
Mekkablood: Quarry Assault
Release Date: January 20, 2025
Action, FPP, science fiction, FPS, mechs, crowdfunding, indie games, shooters, boomer shooter, singleplayer
Steam
A boomer shooter FPS, in which we take control over a powerful mech and deal with hordes of enemies. Mekkablood: Quarry Assault allows us to defeat opponents using ranged weapons and blades when they get closer. The game offers pixel art graphics and AI tools were used to create textures, music and some sounds.
Mekkablood: Quarry Assault is a boomer shooter made in a style reminiscent of 16-bit FPS titles from the first half of the 1990s. The game was developed by the independent studio KRUMB Games and has a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter behind it.
Story
Mekkablood: Quarry Assault presents us with a vision of the future in which natural resources are running out, making the remaining ones a tempting treat for greedy corporations. The main character of the game is Bill and he holds a mining concession for Fluxiam-7. He eventually finds himself in the crosshairs of TorxCorp, which steals his valuable figurines and also kidnaps his girlfriend named Beth.
Therefore, the protagonist has no choice but to take the helm of his titular mech to forcefully reclaim what belongs to him. Bill can also try to save his beloved.
Gameplay
In Mekkablood: Quarry Assault, we watch the action from a first-person perspective (FPP), specifically - from the cockpit of a walking machine. While exploring locations, we mainly engage in combat with opponents. We eliminate enemies by using ranged weapons or fighting in close combat with the help of rotating blades. During exploration, it's worth keeping our eyes peeled, as on every level we can find a secret area, and within it - limited edition Dash figurines and other cockpit decorations.
Graphics and technical bits
The graphic design of Mekkablood: Quarry Assault was made in pixel art technique and combines three-dimensional locations with two-dimensional enemy sprites.
The authors of the game used tools such as Dall-E 3 (for generating textures), Suno (for generating music), and ElevenLabs (for generating sound effects for some dialogue lines).
Videos and Screens
[0:42] Mekkablood: Quarry Assault - Trailer
The main pros of the game
- Nostalgic Appeal: Many players appreciate the retro feel and similarities to classic boomer shooters like Doom and Duke Nukem, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Unique Mechanics: The game features interesting mechanics, such as a dash attack and the ability to see behind the mech, which adds a layer of strategy and mobility to combat.
- Visual Style: While some criticize the use of AI-generated assets, others find the art style visually appealing and fitting for the game's theme.
- Fun Combat: Players generally enjoy the fast-paced shooting and the variety of weapons available, with some noting that the core gameplay loop is engaging.
- Developer Effort: Some reviews acknowledge the effort put in by a solo developer, highlighting that the game has potential and is fun despite its flaws.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Gameplay: Many users pointed out that the levels become monotonous over time, with similar design and a lack of variety in gameplay.
- Poor Enemy AI: Reviews mention issues with enemy behavior, including them being unaware of the player's presence or behaving inconsistently.
- Lack of Features: Players noted the absence of basic features such as difficulty options, quick save functionality, and a minimap, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Audio and Visual Issues: Criticism was directed at the sound effects and music quality, with some feeling that the audio did not enhance the gameplay experience.
- Pricing Concerns: Several users felt that the game is overpriced given its content and quality, suggesting it should be sold at a lower price point.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Quick Save Option: Players expressed a strong desire for a quick save feature, as the current checkpoint system can be frustrating.
- Map or Navigation Aid: A minimap or better level design to help players navigate would be beneficial, as some users reported getting lost in the corridors.
- Difficulty Settings: The absence of adjustable difficulty levels was noted, with players wishing for more control over the challenge.
- Enhanced Enemy and Level Design: Users mentioned the need for more varied and interesting enemy designs, as well as more unique and engaging level layouts.
- Improved Audio Design: Many reviews pointed out the need for better sound effects and music that would enhance the overall gaming experience.
Summary
- In summary, Mekkablood: Quarry Assault has a solid foundation with nostalgic elements and fun gameplay, but it suffers from repetitiveness, lack of features, and quality concerns that have led to mixed reviews from players.
Summary generated on:
Mekkablood: Quarry Assault Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: KRUMB Games
Publisher: Judatone Studios
Age restrictions: 16+
Mekkablood: Quarry Assault System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-8400, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1650, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-10400, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 2070, 8 GB HDD, Windows 11 64-bit