Mega Cat Studios: - Britt’s Mega Drive Odyssey Part 2: L'Abbaye des Morts 🐱 @megacatstudios #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Once again, I check out a game from Mega Cat Studios, this time, L’Abbaye des Morts, a game in which you play as Jean Raymond, a persecuted man who is chased into the titular ‘Abbey of Death’ and must find his way out.

This was a game that really stood out for me when I first played it, as it is a wonderfully presented – yet delightfully simple (yet HARD) – game that has some really saucy features whilst coming from a very 8-bit home computer-centric design philosophy in terms of the gameplay and mechanics.

It really nails a specific sweet spot in time that resonates with my nostalgia perfectly and feels quite unique in that sense in the Mega Drive library. Plus, it’s effectively a horror game, and the Mega Drive certainly needs more of those in its library!

Taking a look at the physical presentation, the cover features the Mega Cat Studios logo in the bottom left, with ’16-Bit Mega’ on a strip up the left hand side - with a  very ‘Mega Drive blue’ background - the main part of the image, though, is taken up by Jean Raymond himself holding up a golden chalice, victoriously…possibly an image I’ll never see in the game due to its difficulty….and my skill level. I jest! *

The rear of the box has a couple of in-game screenshots, with a body of text presented on an old scroll. It’s clear that English is not the first language of developers Locomalito, and there are a couple of instances of awkward syntax, which are also present in the accompanying booklet, which is a bit of a shame as a quick proof-read would have tightened things up, although they do add to the overall charm of the game. Opening up the box shows the Mega Cat Studios branded plastic, as well as the cover image which appears on the front of both the cartridge and manual. The manual is full colour, but also pretty brief, summarising the events that lead up to the start of the game as well as a quick description of the controller layout and items you’ll encounter. Right then, on to the game itself!

The first thing that struck me as I booted the game up was the how you could select different versions of the game, from the Mega Drive version through C64 and several other retro systems, it was a great touch as this could very well be a 16-bit remake of an 8-bit game due to the style, it’s fun to try out the different versions depending on your mood, and as this is an arcade-style dip in and out title; it adds some variety and longevity to the game. There’s definitely something magical about that C64 version and I found myself alternating between C64 and MD, mostly.

The story kicks off in media res, with Jean Raymond being chased into the titular abbey, slamming, and bolting the door behind him as his pursuers bang on the aging wood, causing it to rattle on its hinges…well, with no way back, he must go through!

A 2D platformer, the game takes you through around twenty screens or so of various enemies and traps inside and beneath the abbey. Again, as this is a game patterned off the 8-bit micro systems of the ‘80s such as the Amstrad CPC, Spectrum ZX, and C64, you know what to expect…pixel perfect jumps, one-hit deaths, and switches galore!

The game isn’t that long, but my word is it a challenge, and yet wonderfully so – the visuals are atmospheric, and the way you make your way around the screens is quite satisfying, as a room that at first glance seems impossible makes much more sense when approached from a different angle / direction later in your playthrough.

The controls are simple and snappy whilst the music used is perfect in capturing the mood of the game. There’s a very noteworthy moment early on, where you can gaze out of a window to see trees shaking in the wind, and leaves whipping through the night as the moon hangs like a scythe in the sky, complimented by lilting, gentle notes – it’s quite a magical moment and each time I play, I just wait there for a moment and let the tune play out in this brief respite from the horrors of the Abbey.

Then, upon turning and flicking to the next screen, when the unsettling main theme kicks back in, it jolts you out of your reverie and once again drives home the urgency of Jean Raymond’s quest in uncovering the secrets of the Abbey!

Find those notes, flick those switches…and collect the 12 holy emblems.

SUMMARY

L'Abbaye des Morts – much like Amaweks’ Devwill Too - feels quite special in the place they occupy on the Mega Drive; both have an incredible sense of atmosphere tied to delightfully simple gameplay.

There’s a quiet magic that happens as you play, and I know that this will be a Mega Drive title that I will return to again and again, a great little game, especially if you are a fan of the vintage gameplay found in the platform games of the 8-bit micros! 

*or do I?

PURCHASE LINK:

l'Abbaye Des Morts – Mega Cat Studios, Inc