Games made as licensed tie-ins to movies have a certain reputation of not being particularly good. And then there are instances where a movie that was not particularly good gets a gam adaptation, which can be cause for worry. However, every so often we come across a licensed game that is actually good, such as the classic Goldeneye 007 on N64. This year saw the release of the reboot of “The Mummy” franchise, and while that movie is sadly best left forgotten, I am happy to report that the same is not true of the tie in game.
The Mummy: Demastered is a throwback to classic gaming, particularly Super Metroid and Contra, with elements of Casltevania as well as WayForward’s DS game Aliens: Infestation. Like in the latter game, if your marine is killed, you start over with a new marine from your last save point. However, here the difference is twofold in that there is no limit to the amount of lives and also that you can kill your zombified former character to recover your gear.
It is strange, but this feels less like a movie tie in game, than a game that just happens to take inspiration from the ideas in the movie. This is a very good thing, as it means the game is not held down by anything and can just go all in on being a great game. As noted above, the game takes a lot of inspiration from the classics, and I daresay this is one of the best metroidvanias made in recent years. The atmosphere is tense, like in Super Metroid, and the enemies and powerups are used well as tools to expand the game, rather than just being powerups. The openness of the game, is combined with a claustrophobic feeling that truly helps create an amazing atmosphere for the game.
On Nintendo Switch, the game makes excellent use of the HD rumble and this comes in handy more than might be expected. I have to say that WayForward did things that one wouldn’t expect, and I do not want to give away spoilers about that. I will note that many complain about the game being too difficult, and say that it is hard, but it is also very fair at the same time. It doesn’t put cheap challenges in your way, and gives you multiple ways to make it through. This is just a well done masterpiece and a brilliant example of a licensed game done right. I fully recommend this!
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Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
Disclaimer: WayForward provided a review code.