Mulaka

This game feels very cheap and lazy. I expected a small indie game about an underrepresented culture to have a lot of heart to it, but this didn't feel like there was much love put into it at all to me. Combat is a matter of mash the attack button with no point ever dodging or counter playing because it's so easy and simple, the two boss fights i did were over in an instant, there's essentially no exploration or anything between fights as the landscape is so barebones and uninteresting you just walk directly to the next objective, the controls are very slow and imprecise, the story is very slow paced and poorly presented making it hard for me to stay interested, audio is a good example of the cheap and lazy feeling as you will frequently hear a single audio line play several times in a row, there is no variety in enemies, objectives, or puzzles; and everything just feels pointless since a lot of the fights don't actually serve any purpose. I gave up playing when i travelled to a completely new area, just to see a copy pasted puzzle from the last area, and the same enemies i've fought a hundred times.

It's okay, the lore, the designs, and some of the characters were fun. However, some of the controls and animations were clunky, especially the [spoiler]puma animation[/spoiler], and overall the story felt shallow, not helped by the lackluster and anticlimactic ending.

Mi pc se calentó tanto como yo cuando reseño juegos mexicanos... Sin duda le falta optimización, por otro lado, se aprecia una obra como esta, es arriesgada, atrevida, y que aporta valor cultural por basarse en tradiciones que se están olvidando día a día

3d pltaform oyunu çölde geçiyor kısmi hikayesi de mevcut dövüş mekanikleri güzel ve hızlı düşmanlar çok zorlamıyor atlama zıplama yaparken takılabiliyor bugda kalıyor bazen genel olarak idare eder

Mulaka, developed and published by Lienzo, is an action-adventure game that stands out for its deep cultural roots and its dedication to bringing the mythology of the Tarahumara (Rarámuri) people of northern Mexico to life. Rather than relying on the tropes and aesthetics that dominate mainstream fantasy, the game draws from real indigenous beliefs, geography, and storytelling traditions. You play as Sukurúame, a Tarahumara shaman on a quest to cleanse the world of corruption and restore harmony to the land. This journey takes you across vast stretches of the Sierra Tarahumara, where gods, spirits, and creatures from ancient legends coexist with humanity. What makes Mulaka instantly striking is its authenticity—its narrative, visual identity, and even its language reflect a sincere effort to represent a culture that is rarely explored in gaming. Visually, Mulaka adopts a minimalist, low-poly art style that works in harmony with its mythic tone. The environments—ranging from desert canyons and lush forests to sacred temples—are bright, colorful, and symbolic rather than literal. Each location feels handcrafted to capture the grandeur and spirituality of the Tarahumara landscape, giving the game a distinctive personality that separates it from more generic action titles. The use of bold colors and geometric designs makes it feel like a living folk painting, and the aesthetic choice not only complements the game’s mythical themes but also ensures smooth performance even on modest systems. The soundtrack, composed of native instruments and rhythmic chants, reinforces the sense of immersion. It’s hauntingly beautiful, evoking both reverence and adventure, and it grounds every encounter in a sense of place and culture. Gameplay-wise, Mulaka draws inspiration from classic 3D action-adventure design, with exploration, light puzzle-solving, platforming, and combat forming the backbone of its experience. Sukurúame’s abilities expand as the story progresses—he can transform into divine animals like a bear, a bird, or a serpent, each representing powers gifted by the gods. These abilities allow access to new areas and add variety to traversal and combat. The structure is consistent: explore an area, solve environmental challenges, defeat mythic beasts, and confront bosses that test your mastery of both combat and movement. While the formula feels familiar, the cultural context and spiritual undertones make it feel refreshing. The way these divine forms intertwine with the land and story gives a spiritual depth that elevates otherwise simple mechanics into something more meaningful. However, the gameplay itself does not always live up to the richness of its world. The combat system, while functional, can feel repetitive and occasionally clunky. Basic attack combos and dodging form the foundation of encounters, but the lack of fluidity or complexity means battles can start to blur together after a while. Enemy types, though drawn from Tarahumara folklore, often follow predictable attack patterns, and the sense of challenge remains moderate throughout. Platforming sections and puzzles fare slightly better, as the transformation powers introduce clever environmental interactions, but even here the design can feel conservative. It’s clear that Mulaka’s focus is on accessibility and atmosphere rather than intricate systems, and while that approach makes it easy for newcomers to enjoy, veterans of the genre might crave more depth and precision. Where Mulaka truly excels is in its sense of identity. Few games manage to feel so connected to their source material while still being engaging as entertainment. The game’s educational aspect never feels forced or patronizing—it naturally conveys history, spirituality, and tradition through environmental storytelling and dialogue. The Tarahumara people are known for their incredible endurance running, and this cultural element is woven directly into the gameplay: Sukurúame’s movement emphasizes fluidity and stamina, capturing the grace and strength of his heritage. Every encounter, from small wildlife to colossal bosses, feels like an extension of that heritage, reinforcing the bond between culture and gameplay. It’s this thematic cohesion that gives Mulaka a sense of purpose that goes beyond its technical limitations. From a pacing perspective, the game offers a concise but fulfilling experience, typically lasting around seven to ten hours. It’s structured enough to provide a satisfying narrative arc but short enough to avoid overstaying its welcome. The simplicity of the design means there isn’t a great deal of replay value beyond collectibles and the appreciation of its art and story, yet that brevity works in its favor—it ensures that Mulaka remains focused and heartfelt from beginning to end. The technical performance is stable, and the game runs well even on lower-end systems, which makes it widely accessible. Mulaka succeeds not because of innovation in mechanics but because of its devotion to storytelling through culture. It serves as a bridge between myth and modernity, showing how video games can be vehicles for preserving and celebrating heritage. While it may not rival larger titles in complexity or polish, it accomplishes something more important: it gives voice to a people and mythology often overlooked, and it does so with sincerity and respect. Lienzo’s work stands as both a love letter to indigenous Mexican culture and a reminder that games can be powerful tools for cultural expression. For players who value artistry, authenticity, and atmosphere over technical spectacle, Mulaka offers a meaningful journey that lingers long after its final moments. Rating: 8/10

