La-Mulana

About

La-Mulana is a 2D platformer with heavy Metroidvania influences that tasks you with navigating a large underground temple filled with traps, puzzles, and secrets. As whip-wielding explorer Lemeza, you'll backtrack through shifting environments as new abilities and items unlock previously inaccessible areas. The game's layout resists linear progression, often dropping you into ambiguous paths where trial and error are your best tools. MSX-era pixel art gives it a retro charm while the lack of hand-holding ensures frequent frustration and discovery. Released in 2005 by GR3 Project, La-Mulana built a cult following for its punishing difficulty and intricate design. Community forums frequently cite its environmental puzzles as both baffling and satisfying, with some players spending hundreds of hours mapping routes. An English translation by Ian Kelley expanded its reach beyond Japan, though the game's cryptic nature remains unchanged. Its non-linear structure and reliance on player intuition have earned it a 78% on Metacritic, with fans praising its old-school approach to exploration.

Storyline

The protagonist of the game is Lemeza, a whip wielding adventurer similar to Indiana Jones exploring the tomb within La-Mulana. Although there is only one ending in the game there are many ways to get there, in that completing objectives in the game (gaining power ups and reaching new areas) is not linear, nor is there an obvious recommended path to take. Many powerups will allow you to reach new areas (similar to Super Metroid), but the game gives no indication of where to go.