Recent reviews by Ryshy02

I'm doing my part.
No Sony anymore, game good again

This game has so much to like, and plenty to offer for those who refuse to put up with EA's ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ regarding Madden. It truly is the best alternative for a Madden-like experience without paying $60+ every year just for an updated roster.

HOWEVER...

The means in which the developers decided to make scale difficulty (as well as dumb as ♥♥♥♥ balancing decisions) is outright stupid at best and absolutely insulting at worst. The issue is most clearly demonstrated in the dynasty mode, but it shows in every game that is played and ultimately ruins the entire experience.


The Humor: While some might find it annoying or unfunny, I personally find the humor one of the greatest strengths of MFL. The commentators in every game, the names of players, the descriptions of teams and stadiums, and the absolutely roasting of the NFL is top tier in my book.

Creativity: MFL features multiple different races, rules, field hazards, and many other changes to standard football that really change up how you approach and think about the game. It creates a fun learning experience figuring out how each new mechanics interact with one another. The most impactful of these gameplay elements would be the dirty tricks that more often than not lead to scoring or turnovers when used. However, dirty tricks also present some of the most frustrating mechanics and balance decisions in the game, which will be discussed in the next section.


Poor Balancing: While not the worst offence committed by the game, there are some obvious mechanics in the game that really should be reworked and/or rebalanced. Dirty tricks, as mentioned earlier, are some of the most impactful elements in any given match, yet some are borderline overpowered while others are useless, if not actively detrimental to use. For example, there is a dirty trick wherein the defense can kill an opposing QB before the play starts. Issue is that the QB is given plenty of notice that its going to happen and is automatically given a speed boost to get away (on top of the 10 yard penalty the defense will incur regardless if the QB was successfully murdered or not.) Another example of poor balance is how the races are balanced. Skeletons are absolute ballers while robots and super-humans just kinda suck at everything.

Balance (Dynasty Mode Specific): While specific to the dynasty mode, I can't help but question what the devs were thinking when they decided the stats for you team when starting a new dynasty campaign. Every player is set to an overall of 40 in every stat. FORTY. The next lowest team is 62 overall. Now to be fair, the mode does give you a means to improve your team somewhat rapidly, that being the use of funds to trade for players and acquire free agents. HOWEVER, during your first season you only have enough resources to build up to around 52 overall. On top of this, player progression is dreadfully slow, with some players requiring to be a PLAYOFF GAME MVP to increase their overall rating which is absolutely maddening. And to rub even more salt in the wound, losing a game gives you no money to improve your team through buying player upgrades or signing new players, and winning gives you a pitiful amount. The first season of a dynasty run will be painful and slow, and there is no avoiding. There are more things wrong with the mode that I won't get into here, but it is a punishing experience for no good reason.

Absolutely Unfair and Unforgiving AI: This issue shows itself more as difficulty is set higher. The AI in this game is programmed to screw you over way too much. The best example to demonstrate this is how AI controlled defenders handle coverage. Multiple times a game, the opposing QB who is pressured will lob the ball towards a stationary receiver. The cornerback will then decide to also stand stationary, roughly 4 yards in front of the receiver and wait until the ball is caught before deciding the pursue the receiver again. This one situation has caused my defense to give up countless 1st downs, when they should have gotten a stop. Another pervasive issue is the godly hands of every pass rusher on opposing defenses. Countless times has a pass rusher beaten my O-line and intercepted the ball right in my QB's even when I lob the ball an attempts to throw it over his head. I'm not expecting realism, but a pass rusher with 40 catching shouldn't be able to pick off the ball 4 out of 5 times within 2 yards.

The Game Has Many Unforgivable "You Lose" Moments: This is the biggest issue with this game and what prompted the negative review I am leaving. About every other match I play on the highest difficulty, the game decides to screw the player over in such a brazen way I can't help but think that is intentionally coded in. There are times where the game decides that you WILL LOSE and there is NOTHING you can do about it. I have many, many examples of this occurring but the worst one I have ever experienced goes like this: I was tied in a dynasty mode game, playing on defense with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. The opponent calls a run play and my defense in tight coverage all break for the running back. The running back was a skeleton, which is supposed to be one of the most FRAGILE species in the game. I witnessed my entire defense attempt to tackle a singular skeleton, and fail. Somehow, some way, the skeleton survived 13-15 hitstick tackles, stayed on his feet somehow, AND take the run all the way to the house. The insane part is that wasn't the worst thing to happen on that play. During the 70 yard run, for some reason my entire defense decided to not chase the ball carrier, but rather huddle around a land mine and commit mass suicide. 7 of the 7 defensive players on the field all died at once. (Note, in Dynasty, every player on your team is 40 overall. Every player on the field was a singed free agent or trade, and the game does not give you enough money to sign any backups. Meaning that for the rest of the game, my defense was reduced to 40 overall). This is but one example of many where the game decides that it will make you lose. It inexcusable, it is player hostile, and it ruins the entire experience.

Mutant Football League is a game I really wanted to love, but is programmed in such a way that ruins any chances of having fun for no reason. I don't understand why the devs made the game this way, and my only hope is that the sequel fixes these glaring issues. It is not worth your money unless you are okay dealing with countless frustrations.