REVIEW / Mustache in Hell (PS4)

I grew up within the 90s and as such do not forget that interval of gaming properly. As a SEGA child, I moved from the Master System to the Mega Drive after which onto the Dreamcast. As such I had the fortune of seeing gaming come leaps and bounds from the 8-bit to the 16 and eventually 32-bit generations. This meant that in ten years I noticed large adjustments in what these consoles had been able to. This is one thing that I don’t assume you possibly can see as starkly in our techniques at present. This additionally implies that I bear in mind what made 16-bit recreation good and what the issues had been. This is essential as a result of Mustache in Hell, the sport we’ll be at present would have been very at dwelling on the Mega Drive (Genesis for the remainder of you.) The query is, nevertheless, as as to whether this can be a trustworthy homage to a time passed by or one thing probably higher left up to now?

I’ve been enjoying the PS4 model of Mustache in Hell and this can be a recreation that’s in all probability finest described as a twin-stick shooter however with out all the nuance that makes that style actually particular. We’re going again to a time after we didn’t even have thumb pads so the idea feels somewhat bit misplaced in a title that’s taking a retro strategy. Let’s name this extra of a shooter with twin-stick controls. I’m splitting hairs however I really feel it’s essential on this occasion.

Mustache in Hell is a fairly enjoyable recreation however fittingly for the 16-bit period when cartridge sizes weren’t very massive, there isn’t an enormous quantity to it. You tackle the function of John Mustache. You’ve simply met your premature finish however as a result of you possibly can deal with your self and Death has an issue you’re tasked with traversing the layers of hell in an try to gather magical cubes, every of which is guarded by a boss. This barely foolish premise isn’t an issue, it provides a sure light-heartedness to what might in any other case be fairly a darkish recreation. The concern is the whole lot else.

There are about 5 ranges that you just’ll play via in Mustache in Hell, every representing one among Hell’s fiendish layers. The first stage could possibly be classed as extra of a tutorial and I completed this in about half an hour. Again, this in and of itself is okay. The drawback is that this stage makes up 20% of the complete recreation, so that you’re shortening your general playtime by fairly a bit from the off. In reality, it was the third boss that killed me on my first correct playthrough. I by no means did like spiders. After this I didn’t actually really feel a lot of a pull to maintain going and there are a number of causes for this.

The levels in Mustache in Hell are principally mazes with interconnecting rooms. Many of those rooms are arenas the place you’ll maintain getting mobbed by baddies till you kill sufficient or full a sure job. Once finished you decide up a key and are in your approach. The concern is that there’s nothing in between. You can stroll round as a lot as you want however you’ll solely set off a battle in case you step into one among these areas. Once you’ve cleared a room it’s clear which means you’ll solely should face so many battles per stage. The ranges really feel actually quick so an honest shooter fan will burn via one in about 15 to twenty minutes. Once you’ve accomplished the extent you’ve gotten the boss room, seize your dice and are finished. There are secrets and techniques to search out and these hidden rooms are helpful in case you can as a result of they comprise well being and lives however as a result of the degrees are a bit bland you’re feeling extra of an urge to simply battle via somewhat than begin attempting to find issues.

The graphics in Mustache in Hell are about so simple as you may get. Even if we’re assuming we’re going for a retro really feel and bearing that in thoughts they nonetheless really feel overly primary. After the colourful however merely drawn enemies, the stage feels massive and empty with the odd crate, statue, or entice in it however that’s about it. These traps solely set off throughout fight so that they’re simply added fluff while you’re finished. The music whilst you’re preventing is respectable sufficient however the sound results get annoying actually shortly. Aside from this, all you’ll hear are John’s footsteps as he wanders across the place. I don’t have an issue with issues being finished merely however this feels primary and empty and there’s a refined distinction there.

The controls are easy however can really feel a bit fiddly at instances. As anticipated, you get mobbed by enemies, and you end up transferring in circles, however the collision detection on the crates you have to decide up so you possibly can seize weapons is fairly poor. I spent extra time simply lacking these crates than I did amassing weapons and this will get irritating while you would possibly must circle a big enviornment to get again to the place you have to be as a result of there are monsters in your approach. On the opposite aspect of it, you possibly can’t move via a mob of monsters you’ll simply get caught and sit there draining well being. This means getting backed right into a nook is a very harmful prospect as a result of it’s tough to strafe out of the best way.

The weapons you decide up include a important weapon and an explosive. This is okay however there’s not a whole lot of alternative. In the primary three zones, I discovered a machine gun, shotgun, and flamethrower. The secondaries are grenades and mines. I might have appreciated a bit extra of an arsenal to discover and the weapons whereas clearly completely different weren’t completely different sufficient to change my play type. After this, you’ll decide up keys, lives, and well being. There are some secrets and techniques to gather, however that’s it.

All in all, I can see what Mustache in Hell is making an attempt to perform however there isn’t sufficient there to make for something greater than a small burst of enjoyable. This is the kind of factor that you just would possibly decide up for twenty minutes at a time however I can’t see this title pulling anybody in for lengthy intervals. Once an honest shooter participant has found out the sport loop, which isn’t exhausting, that is going to be a reasonably quick and simple title to finish. After that, aside from possibly going secret searching, I don’t see this being a title I’d maintain enjoying for lengthy. One plus level is that this title is barely £3.99 on the PlayStation Store. For the sum complete of 4 quid, you aren’t going to expect miracles nevertheless it doesn’t cease this title from being short-lasting enjoyable.