- DEVELOPER: KRUMB Games
- PUBLISHER: Judatone Studios
- PLATFORMS: PC
- GENRE: Boomer Shooter
- RELEASE DATE: January 20, 2024
- STARTING PRICE: 14,79 €
- REVIEWED VERSION: PC
Welcome to January, a month filled with boomer shooters that will waste hours of your life. Next on our list is Mekkablood: Quarry Assault, a retro-inspired first-person shooter that combines mecha combat with the frenetic pace of 90s shooters. Set in a gritty, resource-driven future, it captures the nostalgic charm of the era while introducing its own unique elements, including a relatable everyman protagonist and an offbeat narrative.
The game’s story is refreshingly quirky, centering on Bill, a former trucker-turned-robojockey, as he fights to rescue his girlfriend and reclaim his stolen figurines from the ruthless TorxCorp. With support from his grounded but loyal friend, Rustry, Bill’s quest combines humor, charm, and a touch of nostalgia. The narrative plays with genre tropes, offering a lighthearted take on the traditionally serious mecha formula. While the story is straightforward, its humor and colorful characters provide a memorable backdrop to the game’s action.
The start is strong, but the finish is lackluster
I decided to overlook the controversy surrounding the use of generative AI in the game (which is clearly marked on Steam due to their policy) and dove straight into the gameplay. There are several standout elements worth highlighting. The cockpit of your mech is incredibly detailed, filled with cluttered messes, leftover food, functional monitors, figurines on the sides, and countless buttons. You can even see Bill’s hands moving as you control the mech. Practical elements, such as indicators for boost duration and a rear-view camera are integrated into the design. The UI is clean and simple, never overwhelming, which is a big plus.
That said, the cockpit takes up a significant portion of the screen, limiting your view of the outside world. For me, this wasn’t a major issue, it actually enhanced the immersion by making me feel like I was truly inside a mech. It offered a unique perspective, as you’re constantly balancing between monitoring the cockpit and watching the action outside.
However, my biggest gripe lies with the weapon design. While the game features a variety of weapons, including shotguns, rocket launchers, and plasma guns, they feel underwhelming. The guns appear tiny and lack a sense of impact, which detracts from the gameplay. I was hoping for something more dynamic, like side-mounted mini-guns that conveyed the raw power of the mech, but the weapon design just didn’t deliver that feeling.
The main reason for this lack of impact is the minimal animation. Most weapons don’t clearly show bullets being fired, and while some do, the visuals are hard to notice in the chaos. The same applies to enemies, their projectiles are barely visible, making it difficult to track attacks. In most encounters, you’re left guessing where to dodge, relying on instinct rather than visual feedback. This minimal animation diminishes the dynamic combat experience that could have made the game truly stand out.
Overly repetitive gameplay
Shooting often feels like firing into thin air, with little sense of impact or satisfaction. Another aspect that quickly loses its appeal is the enemy variety. Whether it’s flying enemies or ground-based ones chasing you, they become overly repetitive and fail to pose any real threat. Most of my deaths were caused by environmental traps like lasers or crushing machines as I tried to figure out how to navigate them, rather than by enemies themselves. Even when swarmed by foes, it was relatively easy to deal with them.
The game also desperately lacks proper boss fights. While there are enemies that could technically qualify as bosses due to their larger health pools and stronger attacks, they feel indistinguishable from regular enemies. There’s no sense of buildup or spectacle, and they fail to leave a memorable impression.
But not everything is so bleak. This title brings something unique, the charm of playing boomer shooter games that takes you back to nostalgic times. These are not just randomly thrown assets and content without direction. The game has its beginning and end, and it is up to you to decide how you will experience it. It is hard to please everyone, especially since boomer shooters have a diverse player base, but what Mekkablood manages to do excellently is provide a simple and intuitive approach to combat. It is not difficult to master the basics, and once you do, destroying everything in your path becomes extremely satisfying.
The levels are another major disappointment. Bland and uninspired, they fail to take advantage of the unique possibilities offered by a mech-focused game. The environments lack distinct features or creative challenges, making progression feel repetitive. Every room feels similar, and it’s difficult to find hidden areas where collectibles like figurines might be placed. The atmosphere rarely changes, and while outdoor areas were more enjoyable than indoor ones, the overall sameness of the content makes it hard to stay engaged for long.
Ending thoughts
On the positive side, the retro-inspired visuals strike a good balance between detail and nostalgia. The mechs are well-designed, with clear nods to classics like Gundam and MechWarrior. However, the audio design leaves much to be desired. Weapon sounds and explosions lack the punch needed to convey the power of controlling a giant mech, feeling muted and underwhelming. While the music complements the retro aesthetic and fits the game’s tone, it doesn’t stand out or leave a lasting impression.
Mekkablood: Quarry Assault is a solid attempt at blending retro FPS mechanics with mecha combat. Its funny story, and nostalgic nods to mecha classics make it an enjoyable ride for fans of the genre. However, lackluster level design, unimpactful combat, and a lack of depth prevent it from fully realizing its potential. While the game is solid enough, those with high expectations may be somewhat disappointed.
Ultimately, Mekkablood: Quarry Assault captures the retro charm of classic mech shooters but stumbles in delivering the impact and variety that made those games memorable. If you’re a fan of the genre, it’s worth a shot, but don’t expect it to dethrone the classics.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Interesting concept. | Overly repetitive. |
| The cabin inside the mech looks great. | Unimpressive combat. |
| It pays homage to the classics. | Monotonous level design. |
| Colorful ambient and interesting characters. | There isn't much depth to the gameplay. |
Review copy provided by the publisher
3
English (UK) 
Hrvatski