BAD MOJO REVIEW

 Developer: Pulse Entertainment

Publishers: Acclaim Entertainment (Original) ; Got Game Entertainment (Redux)

Release dates - Original: 23-02-1996 (US) & 27-04-1996 (UK); Redux: 09-12-2004 (US) & 08-06-2007 (EU)

Platforms: PC

Genre: Adventure

Mode: Single-player

The history of adventure games is long and very rich. What started off as a silly little genre in the 70s through text-based games, in which you read the scenario and then type out a single word or a sentence to advance the story or action, to an experience that rivals, or may even surpass films and tv series. But it seems that no matter how much time passes, or through how many other evolutions this genre will go through, the 90s is the era where these games truly reached the height of innovation and entertainment. The point and click adventure games thrived in this era. With colourful graphics, delightful or atmospheric music, and with just enough puzzle solving that would glue its players to the big ol’ CRT monitor for hours on end. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Monkey Island, Leisure Suit Larry, and probably tons more out there thrived in this era. These games brought so much on the table that not only adventure games, but video games as a whole follow some of their examples to be more entertaining and fun to play. Hell, I went through one tough adventure in an attempt to obtain the greatest sidearm in the history of mankind in Battlefield 1. I had to do Morse code, watch patterns, go to different locations. But it was worth it and I owe it all to this genre of video games. Mainly Tomb Raider, since those games are riddled with adventurous puzzles waiting to be solved with wit, wisdom, calmness and LOADS OF BULLETS!!!

Another topic that is connected with adventure games, although longer in duration than said genre, but just as influential and ever evolving, is of course… THE GOD DAMN COCKROACH!!!

Now hear me out. A normal person would write letters to the world leaders asking to nuke the planet once they see one of these creatures speedrunning in their house. And for a good reason: They’re disgusting, they always live in the trash or unclean parts of the house/building, they go after your food, they’re hard sons of bitches to kill, and they fly (only when they feel like it) and multiply better than rabbits. The real kicker is that this behaviour of theirs has turned them, in my own opinion, into apex survivors. They can survive artillery strikes, their immune system is the best in nature, their milk is REALLY strong, and are good for pulling a prank on your wife when she least expects it. Another pro I can point out is that when they’re wandering around, they end up in the darkest of places. The memories that belong to us, someone else, or some place. They will uncover secret memories, but never reveal them to anyone… Probably because they got annihilated whilst trying to escape the boot, broom or whatever was found to use it as a weapon on them. 

You may be wondering, how on earth did I manage to combine two completely different things in today’s topic and somehow end up saying they have a lot in common? If the icon and cover art didn’t give it away, then you are obviously blind to what is in front of you. But do not hate nor fear yourself, for that is who you are. Running away won’t solve your inner problems…

Bad Mojo is an adventure game released in 1996 and later re-released in 2004 for PC. The development of the game, according to the developers, was very rocky and directionless. But after a few brainstorming ideas, many of which included Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”; the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the cretins I talked above, they decided to make an adventure game based on puzzle solving, while incorporating themes found in the book and film.

The game uses a very creative mix of live action and CG. In the cutscenes, the player will have a hard time trying to distinguish which parts of the footage is CG, and which is live action. It’s all very well done in this department.

Specialists and a few other solutions were hired and incorporated to enhance the experience further: professional trainers, donations from universities and biological researching facilities, food shops, and rat killers. The developers had to freeze cockroaches to capture and study their movement.

The music itself was composed by the American electro-industrial one-man band Xorcist. Its moody, eerie and sad themes capture the very core of the game to a T. And I think it’s the perfect time to go into the story of the game. What is Bad Mojo all about?

PLOT (no spoilers)

The game centres around entomologist Roger Samms (played by Michael X. Sommers, who ALSO voiced the characters Alex and Necro in SF3 New Generation and SF3 2nd Impact), who has embezzled $1.000.000 research grant from a science corporation and is on his way to escape to Mexico and start anew. Before departing however, he has to leave his rented apartment at Eddie’s Bar, run by Eddie Battito (played by Mike Gilliam). After a brief argument with him, and paying him off to leave Roger alone, the entomologist takes out a cockroach-patterned locket, which belonged to his deceased mother, Angelina (played by Susan Volkan).

