Mulaka

Genre: 3D Platformer / Action-Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Mulaka is a 3D Platformer with Action-Platformer elements released on multiple platforms in 2018, including Nintendo Switch. This game puts players in the role of a spear-wielding tribal shaman from the Sierra Tarahumara region of Mexico on a spiritual quest of sorts.

The presentation here is not very impressive, using low-poly untextured 3D environments, with some pretty poor animation. Your character’s gait as he walks around on his pointy feet looks odd and unnatural, and other human characters you encounter have bizarre and repetitive animations. Yet despite the simplicity of the visuals, the framerates still seem to suffer in places on the Nintendo Switch. What’s more, this visual simplicity makes the game’s exploration more difficult as it’s harder to parse just exactly where you are and where you’ve been at times.

As if to cap off this lacking presentation, the game’s soundtrack, which notably uses native instruments for an authentic feel… is also pretty grating on the ears, and while I appreciate the authenticity, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to hit the mute button. The game also fails in one area I would have welcomed more sound – aside from the intro sequence, the game features no voicing for its characters, and in fact forces you to sit and wait as the text of their words scrawls out.

It kinda’ feels like this is a game trapped in the genre’s past, as there are numerous other gameplay issues that arise from old design choices, like a camera that needs constant babysitting, poor hit detection in combat with enemies, bad signposting… I wouldn’t go as far as to say Mulaka’s gameplay is outright terrible, but it’s filled with frustrations that should have been ironed out in playtesting

In the end, while I appreciate Mulaka’s attempt to bring a unique cultural experience to the world of videogames, that experience just wasn’t a very enjoyable one, and every element of the game just made me want to stop playing it, from the sub-par presentation, annoying sound, and frustrating unskippable text, to the aimless gameplay, terrible combat, and frustrating camera. Those looking for a game that’s steeped in a unique and fascinating culture may be able to look past this game’s flaws, but most are better off skipping this one.

tl;dr – Mulaka is a 3D Platformer set in a world of Mexican mythology, and while the game takes great strides to provide an authentic experience, it fails miserably in making that experience enjoyable. Poor graphics, annoying sound, unskippable text, poor hit detection… a multitude of issues make this a game most players won’t want to bother with.

Grade: C-

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