It’s a fun way of using existing things to engage with us and make the game feel a little more personal. Johansolo” sitting in a lobby and looking just like our favorite scruffy-looking nerfherder, or Al Capone referenced in a historical book being thought to be a popular quiz show host or soap actor. The pop culture references are hilarious, both in the context of being found almost 3000 years later, and the ones mixed in, like “Dr. Thankfully the game doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously as this subject matter sounds, with a ton of humorous dialogue mixed with a bunch of pop culture references. It’s up to you and the rest of the department to save him, and maybe find a lost city along the way. Your boss, Totel, has been pining to find this Atlantean-esque location, but in the midst of digesting what’s in front of you, the lights go out, you’re smacked in the back of the head, and Totel is kidnapped.

After walking around in the cave searching for your trowel you’re able to open a door, and inside the room part of a word is revealed on the wall, seemingly in reference to the fabled city, Mutropolis. You are on an expedition, just going around trying to discern the past of Earth given that most everyone left to live on Mars after a catastrophic event drove humanity away. It’s the year 5000, and you are an archeologist known as Henry Dijon (yes, that’s his real name). The first act is very short, but it sets up the plot quite nicely. The story is a simple idea that evolves over time. This extends over all three acts, between the dig, the university, and the larger search for Mutropolis. It helps admittedly when you have a colorful character down there, but it shows a conscious effort to make each environment feel special. Each area you go to also feels so vibrant, with even the morgue paradoxically filled with life. The characters don’t feel out of place or stiff in their movements given the art style either, as they saunter across the screen as easily as any animated character should. There are over fifty hand-drawn scenes, and it gives Mutropolis a soft, tangible feeling. Mutropolis is one of the latest examples of this grouping of games, and after reviewing Unforeseen Incidents by Backwoods Entertainment nearly two years ago we just had to see what the same publisher, together with new developer couple Beatriz Gascon and Juan Pablo Gonzalez of Pirita Studio had for us next.įirst off, I just have to remark on the visuals of the game. The earliest one I remember in that style was Hugo’s House Of Horrors, and although the player used a keyboard more similar to Maniac Mansion, it still matches up with the genre we have today. There’s so much to figure out, making it somewhat of a puzzle adventure. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed point and click games.