La-Mulana

La-Mulana is a side-scrolling adventure game about an archaeologist on a quest to retrieve the secret treasure of life by solving puzzles inside the titular ruins of La-Mulana. Players use a whip along with various other platforming and combat items in order to progress deeper into the ruins. This is a singularly tough game that places an emphasis on exploration and experimentation, with its metroidvania-style map opening up various paths.

You start out as Lemeza Kosugi, an archaeologist determined to explore the La-Mulana ruins after receiving a letter from his father. Each gameplay loop has you choosing a path into an area within the ruins, fighting enemies, and uncovering secrets in order to progress further. Explore various realms within La-Mulana, returning to the surface whenever necessary — but beware, sometimes it might be best to push on, as certain rooms are difficult to access from the surface a second time.

While the game features a unique ending, it plays in a non-linear and mostly unguided way, in the vein of other puzzle adventures like Animal Well and Tunic. Observe, step on platforms, hit things, and move the player character to every corner of the map in order to discover new items and paths that in turn open up more options for exploration. You will also find scattered notes that reveal the mythical story behind the ruins. Be prepared for a challenge though, as the awkward character movement and the cryptic puzzles sometimes add up to a harrowing game experience.

La-Mulana was first released in 2006 with an MSX-era art style. It was later remade and rereleased in 2011 with smoother graphics and difficulty rebalances. As such, it blends retro visuals and conservative platforming with modern metroidvania sensibilities and opaque puzzles. Many secrets lie in wait and curious players will soon discover a trove to unearth as they tread dangerous ground.

This description was written by Hira.