La Mulana Message Board

La-Mulana 2 reached its $200,000 Kickstarter goal almost a week ago, but it wasn't until yesterday that the funding period came to a close, giving the 2D platformer time to collect a few extra coins. The Kickstarter campaign ended with a total of $266,670, which means the inclusion of a "Father's Diary" mode to help bridge the story gap between La-Mulana and La-Mulana 2, as well as an in-game bestiary. There will also be ... curry.

Curry is a prominent item in La-Mulana 2. The soul, if you will. And that's not even us saying that; developer Playism Games refers to the dish as the soul of La-Mulana 2 on their Kickstarter page, and the team featured a "curry party" stretch goal of $200,256. The dev team will host their curry party on Twitch for fans to see.

Game Director Takumi Naramura will go one step farther and eat curry not just once, but three times a day for three days. Playism writes on the Kickstarter that this will "make him stronger" and allow him to make an even better game. Now you know the secret, would-be game developers: game design comes from the stomach. Or the toilet, depending on how well you handle spicy foods. [Image: Playism Games]

Only problem is, they (as in Japanese indie developer Nigoro) don't have the money for it. Not all of it. Not yet. You can already guess where this is going.Read more...

A sequel to Indy-does-Metroid retroesque platformer La-Mulana was announced last September, so hopefully no-one’s going ‘La-Mulana 2? Whaaaaaaaaaaat?’ in happy disebelief at this point. Today’s news focuses on the fact that devs NIGORO have taken the game to Kickstarter, looking for $200,000 for what they describe as “a direct sequel” to the 2012 PC port of the 2011 WiiWare English remake of the 2005 Japanese-only PC game.(more…)

The original La Mulana is quite well-revered around these parts, and with good reason. It’s basically Indiana Jones as a Metroidvania, only instead of Harrison Ford’s rugged charm and nigh-infinite bag of last-second tricks, you’re working with your own fickle reflexes and exceedingly mortal tendencies. Basically, you should be prepared to be stuck/stymied a lot, which is part of the reason Adam likes to compare it to Dark Souls so very, very much. And now a sequel’s in the works, which should please him (and you, and all lovers of exploration and challenge) to no end. You will actually never stop being pleased. That proposition might strike you as existentially confusing, so I’ll allow you a few seconds to ponder it while you click past the break for scant details. (more…)

La-Mulana 2 will send a new hero into unfamiliar, two-dimensional depths, Joystiq learned during yesterday's Tokyo Game Show festivities. Production is aiming for a 2014 release on PC, though whether the game will repeat the original's appearance on Steam has yet to be confirmed.

The game stars the daughter of La-Mulana's protagonist, Lemeza Kosugi. While the specifics of her character are still very much in the developmental stages, the brief gameplay demonstration we were shown by Nigoro's Takumi Naramura featured a very familiar whip front and center. Less familiar was the game's setting, which is Norse themed this time around, as well as its shiny new widescreen aspect ratio.

La-Mulana is Now Available on Steam


Will you fall prey to deadly traps or unravel the secrets of LA-MULANA?

LA-MULANA is an Archaeological Ruin Exploration Action Game in which you search inside ancient ruins, seeking out the Secret Treasure of Life which sleeps in the sprawling ruins of LA-MULANA and is said to be the beginning of all civilization. Apart from the plethora of traps lying in wait to stop intruders, there are also monsters on the prowl, protecting the ruins. Head for the innermost depths of the ruins while solving a variety of mysteries, fending off monsters, and disarming traps. Forging ahead will be no simple task the further into the depths you reach, the more difficult the mysteries become.

The new Groupees bundle includes loads of games but I haven’t even heard of most of them. It’s a ‘pay what you want’ deal, although the minimum price rises as you add more games from the selection. Two games will set you back a minimum of $1.50 and the reason I’m posting about it at all is that one of those two games could be La Mulana. If you don’t know about La Mulana, I’ll consider that at least partly my fault because I’ve been meaning to write down wot I think about it for months but, somehow, I always fail. I am a failure. La Mulana, however, is a roaring success. If you like Spelunky*, Metroid or Dark Souls, you should spend $.0.75 to buy La Mulana.

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A portion of a 4CR review...

It has been a long time since LA-MULANA was first announced for Wiiware, and I’m glad that Nigoro and Enjoy Up teamed up to release the game in the rest of the world as it would have been a shame for Wii owners to miss out on one of the best games in the system (retail or digital).

Full review here

A portion of an NWR review...

The game shines when it comes to its boss battles, enemy and item variety, aesthetic, and music. But experiencing all the game has to offer requires determination. La-Mulana is not a game for those without lots of time and patience.