Simple, enjoyable; has some flaws, but overall, very fun and interesting.

Sin duda una excelente experiencia, lo denote un poco frenético con el simple echo de andar de acá para allá corriendo jeje. Los jefes son interesantes, los niveles sencillos, casi ni un solo bug, y la temática de mi natal México da un plus a todo el panorama, sin duda es algo que recomiendo, que te puedes acabar en un solo día.

メキシコ神話をベースにしたアクションゲームです。この雰囲気とアクションゲームが好きな人にはおすすめします！ Steam版は日本語には対応していませんが、そんなに難しい言い回しはありません。ただ、固有名詞がメキシコ風なので覚えにくいのが困りましたw ストーリーとしては単純で、悪いやつが世界に現れたので救いましょうというタイプです。自分にはメキシコ神話の知識がないせいか、エンディングは意外な感じでした。読めるテキストが多いのでうれしかったです。（読まなくても問題ないです） 進め方としては、各ステージでパズルを解きながら輝く石を3つ集め、ボスを倒して次のステージに進む…を繰り返すものです。 少しずつスキルやアイテムが増えていくので、最初は解けなかった仕掛けも解けるようになります。アクションが意外としっかりしており、なめていると苦戦するかもしれません。 ちなみに輝く石のほか、各ステージに探し物がちりばめられています。ストーリーには影響しないのでスルーしてもOKですが、インタラクトするとメキシコ神話に関する解説が読めるのでぜひ探してみてください。すべて見つけるのはそこそこ難しく、探索のしがいがあります。 〈初代Steam Deckでのプレイ〉 とくに問題はなかったと思います。遠距離攻撃の狙いを定めるのにジャイロが使えるので便利でした。

Adorei esse jogo. Em um mundo onde estamos nos afogando em fantasias medievais, com ou sem um detalhe para diferenciá-las, jogar um povo indígena é uma experiência enriquecedora, especialmente quando é um relativamente desconhecido, diferente de, por exemplo, os astecas. A trilha sonora, a narração em tarahumara, o estilo artístico, todos eles são bons ou excelentes. Dito isto, acho que o jogo teria sido melhor se mais movimentos e poderes fossem acionados ao pressionar teclas ao invés do mouse. A animação das poções complica as lutas: você pode ter corrido pro limite da arena, começado a se curar e assim que o processo termina você já leva dano. Quando terminei, torci para que tivesse um New Game Plus, mas infelizmente não tinha. Para encerrar, adoraria se fizessem um Mulaka 2.

一般