Abadía del Crimen Extensum, La

"Extensum" was the nickname chosen by its authors for their particular version of the Opera Soft game of 1987, created by Paco Menendez and Juan Delcan .

There have already been other remakes, such as the one created by Antonio Giner for MS-DOS and Windows, or the other created by one of the co-authors of the present game, Manuel Pazos, published for MSX2 based on the previous one.

It was on July 4, 2007 when LordFred opened a thread in the development forum of CEZ Games Studio , with a set of graphics (which you can see in the development tab) that left me, as a declared number one fan of his creations, totally speechless.

The idea he had in mind was very clear: to make a new version of the classic, inspired by it but also by the film, which was his reference more than the original novel.

It wasn't until nine years later that the game was finally released, without the sponsorship of Retroworks . And how was it?

The first thing that stands out are the graphics, so characteristic of its creator, the master of pixel art. The step forward is notable, with greater detail that adds atmosphere and depth. The textures, shadows and lights have received a significant improvement, but the protagonist's resemblance to Sean Connery is absolutely stunning.

The soundtrack and effects keep the atmosphere going. The music is slow and melodic, while the sound effects, such as the Gregorian chants (which were already incorporated in the PC original) or the ringing of the bells, fulfill their purpose perfectly.

But where "Extensum" wanted to influence more than any other aspect was the gameplay, and its authors delved into this, expanding the mechanics significantly: you have to do more tasks and you can explore more places (what was overwhelming in 1987 had to be expanded to preserve the essence thirty years later). All of this ensures that monastic life is reflected perfectly and the atmosphere is very special.

Although a failure can be a great complication, adding an important touch of tension, it does not do so at the same level as in the original, where there was no possibility of redemption.

So, if you have to choose between calling it a "masterpiece" or not, I opt without hesitation for the first option. They managed to modernize an eighties marvel, almost the only Spanish game at the level of the great 8-bit creations of the most legendary European companies, and they did it amply.

The rating, the same as the other versions of this timeless classic, each one great in its time.