Are you looking for a reboot of the MDK video game? Let's discuss everything we want to see in a new MDK game, from updated graphics and gameplay mechanics to new stories and immersive worlds. Get ready to dive back into the action-packed world of MDK and explore all the features fans hope to see in a reboot.
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Shiny Entertainment is behind many popular titles in the 1990s and early 2000s. They created video games such as Earthworm Jim, Messiah, Sacrifice and Enter the Matrix, all of which contained elements of humor characteristic of society. MDK was one of their best games, way ahead of its time and its competitors, running at a constant 30 FPS with stunning 3D graphics. Of course, the game attracted a large number of fans at the time, and many remember it fondly. Even today, the game holds up thanks to its fun gameplay that can be completed in five hours.
With the number of remakes and reboots we've seen in the gaming industry, this 1997 classic has returned to the spotlight. As such, the game has great potential to succeed in the modern gaming industry and will undoubtedly attract many new players. Regular gamers will definitely be happy to see this third-person shooter with updated graphics and many more levels. But the prospect of a reboot raises many questions. For example, will Amazon Games Studios take on the project? What will be the narrative of the game? Will we follow the same characters? Let's see what an MDK reboot could look like.
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What is the game about?
MDK is a third-person shooter centered around an alien invasion in which intruders attempt to strip Earth of all its natural resources. These aliens come in the form of giant mining vehicles the size of an entire city, called “Minecrawlers”. In their mission to steal all of Earth's resources, they destroy every city and people who try to stop them or get in their way. Doctor Fluke Hawkins and his caretaker, Kurt, both live on a space station that the Doctor built before the events of the invasion. Eager to escape his critics on Earth, Doctor Hawkins does what any sane person would do: he goes into space.
He takes his six-legged robotic dog, Bones, with him. Kurt, who seems to be humanity's last hope, decides to intervene. With the help of his boss (who happens to be an inventor and scientist), Kurt must infiltrate each Minecrawler while wearing a special recoil suit. Once inside, he must fight his way to the pilot, kill him, then return to the Jim Dandy space station before moving on to the next mission. With only six chapters, the game is relatively short but still an enjoyable experience.
A second game was released three years later, in July 2000. MDK 2 picks up immediately after the events of the first game, with Kurt believing he has destroyed the last Minecrawler. Unfortunately, that's not the case, as Kurt, Doctor Hawkins, and Max (Bones' new name) discover that there is still one Minecrawler left. Naturally, the heroic janitor infiltrates the ship to try to stop the alien invasion. After destroying the ship and returning to the Jim Dandy, Kurt is kidnapped by a giant alien called Shwang Shwing. A series of events leads to the discovery of the true villain, Emperor Zizzy Ballooba, who ordered the attack on Earth out of boredom. The trio manages to defeat the aliens before returning to Earth, the Doctor's colleagues no longer avoid him and Kurt has become a celebrity.
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What would be the plot of the MDK reboot?
With the game's storyline being one of the main reasons why the game was so enjoyable, it would make sense for a reboot to follow a similar storyline. However, a few plot inconsistencies could be fixed, such as the alien's motivations. Although Ballooba is the big bad of the second game, his motivations don't match the alien's actions on Earth. For example, why would they need resources if Ballooba is only invading Earth out of boredom? Small details like these could be fixed, but the game would benefit from retaining its chaotic nature in an updated version.
Additionally, combining the two games into a single narrative can prove beneficial for the plot. For now, the only criticism we can make of this game is its brevity. Of course, these stories combined would easily solve this problem. This would mean there would be more missions and boss fights in the game.
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What was the original MDK gameplay like?
At the start of a new mission, Kurt free-falls to Earth, wearing his special suit. The Minecrawlers will fire missiles at him which he will have to dodge until he lands on the ship. From there, he will have to fight his way through waves of enemies consisting of drones, henchmen, tanks, robots and spaceships. Kurt also has to solve puzzles as he progresses through the ship, which adds an extra layer of fun to the gaming experience. At the end of each stage, there will be a boss fight for the Minecrawler you are trying to take down. Much of the gameplay depends on sniping, which is one of the most unique aspects of the game. You can acquire different types of sniper ammo, like sniper grenades or homing ammo, which will help you take down more easily your enemies.
With sniping, you can use 100x zoom mode and see your enemies clearly. Additionally, the game allows you to aim your enemies with precision, even displaying a HUD in sniper mode. There you can see your health, the zoom level you are using and the type of ammo. Likewise, you have access to cameras that show you exactly where each shot landed by tracking the balls. Additionally, the grunt generator is another unique factor that can be found in the game. This machine keeps spawning enemies, and your only way to get through is to completely destroy it. Finally, you can obtain special weapons, hit points, and overcome platforming obstacles by using your suit's parachute feature that allows you to glide from high places.
For the record, each level of the game was created by a different designer, which gives it a unique atmosphere. The second game differs slightly from the first, with MDK 2 offering three playable characters (Kurt, Bones/Max and Doctor Hawkins). As in any game, each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, making the experience interesting every time. While the first game focused primarily on action and guns, MDK 2 tones that down slightly and includes more puzzle and platforming elements. These improvements were received favorably by critics, with the game maintaining an extremely high rating on Steam.
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Should the reboot retain these gameplay elements?
Fans fell in love with the game in large part due to its unique gameplay features. Therefore, it would be in the best interest of the theoretical society to retain many of the original aspects. For example, with the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes, Capcom retained many of the games' nostalgic elements. Of course, they updated the technical aspects of the games, such as graphics, FPS, sound and camera angles. A similar approach could be taken with this gem, resulting in a fun, modern take on the 1997 classic.
Who would support the MDK reboot project?
Although MDK is the creation of Nick Bruty, Shiny Entertainment no longer exists. Or rather, the company was merged several times, giving birth to Amazon Game Studios. Ideally, it would have been better for the creator and the original company to work on a reboot. However, Nick is still a presence in the gaming industry, having helped create MediEvil in 2019. This means there's a chance the video game developer could jump on the bandwagon to reboot this series unique games. When it comes to studios, Amazon Games is best known for its online multiplayer game, New World, released in 2021. Although the game received above average ratings, it could have been better.
Other big options for a reboot could range from Sony to Valve. And since MDK was Shiny Entertainment's first PC game, it would be poetic for a company like Valve to work on a reboot. However, a reboot doesn't have to come from a big company and can easily come from an independent company like Tarsier Studios (Little Nightmares). But this is all just speculation at this point, and there's no doubt that many fans of the OG game will have differing opinions on who they think should take over the game. However, a quick look A look at many gaming forums will inform you that many fans don't care who reboots the game, as long as it gets rebooted.
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How likely is MDK to get a reboot or remake?
As it stands, the game hasn't been the subject of much discussion in recent years. In fact, the only things that come up from a Google search for an MDK reboot are social media threads and forums begging for a reboot. With so little coverage on the game, it is very unlikely that there will ever be a reboot. However, that doesn't mean that obscure game developers couldn't surprise everyone by announcing a remake in the next few years. But that’s just wishful thinking for now. Only time will tell if fans of this revolutionary 3D game will soon have the opportunity to see others.