MADNESS: Project Nexus
a game by | GIBBING TREE, LLC |
Platform: | PC (2020) |
Editor Rating: | 8.3/10, based on 3 reviews, 1 review is shown |
User Rating: | 7.6/10 - 106 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Best Indie Games, High Score Games, Gore Games, Shoot 'Em Up Games |
MADNESS: Project Nexus is fast, brutal, and mind-numbingly fun; this run and gun game throws some beat-’em-up elements into the mix to create a unique experience that blends the best of retro gaming and modern twin-stick shooters.
The goal of the game is simple: survive the endless hordes of assailants that plague the game’s brutal arena mode. As you make your way through the neverending scores of enemies, you’ll turn your Madness warrior into an unstoppable killing machine. If you’re not afraid of a little gore in your games, and you’re in the mood for some unforgiving old-school arcade action, then MADNESS: Project Nexus has got you covered.
Single-player experience
Although the Arena Mode is clearly intended to be the centerpiece of the game, the game also features a decent campaign mode. The story might not be something to write home about, but the inclusion of an objective-based campaign mode helps to flesh out the game’s world.
The over the top nature of the game’s campaign, along with the violence and shooting mechanics, greatly reminded us of games like the original Postal. The campaign will have you running and shooting at a variety of wackos and nutjobs that are increasingly hard to deal with it. One of the best enemies of the game are the ones known as “Mag Agents”: these gargantuan foes will leave you trembling, as they more than triple your character’s size.
A history of MADNESS
If you’ve ever been on Newgrounds before, then you’ve likely heard of the MADNESS series before. The original MADNESS: Project Nexus was a 2d side-scrolling shooter that gained a lot of traction on Newgrounds. Now, the team behind the original Flash game brings us this new entry in the series, retaining what made the original game so good.
Simple yet unforgivingly brutal, this game’s arcade difficulty levels reminds us of the piles of coins spent playing games like Metal Slug. It definitely pays a nice homage to a bygone era of arcade games while retaining some much-needed quality of life mechanics.
Visuals and presentation
Graphically speaking, MADNESS: Project Nexus isn’t the next Crysis. That said, the game’s graphics are more than enough to bring the Madness combatants to life in a 3D environment. Compared to the old 2D style of previous MADNESS titles, this version of Project Nexus manages to maintain the original spirit of the game intact. While many games that go from 2D to 3D tend to lose a bit of their personality in the process, the developers of Project Nexus managed to replicate the grungy look of the MADNESS series to a T.
MADNESS: Project Nexus is a game that’s been shaped by its dedicated community. From its simple origins as a Newgrounds Flash game to being a fully-fledged 3D game on Steam, this is a game that’s been adapting to its audience’s tastes.
The Arena Mode provides hours upon hours of exhilarating encounters, as you improve your character and try to overcome the increasingly daunting odds. The graphics might look a little simple, but considering the source material, it could be said that they’re indeed a proper adaptation of the original models.
Overall, MADNESS: Project Nexus is a nice homage to the history of hyper-violent classic Newgrounds games, and also a great time-waster for fans of shoot ’em ups that like keeping things as simple as possible.
Pros
- Quick-paced action
- Robust Arena Mode
- Nice Presentation
Cons
- Customization in arena mode is a little bare-bones
- Graphic style might not be to everyone’s liking
Download MADNESS: Project Nexus
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP