I love it when a game comes out of nowhere. As someone who primarily plays on console, a lot ofPCexclusive bangers tend to elude me,but that has started to change as I fall hard for Valve’s Steam Deck. While my colleague Ben Sledge is recommending countless gems that come out ofSteam Next FestandLudonarracon, I sit oblivious, playing my usual range of console hits. No longer, and it all starts with the bold, brilliant, and utterly wild Mullet Madjack.
Ben highlighted Mullet Madjack itself in his Steam Next Fest roundup three months ago. Talk about ahead of the curve.
Developed by Hammer95, this high-octane arcade boomer shooter feels like a love child of Hotline Miami, Bubblegum Crisis, and Duke Nukem. Yes, I’m sure throuples can have kids too. Don’t be too quick to judge.
What I’m trying to say is that Mullet Madjack provides one hell of a first impression, pulling you into its absurdly brilliant loop of shooting, kicking, and sliding that you’ll never want to leave. I didn’t for several hours.
Why You Should Play Mullet Madjack
Once past the opening cutscene which channels everything from Gunsmith Cats to Blade Runner, you’ll be whisked into a tutorial that lets you know that the literal energy of streaming viewers is being pumped into your bloodstream, and with every kill you perform, the longer you have to live. Fail to entertain, and you’ll perish before being forced to start an entire run over again.
Madjack splits levels into ten floors, none of which last longer than a minute, so your objective is to shoot, kick, and stab your way through armies of robots while looking as cool as humanly possible, to stay alive. If the viewers get bored, you die.
Normal difficulty limits your lifespan to ten seconds, and you can regain precious numbers with each kill or chaining together combos. Easier or harder settings will change how much life you have, and the narration from the cute anime girl who guides you through each level evolves alongside it. New perks, weapons, and upgrades are gained after each floor before you face a boss, enter the next level, and do it all over again.
The procedural nature of each level includes slopes to slide down, air ducts to crawl through, and pits of lava and laser grids to avoid or hurl enemies into. Everywhere you look there is a tool of murder to interact with, or cool vending machines decorated with the visage of the influencer you’re trying so hard to save.
This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Boomer Shooter
I can’t overstate just how fast this game is, and how cool it makes you feel despite having no time to stop and smell the blood splatter. To hesitate for even a second guarantees failure, and the great controls and smooth movement means that pulling off headshots and yeeting evil robots into the nearest sharp object is never a chore. you’re able to even pull off amazing execution moves if you find certain objects scattered throughout the environment, offering a huge boost in time and a sick animation or two for good measure.
At first, I feared the constant smattering of new floors would grow old if level design failed to keep up, but Madjack seems fully aware of that fear. After the third level, you take part in a slower-paced sniping section that doubles as a boss battle, asking our hero to spot lasers and take out targets before their health runs out.
There are several instances where the time limit is removed, and you are able to explore the environment without added pressure. The change of pace works because these landscapes are so drenched in retrofuturism that I wanted to reach out and touch them, like a ‘90s anime OVA in video game form with all the excessive detail and charm you’d hope for. It takes the boomer shooter label and flips it on its head, showing that these games can still be fast, frenetic, and implement ingenious run-based mechanics that invite replay value and experimentation.
But I think my favourite thing about all of this is a cool bonus feature in the main menu that lets you unbox a virtual version of a physical version of the game. Yep, you heard that right. You are presented with a classic oversized PC game box filled with distinct art and literature before a few button presses open it up to reveal what awaits inside. It is such a cool bonus that speaks to the respect Hammer95 has for the era this game is replicating, exemplified by the scathing commentary of what this world has become. Mullet Madjack goes hard in every way possible, and you need to play it.
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