A manic and vibrant shooter for desktop

Manic Mania is a free action video game for desktops that was created by an indie developer, Softlock Games. This first-person shooter game uses vibrant color palettes and cartoon-style graphics for its unique presentation. The game was done in just 7 weeks and participated in the ASU Game II Game Jam event.

In a similar fashion to SUPER IS HOT, Manic Mania combines its manic shooting gameplay with a distinct art style and a mix of bright colors that makes each level pop. Players will need to be on their toes and make the right call as they gun their way through hordes of enemies.

Is Manic Mania any good?

The thing that stands out and the one that will come at you from the start is Manic Mania’s overly bright and vibrant design. What’s more, the soundtrack is originally composed and the animated artwork is all hand-drawn. Its core gameplay centers around the concept of ‘upgrades’ that drastically change how effective your weapon can be, with 35 unique and stackable options available to you.

Each round, you will be given 3 upgrades to power up your weapon. There’s a catch, though. You need to pick an option not just for yourself, but also for your enemies. This condition can have a great impact on how shootouts can transpire. You might construct yourself an ideal weapon against your enemies. Conversely, you can also be at a disadvantage based on your combination.

Lastly, Manic Mania has an optional ending that you can unlock by going through its round-based progression system. Otherwise, you can play continuously in a sort of endless mode to test how long you can survive. In terms of things to improve on, the most notable one has to do with the UI scaling issues that result in poor view and legibility of some elements on the screen.

Mindless fun and entertainment

If all you’re after is to have some fun in a quick game session, Manic Mania is worth your consideration. There’s no deep story, complicated controls, or any elaborate set pieces. It simply offers wacky graphics and fast-paced shooting, with a twist to its gameplay mechanic. Play around with various upgrades to create interesting combinations and find the right one to help you defeat your enemies effectively.