Last Hammashan Preview: A heroic idea lost in poor gameplay and design flaws

We at IsaKaba have reviewed a decent number of fascinating games coming from the Middle East but never one where you play as a superhero. 

Last Hammashan is an action RPG developed by Jordan-based solo indie programmer Alaa Hamash, who aims to let players experience a Middle Eastern superhero bringing justice to the world.

Story 

In Last Hammashan, players follow Adam as he enters the deadly Hammashan castle to rescue his village and retrieve a powerful artifact called the Astrolabe. 

Forced into the mission by Greystone, who holds his people hostage, Adam discovers through the artifact that he is the last surviving member of the ancient Hammashan civilization. 

It's worth noting that the game is still in development, and while the concept of a Middle Eastern hero holds great promise, the current storyline feels too generic to sustain player interest. 

For a superhero game - especially one emerging from a region not typically associated with superhero storytelling - Last Hammashan needs a stronger narrative hook to truly stand out. 

I think the game could make a much better impact if it dives deeper into its cultural roots, character motivations, and worldbuilding to give players a reason to care about both the hero and the world he’s fighting to save.

Gameplay and Graphics 

I’d like to say the graphics and visuals are a strong selling point for this game, but they aren’t quite there yet. Visually, Last Hammashan looks decent enough to spark curiosity and make you want to pick up a controller - but that curiosity fades quickly once you start playing. 

One thing that does stand out is the protagonist’s design, which feels well thought-out, especially for someone like me who isn’t too familiar with Middle Eastern superheroes. The game also features some beautiful scenery that authentically captures a Middle Eastern setting. That said, the ability to illuminate dark areas is a nice touch as well.

But even with solid character design, the gameplay falls short. There are games where a weak story is saved by engaging mechanics, but this isn’t one of them. I spent about two hours in the game, and in that time, neither the narrative nor the gameplay was strong enough to keep me invested.

There are various ways to attack and defeat enemies, including using Adam’s magical abilities, sword, guns, grenades, and shield, along with many other unlockable powers

Issues and Irritations 

This game suffers from poor enemy design and major gameplay issues, including movement restrictions, map glitches, and unclear objectives, resulting in a frustrating overall experience.

I played using both keyboard and controller, and in both cases, the controls felt confusing. The absence of clear guidance is also a major misstep that'll most likely leave players wandering aimlessly instead of making actual progress. 

Throughout my playtime, I didn't get to a point where I could unlock weapons in the game and played using only a few abilities, most of which involve blasting enemies with magical projectiles. Though the developer has clarified that the enemy designs are part of the "original Paragon AAA characters", enemies also need serious improvement, as they currently rush at you with little strategy or challenge. 

Verdict 

It's important to acknowledge that Last Hammashan is being developed with no budget, which makes the sheer scope of the project impressive in itself. However, that lack of funding also highlights a key issue - ambition can sometimes outpace resources.

For a solo developer, attempting to build something that feels like a triple-A title is an enormous challenge. It might be wiser to focus on smaller, more contained projects or scale Last Hammashan down to a level where its ideas can truly shine without being buried under technical and design limitations.

That said, there’s no denying the dedication behind the game. Pouring 12 to 16 hours a day into creating cinematics, world-building, and gameplay - while also wearing the hats of writer, director, and artist - is commendable. That kind of passion deserves recognition. 

However, passion alone isn’t enough to carry a game to success. For all that hard work to truly pay off, Last Hammashan needs to evolve into an experience that’s not just ambitious but actually enjoyable to play.

As it stands, the game is in a rough shape, and without major improvements in gameplay, storytelling, and polish, all that hard work risks going unnoticed.

A PC (Steam) copy of Last Hammashan was provided for preview by programmer Alaa Hamash. You can wishlist the game on Steam.