It’s as straightforward a plot as you’d expect in a related video game, but there are some interesting twists to keep players on their toes. If you die in-game, you will respawn as a different soldier, but your former protagonist’s body will have been reanimated, forcing you to take down a zombified version of your former self to retrieve key items left behind. This mechanic is then further explored in the endgame, with up to three possible endings available based on your performance, with a special ending unlocked if you manage to get through the entire game without dying once.
Perhaps most importantly, though, The Mummy Demastered accomplished something the movie couldn’t; something that Brendan Fraser had communicated so succinctly in a few short sentences. It was fun. Very funny, actually! Drawing inspiration from the likes of Contra, Castlevania, and Ghosts ‘n Ghouls, The Mummy Demastered is a pixel art Metroidvania where you navigate through a labyrinthine environment teeming with undead beasts. You’ll find locked passageways that will later open up entirely new areas once you locate the key or item needed to proceed.
As you progress, you gain new weapons – grenades, powerful machine guns and the like – along with invaluable health upgrades. To counter this, the game introduces new enemy types and boss characters that will test the skills of even the most hardcore Metroidvania fan. There’s nothing here that hasn’t necessarily been done before (and possibly better, in some cases), but it’s simple and fun without the pomp or absurdity of the movie itself.
In fact, aside from the occasional brief appearance by Russel Crowe and Sofia Boutella, the game almost actively distances itself from the movie, and is all the better for it. Are you hoping to play a racing simulator starring Tom Cruise? Think again. Are you looking forward to seeing some comedic scenes with a ghostly Jake Johnson? Well, you’re not going to get it here, mate. We think some people might be put off by the idea of a game based on such a terrible movie, and in some ways we wouldn’t be surprised if the link between the two actively damaged the success of The Mummy Demastered. A demake of the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz movie? Hell, that would draw a crowd! Tom Cruise’s? Erm, no, you’re fine.
However, if you’re a fan of Metroidvanias and haven’t played WayForward’s version of The Mummy yet, do yourself a favor and download ASAP! It’s exciting and captivating in equal measure, and that’s the same now as it was five years ago; in short, it is everything the film is not.
Let us know in the comments what you think of The Mummy Demastered and the ill-fated movie. Is it the best game out of a bad movie?
