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In 1997, a 2D platform was released that a few years later would become a subject of discussion and deep dives for me and 3 of my middle school friends! Let's make it clear right from the start (since this is the first time I'm reviewing a video game) that when it comes to video games, I'm quite old-fashioned. I stopped following this world after the first PlayStation, first in favor of soccer, and then music. However, I still play those games from time to time. I only got it at Christmas in 2001, but I'd already tried the demo three years before. The game immediately struck me... perhaps because it had something different from the others, but I can't quite pinpoint what exactly was different... but it seemed to have something unique!!!
Abe is a charming alien (of the Mudokon race) with green skin who works at RuptureFarms, a place where meat is slaughtered. The place is run by monstrous creatures called Glukkons. But one evening, they realize the company is in crisis since some of the creatures they usually butcher have gone extinct. To avoid bankruptcy, they decide to slaughter Abe and the other Mudokon janitors. That's where Abe's adventure begins.
Abe's task is to save the 99 Mudokons employed at RuptureFarms and blow up the facility to put an end to these injustices. Among Abe's various abilities are running, jumping, climbing platforms, and even tiptoeing so as not to wake up sleeping enemies. But the most fun and original ability, which makes the game different from the classic platforms, is talking! In fact, Abe has been given the ability to communicate with his friends to guide them to the portals to free them from their slavery. Various joystick combinations allow Abe to greet them, ask them to follow, or wait to avoid traps... and finally, chant to open the bird circle that represents their salvation.
On his journey, Abe will find various actions to perform: pulling levers to open doors, deactivating electricity, or dropping boulders to defeat enemies, going up and down via platforms, watching out for slig guards armed with rifles and slogs coming out of kennels to gnaw at his leg bone. And he can even detonate bombs using stones or spirit rings, throw grenades to kill enemies. And in several circumstances, he will even find himself possessing the slig guards by using his chant, guiding them to other screens and using them to defeat other enemies. Never seen anything like it before!
The game starts right in RuptureFarms, from where he must escape, hoping to have saved the first 28 Mudokons. Later, in the subsequent levels, he will find some secret areas that will lead him to remote areas of the Slaughterhouses. Finding them all is difficult, I managed, and I'm proud of it, but it's essential if you want to complete the game seriously by saving all the Mudokons and not just blowing up the Slaughterhouses! The game continues with the Stockyards, the external land to the Slaughterhouses, and then with the Monsaic Lines, a temple inhabited by local free Mudokons, who he will whistle with. From here, he will have to complete the lands of Paramonia and Scrabania. The first is a forested place hosting the Paramite temples, creatures resembling spiders that alone don't even tickle (unless cornered) but when they come together, they chase Abe. The second is an arid, desert place hosting the Scrabs' temple, creatures similar to crabs, particularly evolved but tremendously fast. Upon seeing them, Abe will have to run away and hope they find another Scrab to brawl with, diverting attention from Abe, who can make a more peaceful escape. In these temples, he must light the braziers and escape from the final hordes of enemies. Only after conquering these lands can Abe complete the Monsaic Lines, return to the Stockyards, and from there, return to the Slaughterhouses where he will save the remaining Mudokons and blow up the plant. The ending will be happy only if Abe has saved at least 50 Mudokons, otherwise, he will be forced to start over from the middle of the game (the return to the Slaughterhouses). If he manages to save them all, he will be rewarded with bonus videos.
Focusing on other details, we can say that the graphics are spectacular, and the visual and special effects are meticulously detailed (look at the explosions, they seem almost real). Even the music (an aspect sometimes considered marginal but actually important) is really impressive, providing a sense of fear and darkness that fits well with the adventures Abe faces.
Overall, I would call it a masterpiece, one of the best platform-adventures ever created. Certainly, with the sequel coming out the following year, there will be a real leap in quality, but even the starting point is absolutely excellent and indisputable!
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