I just played Mulaka, and I loved it. Let’s jump right into this.
Mulaka is an indie game developed by Lienzo. Here is their website if you want to check them out. I haven’t played their other game Hunter’s Legacy yet, but I am surely interested now that I have a taste of this development team. You can play Mulaka on all major consoles as well as steam. I personally played my copy on my trusty Nintendo Switch. (Man I love that console).
Mulaka is a 3D action game that is based on the culture of the Tarahumara. The love and care taken in this game to show that heritage can be seen throughout this entire game. The Tarahumara has often been referred to as “superhuman” because of their famous athletic ability. Mulaka lets you experience that athletic superiority as you play as a shaman on a quest to purify the world of evil. You have a spear for a melee weapon and you have access to four different types of potions to help enhance the combat experience. Not to mention the abilities you receive along the way as you recruit the gods to help you on your quest.
At first, the lock-on system was hard to grasp but once I realized that the tip of the spear was the only part that would inflict damage, I put a little distance between me and the enemies and let them have it. For me, that was actually a wonderful realization. In most games melee combat can be forgiving, sometimes too forgiving. It can pull you away from the reality of that combat, but Mulaka actually made me think about how using a spear would work. I thoroughly enjoyed that take on the combat and appreciated that extra challenge.
The game is broken up into a handful of areas all filled with artefacts and lost spirits to find. Each area also contains three spirit stones that you need to unlock the next area and progress the story. Once you get through the door requiring the three stones, you’ll be thrown into a boss battle. These boss battles were my favorite part of the game. Each boss was different and required a different technique to take them down. Here’s a screenshot from my favorite boss.
The art style in this game is very geometric. As you can see from my screenshot above, it is very simplistic but colorful and vibrant. This low-poly art style was actually chosen because in the Tarahumara culture, they never gave the gods visual descriptions. Therefore, the development team wanted to convey that in an art style that is both pleasing to the eye, but leaving much to the imagination. I for one, appreciated this art style even before learning about its historical significance. It is just another way Lienzo poured their heart and soul into this project.
The art style, combat, environments, and enemies are all inspired by Tarahumara culture and that love carries over to the player as well. It made me want to research their history and heritage beyond what the game showed us. Games like this are rare but in my opinion, a perfect example of what this medium is capable of. I remember feeling the same way when I played Ōkami. It engulfed you into Japanese mythology and folklore, and Mulaka delivered that same experience but with the Tarahumara. I think more games like this would be very beneficial for players to dive into. There aren’t too many video games out there these days that can inspire a sense of cultural appreciation.
Overall, I was very pleased with my play through of Mulaka and look forward to seeing what more the development team over at Leinzo can give to us in the future. If you enjoy 3D action games, rich cultural ties, or exploration, you will certainly enjoy this title. You don’t need to know anything about Tarahumara culture to have a blast with this game. However, I certainly recommend diving into the topic to enhance your experience with this game and appreciate the passion Lienzo demonstrated. Do yourself a favor and try out this game. It is fantastic.
