite first-person shooter that is gory, addictive, and fun. The game has good presentation with easy-to-navigate menus and easy customization options. The sound and visuals are intense, and each run is as adrenaline-fueled as it is addictive.
The game is stylised and takes obvious inspiration from anime. It could be compared to Madworld on the Wii, and Killer 7 on Gamecube. In terms of visuals and the mission-like level structure, it is similar to Madworld. The game’s cel-shaded graphics mean that the violence is less realistic, and that is a good thing. Being abstract and artistic is a key pillar of this medium, and it allows for more interesting experiences to be created. Mullet MadJack is one of the best first-person shooters that you’ll play on Switch 2 this year. The fact that your character can earn upgrades between runs, and the difficulty is customizable, means that being a roguelite isn’t a barrier to entry in this title.
Mullet MadJack launches today on the Switch and Switch 2 via backwards compatibility. It previously released on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
