Murder in the Abbey

Murder In The Abbey (known as The Abbey in Spain) is an adventure video game, developed by Spanish studio Alcachofa Soft and released in 2008.^[1][2]

Gameplay

The majority of the gameplay involves interrogating monks using the standard gameplay of a detective-themed adventure game. In addition, players collect an inventory of useful items, and have to complete logic puzzles.^[3] The game has a 3D-character-in-2D-backdrop art environment.^[4]

Plot

The game is set in the Middle Ages, and its storyline is inspired by historical murder mystery novel The Name of the Rose. When a monk named Leonardo of Toledo is ordered to deliver the young Bruno to the Nuestra Senora de la Natividad Abbey for study with the local monks, a "dark, dastardly murder interferes with this kiddie drop-off".^[3]

Development

Games4women observed that the "credits were heavily populated by German and Spanish names which most likely accounted for the authentic feel of the game".^[5] GameWatcher noted "As a game set in a Christian monastery it deals with Christian themes of morality and right and wrong".^[6]

Critical reception

Adventure Classic Gaming gave the game a glowing review, writing it had "an exceptional production of an outstanding story, accompanied by fun, intuitive puzzles that seldom bog down the plot's progression".^[7] Similarly, Tap Repeatedly said the game had " a delightful, pleasantly surprising medieval mystery featuring colorful graphics, stiring music and excellent voice acting".^[8] Multiplayer.it likened the game's art style to that of Disney.^[9]

Gamespot said "Murder in the Abbey may not be entirely original, but it's an adventure with a lot of personality."^[3] IGN concluded "Between the could've-been-awesome art, the never-could've-been-awesome-in-a-million-years voice acting, and the fact that monastery intrigue is a very niche proposition to begin with...Murder in the Abbey utterly fails to be something I can recommend to anyone."^[4] The Adrenaline Vault acknowledges the game is "populated by a cast of quirky characters".^[10] The Escapist reasoned that "We barely ever get to feel like we're participating in the investigation, just witnessing it. That's a big failing."^[11] DIeHardGameFan deemed the title a "poorly done video game rip off" of In the Name of the Rose.^[12] LeftStickRight noted the game has "relatively dark material...while the art style is a little cartoony", resulting in something that is "as disturbing as Missing but not as absurd and irreverent as The Curse of Monkey Island".^[13] Gamewatcher concluded "fans of pure adventure games should really enjoy this title.^[14]

References