Maui

Maui is a free action adventure game inspired by Hawaiian mythology and developed and published by Kokua Games.

Hawaiian mythology is not all that popular with the gaming community, and we haven’t really seen it used. It pops up from time to time in various titles, when some character has a Hawaiian ancestry, but games that are focused entirely on this mythology are not present. Maui aims to correct that, but I fear that it might do more damage than good since the gameplay is dull, to say the least.

When the game is started for the first time, it offers players a message just like the ones we find in Assassin’s Creed games. Something along the line that the game is made by a diverse group of developers that have various faiths and beliefs. They are also saying that in order to accommodate the gameplay some elements of the Hawaiian mythology have been exaggerated or removed entirely. It sounds like an exciting announcement, but that’s not really the case.

In Maui the players take on the role of a boy that’s looking for this sister, which has been kidnapped, You have the help of the gods in your quest, and you’re going to need it.

Let's start with the good bits. Players can choose what favors of the gods they want to use on the fly, like speed, more health, or better fighting power. It’s an interesting concept, but that’s about it. The music is also well done and fits the game, and that’s about it about the good stuff.

I’m sure that the part about Hawaiian mythology is there, and it might be interesting, but it’s hidden underneath a layer of just terrible gameplay. The animations are awful, the gameplay itself incredibly annoying, and you’re always running backward during fights.

Most likely Maui has a lot of good intentions behind it, and it’s even free, but that’s not really an excuse for the poor execution. It doesn’t cost anything to give it a try, and it’s your time that you will be wasting.