Full review here

A portion of an MTV review...

To the millions of new gamers that were introduced to gaming through the Wii, consider La-Mulana a test to see if you have what it takes to keep playing, or find out if you were just a fair-weather fan. To the core gamers out there – La-Mulana is a test to see if you can get over yourselves and enjoy one last amazing game on a console before you officially put it to rest.

Full review here

A portion of a C3 review...

La-Mulana takes elements from fan-favourites, makes them its own by altering the formula a bit, and mixes them into a unique package that manages remarkably well to execute what it attempted to provide. It can only be hoped that more content from Nigoro appears on Nintendo platforms in the future, for that reason -- but to do so, players have to play their part, and give the game its chance.

Full review here

A portion of an ONM review...

The Wii's answer to Dark Souls or Spelunky. Harder than your average Metroid-a-like, but with a greater sense of accomplishment. Dauntingly good.

Full review here

A portion of an N-Sider review...

La-Mulana is a game that tells me each step of the way that this place is a place that maybe I shouldn't be yet. Unless I should.

Full review here

A portion of a Nintendo Life review...

With this title's significant size, if you can't beat one area you can just go to another first, so there are always options to progress. The lack of DLC is a bit of a disappointment, but the basic game is still, in a word: perfect.

Full review here

A portion of a WiisWorld review...

Though La-Mulana is not without a few things that might make more casual players balk, it also happens to be one of the best 2D titles in years and an amazing tribute to the days of early 80's gaming. It might be tricky at times and players will suffer, but that is part of what marks a truly great adventure.

Full review here

The remake of Nigoro's retro-inspired, brutally hard archaeological platformer La-Mulana recently made it to PC, but the long-awaited WiiWare release was canceled by publisher Nicalis.

Spanish developer EnjoyUp Games (Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ) has picked up La-Mulana for WiiWare, and will publish it in North America and Europe. The long, long wait is almost over: EnjoyUp plans to release the game on September 20.

La-Mulana follows Professor Lemeza into the ruins of La-Mulana after finding a note from his long-lost father. It's a Metroidvania-style game set in a deadly cave full of traps and monsters.

Any adventurer worth his salt knows the only things you need are a whip, a fedora, and plenty of RAM.

La Mulana is many things: a homage to the MSX system, the Indiana Jones Metroidvania game I always wanted, fiendishly difficult, beautifully designed. Now that the enhanced Wiiware version finally has its PC release, available at Playism for $14.99, I’ve settled on a new description that should excite most of the people who have somehow failed to be excited already. La Mulana is Dark Souls as a retro platform game, requiring thought and care, and punishing the over-confident. Trailer below.

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Have you suddenly developed a taste for cave-based, retro-inspired, super-difficult platformers after playing Spelunky? Good news!

The remake of La-Mulana, despite not making it to WiiWare, is available on PC through the new game distribution service Playism, which features primarily localized Japanese games. Developer Nigoro celebrated this new release with an overview trailer - featuring dance. To celebrate the start of the service, Playism is randomly giving away t-shirts, La-Mulana music, and a signed replica of the notebook from the game.

Speaking of that WiiWare version, it hasn't worked out so far, but Nigoro believes "there is a possibility to release WiiWare version." It won't have the planned DLC, and it's not a sure thing, but it may still happen.

Publisher Nicalis announced last night on Twitter that it would not publish the retro-inspired, cave-exploring WiiWare title La-Mulana in North America nor Europe. The publisher informed GoNintendo that WiiWare sales are "almost non-existent" and that it would be "near impossible to sell sufficient units on WiiWare" to make it worth the publisher's efforts.

"The WiiWare market has a fraction of the players from 2008," Nicalis producer Tyrone Rodriguez wrote in a statement. "The window for release and success of software on the platform ended in 2009 and took a very steep decline. Players have moved onto other digital download platforms."

Publisher Nicalis announced last night on Twitter that it would not publish the retro-inspired, cave-exploring WiiWare title La-Mulana in North America nor Europe. The publisher informed GoNintendo that WiiWare sales are "almost non-existent" and that it would be "near impossible to sell sufficient units on WiiWare" to make it worth the publisher's efforts.

"The WiiWare market has a fraction of the players from 2008," Nicalis producer Tyrone Rodriguez wrote in a statement. "The window for release and success of software on the platform ended in 2009 and took a very steep decline. Players have moved onto other digital download platforms."

After years in the making, La-Mulana won't be making it to WiiWare after all. "Regarding La-Mulana, we have chosen to cancel publishing in North America and Europe for WiiWare." That's the official word sent out today via publisher Nicalis' official Twitter account. Tyrone Rodriguez, publisher ...