Bad Mojo

Most PC games age in dog years but time has been gentle to Bad Mojo.  The game has aged gracefully in its own original way.  Back in 1996 or rather 1995 when the game was in development, 3D graphics weren’t anywhere near as complex and impressive as they are today.  Despite this limitation, Bad Mojo somehow captured the gritty nastiness of a cockroach’s existence within a measly technologically hindered engine.  The visuals actually hold up and that is no small feat.  Especially when you take into account the 640 x 480 format and the restricted color palette.

Essentially the player manipulates a tiny little cockroach through a dilapidated apartment by utilizing the arrow keys for movement.  That’s about it but the fun is in the simplicity of the level design.  Cockroaches can’t do a whole helluva lot so the puzzle development needed to be insanely original in order to succeed.  Of course Bad Mojo delivers which is why it has become such an enduring, not to mention creepy, endearing cult classic.

As your little roach navigates each hauntingly realistic location it becomes clear that exploration is the key.  Each area has a queasy hook.  The kitchen is full of boiling rancid grease and half decayed fish parts.  There are silverfish in the bathroom, moths that provide transportation as well as a killer cat who is on the prowl.  Puzzles vary but stay logical to both the games story and the physical attributes of a lowly cockroach.  For instance early on in order to traverse a tricky spot within the basement level, players are required to manipulate a burning cigarette stub in the direction of a threatening spider.  The challenges throughout Bad Mojo are both challenging and refreshing.  Rolling a pill into a beer can on the down-low in order to knock someone out is just frigging cool.

The story progression is handled with short live action movies and they are all completely over the top.  The main character resembles Jim Carrey in his exaggerated approach to comedy.  If I had to describe the proceedings, I’d have to throw in a mixed bag containing Kafka and Tim Burton’s weird Pee Wee Herman movies.  The protagonist is a mess.  He is a directionless thief.  After he grabs a mad looking talisman that belonged to his deceased mother, he turns into a cockroach.  

As you travel through the walls and appliances, fellow cockroaches help guide you in the correct direction.  Every now and then you’ll locate a small icon that appears to be an eye, which is a recurring theme.  When the roach sits on one of these eye shapes a short film will play and continue the plot.  I won’t ruin the story here but it works well and is quite funny at times in a sick, unsettling sort of way.

The special DVD with bonus extras is a very nice add-in but I’m not sure if it will be the determining factor to purchase Bad Mojo.  It includes a making of documentary with interviews and movie commentary.  This may sound like too much to sit through but the developers are all humorous and insightful during there individual retrospectives.  There is also a concept gallery, a hint guide for the game, and before and after storyboard comparison animations.  All in all the presentation has a high quality and if you are a big fan of this classic you’ll no doubt find the twenty dollar price tag inviting.  Too bad it wasn’t re-released in time for Halloween but it’ll sure make a good stocking stuffer.

Gameplay: 8
Exploration through each environment is both interesting from a cockroach perspective and refreshing.  Running in and out of shower vents and climbing up furniture is just plain fun.  The simplistic game control is also a positive.

Graphics: 8 
A high score here because Bad Mojo came out way back in 1996 and still manages to deliver a thoroughly convincing game world even in today’s insane eye candy era.  The movie footage works on several levels even though it is way over the top.  In fact that’s probably why it works so well.

Sound: 8
Creepy music, gurgling grease, wheezing half-dead fish.  You gotta love it.

Difficulty: Hard
This sucker is hard.  Exploration is the name of the game and quite often you will have to perform an action in one part of the house that has ramifications somewhere far off in another room.  Putting it all together is definitely a challenge.  The end sequence is a timed puzzle that requires the cockroach to navigate several sections of the apartment over a very short period.  This was very difficult, yet oh so rewarding when I was finally able to do it.   

Concept: 10 
You play as a cockroach.  What else can I possibly say?  

Overall: 8.5
A great classic revamped for current operating systems.  There are some extra goodies thrown in for good measure and the price of admission ain’t so bad.  If you have never experienced Bad Mojo before it is definitely worth a look.  If you’re a die hard fan of the original but can’t get your old copy to run anymore than this should be right up your alley.  If you don’t dig nastiness, you won’t dig Bad Mojo.