Why Mullet Madjack’s retro VHS-era anime art style still stands out. Over the years, cyberpunk has become synonymous with neon and glassy surfaces. But PC-shooter Mullet Madjack, coming to Switch on 30 April, prefers a rougher aesthetic, harking back to classic '80s anime like Akira and Cyber City Oedo 808. Visuals are controlled with red as the focal point against metal walls, while the user interface nods to MS-DOS and Windows 1.0.

The game is built for speed and pressure, a frantic shooter where health depletes over time, weapons can be swapped from pistols to samurai swords, and every kill propels you forward. It’s chaotic, loud, and intentionally overwhelming, with over 50 power-ups and endless modes. Visually, the VHS shader introduces noise and low-res film grain effects, hand-adjusted animation frames simulate pre-digital animation, and lighting is carefully tied to sprites.

Martinello, game director and art director, emphasizes that this style requires deep love for '80s anime. The imperfections—noise, rough textures—are integral, not flaws. This approach makes Mullet Madjack both a throwback and a reconstruction, embracing a visual language often massaged away in modern games.

Mullet Madjack’s unique art-first approach stands out amidst a crowded genre. It’s the kind of colourful, fast shooter that feels impossible to put down, with missions blasted through in minutes. Nostalgia is a part of its design, but it’s about more—rebuilding and embracing a visual language that can often be massaged away.