Murals, the latest game from Dlala Studios, is an isometric hack-and-slasher that delivers fast-paced action within a realm of twisted fairytales and British folklore. A two-hour hands-on session revealed a narrative-focused adventure that blends Hades-like combat with a distinctly authored, handcrafted world.
A Whimsical, Twisted World
Set in a universe imagined by Dlala Studios, known for Battletoads and 2023's Disney Illusion Island, Murals features an anthropomorphic frog with a Boston accent, a princess who uses heavy metal music for a lullaby, and a version of Rapunzel whose hair is trying to kill her. Players take on the role of a lowly adventurer whisked into this world by a tormented artist, forced to fight through warped versions of familiar stories.
The game's painterly art style contrasts with its fast-paced action, presenting environments from an isometric view that makes it easy to appreciate the beauty, whether solving the mystery of Rapunzel's deadly hair in a magical library or facing a climactic boss fight during a thunderstorm. This visual approach builds on the prettiness of previous Dlala titles, using the whimsical nature of its fairytale framework as a foundation.
Combat and Progression
Combat involves dashing to avoid attacks, fending off increasing waves of enemies from room to room, and equipping new weapon types and buffs. The first weapon found is a sword named 'Slash Gordon', allowing basic thrust and slash attacks that are later built upon. A combination of ranged, wide-swinging, and thrust attacks, all of which can be dodged out of mid-animation, makes for a good combat kit. Movement is a tad slow compared to Hades, but it is never hard to feel powerful, even at the beginning of the first chapter starring Sleeping Beauty.
The first chapter's main narrative thrust involves finding Sleeping Beauty's tea, an objective that imbues Murals with a touch of Metroidvania-style exploration. Dlala Studios acknowledges that Murals is mostly linear, but the twisting isometric spaces and specific side objectives that appear missable add texture. The first upgrade unlocked is Canvas Clear, a room-spanning super move activated after building a meter tied to defeating enough Distorted. Another upgrade, On Target, increases the damage of the ranged attack.
British Humour and Eeries
The game features 'eeries', passive buffs that can be equipped after purchasing them from the world's shopkeeper, Magical Dave, voiced by Bob Mortimer. His wacky and verbose anecdotes set in the game's sense of wry British humour. The action may not be revolutionary, but it is satisfying in how it allows the kit to expand.
Murals is set to release sometime in 2027 on PC. The two-hour preview left an impression of a game that adapts the isometric hack-and-slasher format within a narrative-fueled structure, with the painterly art style and wholesome-yet-twisted characters as its main appeal. Combat is solid but has room to grow, hopefully developing through the unlocking of more powerful eeries and upgrades in later murals.
