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The Abbey
07.04.2008
Just a couple of weeks ago, I complained that the adventure genre was no longer serving up any really cool games – but as of today, this is no longer the case. eXperience112, So Blonde, or the hopefully soon to be released "A Vampire Story" penned by Bill Tiller. Fans of Monkey Island & Co. also have a new release on their hands. A game’s reviewer’s calendar is peppered with new release dates on an almost daily basis. When a reviewer is especially looking forward to a particular new game, its release date is marked in colour, and the "Reminder Function" already appears a couple of months beforehand to ensure that you can get registered on the "Test list" well before anyone else. And "The Abbey" is just such a game. This is reason enough for a preview of this comic adventure.
Anyone who combines the keywords “monks”, “monastery” and “murder” will immediately think of Sean Connery or Umberto Eco. Even though the book has been around since 1980 and the film with the original James Bond dates from 1985, almost everyone knows it. Well ok – I saw it at the request of a woman, but I DID see it. And I liked it. But this is not the reason that I really like "The Abbey". Instead, "The Abbey" at its best is a classic point & click adventure with a touch of pitch-black sense of humour. And naturally, that appeals to Monkey Island veterans. Oh yes...
 The main protagonist, Leonardo, a well-read monk who once was as a royal advisor, and his 13-year-old, scatter-brained valet Bruno are sent to a remote monastery to resolve some mysterious events. A pious brother has been slain with an incense burner. Was this really an accident, or was it murder? What secret does the monastery hold? And what dark secret from his past surrounds Brother Leonardo? All of this has to be uncovered in over 20 hours of game time.
Although the cartoonish graphics are aimed at recognisable franchises (straight out of Monkey Island), "The Abbey" has enough of its own to offer. The combination of HAND-DRAWN! backgrounds and 3D graphics, camera-tricks and an all-star voice-over cast will give plenty for fans to salivate over. 20 hours of combining objects, 20 hours of cool conversations and investigation of the medieval abbey. May be published soon. Or at least the test version for the press *I get it earlier – tee-hee*.
MS
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