Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

La-Mulana’s gameplay is a masterclass in old-school platforming, challenging players with a sprawling, non-linear world composed of interconnected, non-scrolling screens. You guide Lemeza Kosugi through ruins teeming with traps, puzzles, and respawning enemies, all while juggling a sturdy whip, a variety of acquired weapons like throwing knives and axes, and a secondary tool which might be anything from shurikens to a handheld mace. Beyond simple combat, progression hinges on exploration and careful planning—returning to the safety of the village before venturing deeper is often as vital as defeating the next guardian.

The heart of the experience lies in puzzle solving. Hidden switches, block-moving riddles, and cryptic messages demand that you not only observe each screen carefully but also remember landmarks and clues for later use. The fictive Super Laptop MSX carried by Lemeza plays a central role here, allowing you to load cartridges that reveal maps, save progress, and even grant special in-game effects. Upgrading this portable computer becomes crucial as you venture into more perilous depths, unlock new cartridges for underwater exploration, or increase cartridge capacity to better manage your tools.

Combat in La-Mulana is deceptively simple but often unforgiving. Minor enemies pose little threat individually, but their constant respawns and environmental hazards keep tension high. Boss battles, in contrast, require memorization, precise timing, and often creative use of items obtained in earlier expeditions. The scarcity of health-restoring items emphasizes strategic retreats to the village, encouraging a cycle of exploration, retreat, and return that amplifies the satisfaction of each hard-earned victory.

Graphics

Visually, La-Mulana embraces an MSX-era aesthetic with meticulous pixel art that feels both nostalgic and purposefully designed. Every tile, sprite, and effect adheres to the look and limitations of an 8-bit home computer, complete with a limited color palette and chunky pixels. This commitment transports you back to the early days of platformers, yet the environments—ranging from dusty tombs to torchlit chambers—never feel repetitive, thanks to clever color variations and detailed backgrounds.

Animations are fluid within the retro constraints, giving life to Lemeza’s whip cracks, enemy movements, and environmental traps. Subtle screen-shake effects and carefully timed flickers heighten the impact of surprise hazards, while the occasional parallax effect in background layers adds depth to sprawling underground vistas. For fans of pixel art, La-Mulana’s graphics are a homage to a bygone era, blending authenticity with modern touches that prevent the visuals from feeling stale.

The interface design reinforces the retro vibe with simple HUD elements and on-screen text that mirrors low-resolution computer output. Even loading screens and menu transitions evoke the feel of inserting a floppy disk or cartridge, deepening immersion. While purists may find the graphics rudimentary by contemporary standards, the stylistic choice underpins every other aspect of the game and proves that strong design can triumph over technical spectacle.

Story

At its narrative core, La-Mulana follows archaeologist Lemeza Kosugi, who discovers an unsigned envelope from his long-missing father claiming to have located the legendary ruins of La Mulana. This personal touch—uncovering a family mystery intertwined with ancient myths—fuels the adventure and provides context for every discovery. As you delve deeper into the ruins, scattered messages left by past explorers piece together a tale of lost civilizations, catastrophic rituals, and the father’s obsession that mirrors your own growing curiosity.

The game never overwhelms you with cutscenes or lengthy dialogue; instead, storytelling unfolds organically through environmental clues, inscriptions on walls, and the MSX’s hand scanner, which deciphers hieroglyphs and hidden runes. These snippets of lore reward meticulous players who cross-reference in-game texts and explore every nook. In doing so, the atmosphere shifts from simple exploration to a genuine archaeological expedition, rich with dread, wonder, and occasional dark humor.

Despite the sparse overt narrative, the gradual reveal of La Mulana’s true purpose and the fate of past adventurers fosters an irresistible drive to push forward. Each new chamber hints at deeper secrets, and the sense of isolation—accentuated by ancient machinery creaking to life—builds tension. For those who relish piecing together fragmented lore, La-Mulana’s story is a triumph of minimalistic, discovery-driven design.

Overall Experience

La-Mulana offers a uniquely challenging and rewarding experience that caters to players who embrace exploration, patience, and meticulous note-taking. Its steep learning curve and punishing puzzles may frustrate those expecting a more guided experience, but for adventurers seeking a true retro-inspired quest, the depth and complexity are unparalleled. Every victory—whether cracking a particularly fiendish puzzle or surviving a trap-laden gauntlet—brings a genuine sense of accomplishment.

The balance of risk and reward, anchored by the Super Laptop MSX system, keeps gameplay loops engaging. Acquiring new cartridges feels momentous, and learning to leverage each tool transforms seemingly impassable barriers into opportunities for creative problem-solving. While modern conveniences like frequent checkpoints are absent, the game’s design ensures that every setback prompts reflection rather than mere repetition.

Ultimately, La-Mulana is an ode to classic platformers and Metroidvania-style exploration, wrapped in a love letter to the MSX era. Its retro graphics, atmospheric sound design, and intricate puzzles combine into an experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly original. For players with a taste for hardcore exploration and a penchant for cryptic challenges, La-Mulana stands as a must-play title that rewards curiosity, perseverance, and an adventurous spirit.

Retro Replay Score

8.1/10