Although I was late to classics like Monkey Island, I do remember enjoying adventure games from a very young age. Around the house there was the occasional King’s Quest, I loved Gobliiins and years later I enjoyed Broken Sword as a dwarf and what is probably my favorite adventure of all time: the first Hollywood Monsters.
But for more hours that I had put in the universe of point’n click, fighting with that lunar logic that characterizes the genre and enjoying its characteristic humor and its twisted puzzles , at some point in my life I abandoned graphic adventures . Now I have returned to them by the hand of Mutropolis.
From Madrid to Mars
With humanity having settled on Mars, planet Earth is now an unknown world in which various archaeologists venture to learn how their legendary ancestors lived. Mutropolis is born from that relationship between the new and the old, but it is not the only thing that pursues this duality.
The Madrilenians of Pirita Studio go to the future to revere the past not only in the story they propose with Mutropolis , but also in a mix that offers the classic mechanics of a graphic adventure – play with the mouse and use conversations and combinations of objects to move forward – along with stunning visuals.
Hand in hand with an exquisite hand-drawing graphic style, the care that is felt in each of the scenarios, objects and animations are more than enough for Mutropolis to become one of those games that makes you want to hug very hard.
But since an adventure like this not only makes us happy, the script and constant references to the past of the protagonists – in many cases our own present – give way to a pan of surreal situations and winks that are worth going through.
A graphic adventure like the old ones
Either because of being untrained, or because of how terribly beautiful and twisted scenes are that often hide objects more than I would have liked, the only thing that could throw Mutropolis in the face is having put me on the ropes in more than one chance.
The good news is that on few occasions the problem has been that lunar logic to which we referred. The game manages to make it more or less clear where the shots should go and, with the objects you accumulate in your inventory, it is easy to discover where the puzzles will go.
It is very different that, on the other hand, it is a bit of a bloody thing about having you from here to there repeating paths constantly. What would have worked by pure fluke does not activate because you did not have a certain conversation and, rebound, what you thought was not going to work finally does.
Much of the grace of a graphic adventure, after all, but it would not have been wrong for Mutropolis to be somewhat more generous with the leads and comments from its protagonist. Lack of practice and manquism is what he has.
Beautiful to rage, with a funniest script and with puzzles that will make you squeeze your brains until you find the solution, Mutropolis seems the perfect game for those who are still hooked on the genre or those who, like me, abandoned it with the passing of the years almost without realizing it.
That in some areas you will suffer to find the key is part of the contract that you will establish with this gang of archaeologists during the first bars. Everything is to discover what new and fun references to our history or popular culture are pulled from the sleeve.
Mutropolis
| Platforms | Pc |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| Developer | Pyrite Studio |
| Company | Application Systems Heidelberg |
| Launch | February 18, 2021 |
| Price | 19.99 euros |
The best
- A very original and funny story.
- Complicated puzzles, but not especially twisted.
- His visual style is a real delight.
Worst
- Like any good graphic adventure, it can be very bloody.
- A hint system would have been a good thing.