Interacting with it causes Roger to be shocked and his conscience and soul transformed into a cockroach. From this point on, he needs to uncover the secrets that the bar is hiding, and discover who he really is, with the help of an oracle accompanying him throughout this grotesque adventure.

GAMEPLAY

You’re a cockroach wandering around. Need I say more?

Okay there’s more to it than just wandering around like a cockroach.

Before you even begin walking around, you must first select where you want to go and explore. You’re dumped in a major sewer hub where you can choose only one of the 6 possible tunnels that lead to the desired location to explore.

Once you select your location, you are free to move around and explore. This is the part where I have to bring out that the game’s options are very limited for the game, and that it won’t run on a proper full screen. The game screen will be just a square with nothing but black around it. It’s not an issue, however, as objects and important items are impossible to miss. The only option that may be of some significance is the control type. There are 3 options for the player to choose how to control the cockroach: Arrow keys, WASD & IJKL. 

Options are taken care of. Now for the actual gameplay. Once you select your “world”, you crawl out of a sewer and start exploring your surroundings. The graphics of the game are disgusting and eerie, and some may even feel uneasy and disturbed with them. Lots of gore, blood, trash and larvae are what make up the visuals of this game. All of the backgrounds where you walk around seem to be pre-made, with certain elements programmed to give the illusion of moving up or down. Necessary items (which can be pushed or carried), including the playable pest, are all highlighted differently from the backgrounds, and are very easy to spot in case confusion arises.

While looking around, certain spots in the area will be marked with a flaming eye. These spots have an insect right next to them that when the player stands on the eye, will approach them and give them a riddle for the player to solve in a very disturbing and sad way. The animals are controlled by an Oracle, who plays a major role in the story. Some spots in the depressing bar can also be triggered by the player, should they find them and walk near them. These mostly consist of additional FMVs that either fill the gaps in the story, or give out a hint for a specific puzzle or do environmental story telling.

Exploring isn’t without its dangers, as other pests and the elements of the bar will try and kill the player if they’re not careful or too careless with their exploration.

The player has 4 lives, and once the last life is lost, it’s “game over” and the players must start the new level from the beginning.

Once the endgame is reached, the player gains the possibility of hopping through the other areas of the bar by using the main hub area from the beginning.

SLIGHT SPOILERS: The game contains 4 endings. Each is achieved if a certain criteria is met. Given the nature of the game, you can probably guess it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

MUSIC

Grotesque, eerie, melancholic, soul draining, keeps you on your toes. That’s the best way to describe this game’s soundtrack. It OOZES personality, and enhances and enriches the game’s setting tenfold. My memories of this game would’ve been weaker, had it not been for this score, especially during the rat king fight. The soundtrack comes along with the purchased copy of the game. But in case you want to have a quick listen to it, click here to check out the soundtrack.
WHICH YOU CAN BUY IT HERE… OR HERE

GALLERY

FINAL THOUGHTS

Bad Mojo isn’t for everyone. This may come because of it being a very Kafka-esque experience with the topics, the main character becoming a cockroach, and the gross environments the player has to go through in order to reach the goal of the game. The soundtrack may also make people feel the same for the abovementioned reasons. But if you have a deep appreciation for depressing art, or for something deep and philosophical, and you’re craving for a grand time adventuring through piles of thrash and sewer pipes, while avoiding death, then this game is a must-play. It’s very obscure and not many people know about it, but the very few that have beaten it (including myself) will all tell you it’s worth your time. On top of the unique experience, the over the top acting in the cutscenes also adds to the magic of this game. And if you’re one of those people that doesn’t have a lot of free time, but want to play a game or two, the length of this one isn’t very long, even on your first play it’s not very long. If anything, this game gave me the motivation to finally read Kafka, an author I’ve been putting on the side for a bit. Bad Mojo stands on its own in the adventure genre and I have to say it again, IT’S A MUST PLAY!

The answer is family, not fortune and fame…

Ѓорѓи „GioGio“ Илиев