WayForward’s The Mummy Demastered brings 16-bit nonlinear action to consoles
WayForward's retro-inspired action game proves that movie tie-ins don't have to be terrible, offering a nonlinear 16-bit experience.
According to a listing on the PlayStation Store, the developer is bringing The Mummy Demastered to consoles. The title offers a "16-bit-inspired battle against the undead" that deliberately eschews modern photorealism for the chunky, pixelated aesthetic of the early 1990s.
A Pixelated Prodigium
The game casts players as an elite agent within the Prodigium organization. Rather than playing as the film's protagonist, you are a faceless soldier tasked with taking down Princess Ahmanet. The store description outlines a "nonlinear, action-packed adventure," which suggests the exploration-heavy map design often found in the Metroidvania genre.
WayForward lists a standard arsenal for this type of affair. Players will utilize "a variety of weapons, upgrades, and magical artifacts" to survive. While the source material involves a cinematic universe that struggled to find its footing, the developer has a track record that suggests the game might outlive the film's reputation. WayForward is the studio behind the Shantae series and Contra 4, giving them significant credibility when it comes to side-scrolling action.
Why It Matters
In an era where "retro" is often used as a synonym for "low budget," The Mummy Demastered represents a specific type of preservationist mindset. It attempts to answer what a licensed game might have looked like if the movie had been released in 1994 rather than 2017. It is a stylistic de-evolution that prioritizes tight gameplay loops over cinematic flair.
The game promises to pit players against "supernatural hordes" in a battle to save humanity. For those of us who prefer our licensed games to play like Super Metroid rather than an interactive movie trailer, this is a welcome addition to the library.
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