Mad Adventures Review: Powerful Party Play!

Available now on PC and developed by Nel Mad Adventures (formally known as Baka Adventures) is an online multiplayer platform party game. In this exciting indie title, you will play a series of mini-games across several in-game days and gather coins to use for neat buffs and upgrades. These mini-games range from racing to defuse bombs in a giant game of tag, avoiding massive sandworms, and playing soccer with giant balls. Because it wouldn’t be a multiplayer party game without at least one soccer-inspired mode.

In all honesty dear reader, Ol’ Chris isn’t the biggest multiplayer gamer. Aside from Team Fortress 2, I don’t do a lot of it. So I came into this one curious to see how I’d enjoy it. And I have to say that Mad Adventures has been a fun title to play and review. Offering a slice of gameplay fun that offers some wild moments and a nice selection of game modes. Even if deep down I do feel that it could do with a few more to for good measure. Still, with all that out of the way, on to the review.

Mad Adventures is currently available on Steam and is free to play.

Story – Well!

As one would expect Mad Adventures has no story. It is a multiplayer party title with a host of levels and modes to select from. There is nothing deeper than this. Though descriptions for some of the items you can get do hit to some form of backstory and the wider world. Even if it largely feels inconsequential. And so in situations like this, we turn to the utility of the writing. And for the most part, the game does a decent job. At least for the most part. I will be blunt, but I do feel that some text sections are hard to understand.

The lobby in Mad Adventures features a fire you can throw money into. Why? No idea.

Between days in the game, you’ll visit a base camp which has a variety of different items that you can interact with. Some are novelties. And others can give you boosts in upcoming games in exchange for money gained in matches. However, what some of these items do isn’t always clear. Or at least not as clear as it should be. And even when they are, the boosts they give you rarely feel with the money. And I’m honestly surprised that the PVP mode is something you have to buy into in-game rather than it just being an option. Especially bearing in mind that barely anyone does it and it feels like a detriment to do it. But that is a whole other matter.

Gameplay – Mad For It

Mad Adventures features an ever-growing collection of mini-games in which you compete against other players in. These range from platforming sequences, survival games, colour matching, and even some team games like capture the flag as well as soccer. The games themselves are fun enough. With many being fairly straight forwards in how to play them. And the control scheme is easy to get a hold of too. This is good as after a series of games you will find yourself going up against some bosses. These fights require you and the other players to work together to take down one monster or another. Which can be easier said than done if you happen to be the last person standing.

The boss fights in Mad Adventures are pretty much impossible on your own.

Mad Adventures can be a lot of fun with enough players. Offering a variety of levels and experiences that are often enjoyable and well produced. I will admit the game does feel like an early-access title. I don’t mean this to be disrespectful, but it is clear that this is still a work in progress. With new levels and modes being added occasionally. The game is free to play, so it isn’t as though you are buying something that is unfinished by getting this one. And it does feel feature complete enough to get some enjoyment out of it.

D-I-Z-Z-Y!

I think that this is the first time in almost twenty years I got motion sickness from playing a videogame. Of course, it goes without saying that your mileage may vary on these things. And I’m not sure how much the developers can really do to alter that. But as a mild word of warning if you suffer from that, maybe hold off on this one. It is free, so you could play it and see if you are feeling brave. Additionally, the title does feature some micro-transactions; there is a store where you can purchase a small selection of cosmetics. If Micro-transactions are a hard pass for you, then sadly this title might be one to avoid. Outside of visuals these items don’t change or alter the game at all. And in honesty, they don’t really justify the price in my humble opinion.

Feet don’t fail me now!

Beyond these gripes, Mad Adventures is a lot of fun. And I feel that if it’s well supported there is no reason why it can’t become a big hit. It has all the ingredients for a ‘must-play’ multiplayer game. Even if I feel some extra polish and tweaking is needed; boss fights need balancing, PVP needs reworking, and more levels for some of the game modes would be welcomed. But even in its current state, it is still fun enough. Even if I do feel that it could be better. With the right level of care and focus from the developer, there is no reason why Mad Adventures couldn’t become a hit in 2023. And I am interested to see what else might be done with it going forwards.

Graphics & Audio – Party Patterns

As is typical with many 3D indie games these days Mad Adventures features a simplistic art style and character design. It isn’t quite the low poly aesthetic that is seen more commonly but the design is modestly minimalistic. With flat colours and simple designs for most things outside of the levels themselves. This isn’t a criticism. As a title like this really doesn’t need an elaborate design scheme. And what we do get is pleasant and easy to process. Especially when it comes to the character designer. In this game, you can design your own player character with a selection of items and options. It isn’t as robust as some other titles on the market right now. But it does provide you with enough you create a distinct design.

Mad Adventures’ character creator has a decent number of options.

Soundtrack wise Mad Adventures sports a perky and poppy musical selection. Feeling rather gameic in nature. And adding a sense of thrill and excitement to what is happening. It isn’t going to knock your socks off. But it has a flare to it that sells the mood of the title; this is a fast and happy-go-lucky kind of game, so the soundtrack fits that. Together the sound and design of Mad Adventures really get the grade. Providing everything with a title like this needs. I do wish that there were more options when it came to character design. As I feel that is one of the areas that the title is weakest with. But even still, in far more creative hands than mine, I suppose you could create something really wild!

Mad Adventures was reviewed on PC.