Méwilo
 | This article has an unclear citation style. (August 2022) |
| Mewilo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Coktel Vision |
| Publisher(s) | Coktel Vision |
| Designer(s) | |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, DOS, Thomson TO7 |
| Release | November 28, 1987[1] |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
Méwilo is a 1987 French adventure video game by Coktel Vision.
Development
[edit]It was the first game by Muriel Tramis who was designer and producer at Coktel Vision.[2][3] It saw a new direction for the developer, which had previously released strategy games.[4][5] Tramis "proposed to program a game that [she] thought totally original", which became Mewilo.[2] The head of the Coktel Vision, Roland Oskian, allowed her to develop her own story, and she began work in 1986.[6] Collaborating with Martiniquan créolité writer Patrick Chamoiseau the game was inspired by the Caribbean legend of jars of gold.[7] It was graphic designed by Philippe Truca.[8] The software was accompanied by a short story by Chamoiseau.[9]
Plot and gameplay
[edit]Set in the town of Saint-Pierre, Martinique on May 7, 1902, the game takes place a day before Mount Pelée is set to erupt, causing catastrophic damage. The player is a parapsychologist called into town to investigate zombie sightings.[2]
Release and aftermath
[edit]Tramis suggests that while the game was a failure in France, Mewilo performed better in Germany due to the country being "tinged with colonialism".[10]
For the 30th anniversary, Tramis created a crowdfunding campaign to create a remake.[11][12]
Critical reception
[edit]Atari Magazine praised the "excellent graphics, which can hardly be surpassed in terms of color and richness of detail"; it also highlighted the German localisation.[13] Joystick deemed it an "exciting and instructive adventure",[14] highlighting themes of slavery and the social ills of the tropical plantations.[15] Aktueller Software Markt felt it was "very complex and extensive",[16] and praised the "thought-out story' which "included the cultural and social background of [Tramis'] home country".[17] Additionally, the magazine wrote "Tramis understood how to create a captivating atmosphere through the interesting and realistic background of the story".[18] Amstar Magazine thought the game was original in its subject and execution, far from the traditional adventures games containing monsters and dungeons.[19][20]
Am Magazine praised its "cultural dimension" which it felt was "rarely found among its colleagues in adventure games".[21] Generation 4 described it an "educational adventure game" and wished more games in this sub-genre would be released.[22] Amiga News felt the software "leaves something to be desired", commenting that the "animation (for the rare times when there is some...) is sloppy and jerky".[23] Tilt wrote it offered a "real dive into the Caribbean soul, all at the same time complex, passionate, violent and irremediably marked by the claws of its history (slavery)".[24]
Reviews
[edit]Awards and nominations
[edit]Tramis asserts that the city of Paris gave her a silver medal for the work.[26]
See also
[edit]- Freedom: Les Guerriers de l'Ombre / Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness (fr), the follow-up 1988 game by Coktel Vision.
References
[edit]- ^ "Game Mag 02". 1987.
- ^ a b c Salvador, Phil (2018-03-05). "Muriel Tramis speaks about her career and the memory of Martinique". The Obscuritory. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (January 1988) (in German). January 1988.
- ^ Aktueller Software Markt - Ausgabe 1988/09.
- ^ Tronic-Verlag (2020-11-22). ASM.N24.1988.09 [+400dpi].
- ^ Secret Service 11 12 2014.
- ^ Baker, Chris. "How 'French Touch' Gave Early Videogames Art, Brains". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ Wolf, Mark J. P. (2015-05-01). Video Games Around the World. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-52716-3.
- ^ Commodore Revue Magazine (French) Issue 03 (in French).
- ^ Sipress (1988-12-21). Joystick Hebdo 07.
- ^ ulule. "MEWILO and the secret of the jar of gold". Ulule. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ "Mewilo 30th anniversary". 2018-06-09. Archived from the original on 2018-06-09. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ Verlag Rätz-Eberle (September 1988). Atari Magazin 88/09.
- ^ DMV Daten und Medien Verlagsges. (November 1988). Joystick (Deutsch) 1988-11-12.
- ^ DMV Daten und Medien Verlag Widuch (February 1989). Joystick (Deutsch) 1989-02.
- ^ Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (May 1988) (in German). May 1988.
- ^ TRONIC-Verlag (2020-06-13). ASM.N18.1988.01 [+300dpi].
- ^ Tronic-Verlag (2020-11-22). ASM.N22 1988.05 [+400dpi].
- ^ Amstar Magazine (French) Issue 24 (in French).
- ^ AMSTAR.
- ^ Laser Presse (February 1988). Am-Mag 31.
- ^ "Mewilo : Hall Of Light - The database of Amiga games". hol.abime.net. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
- ^ NewsEdition (July 1988). A-News 004.
- ^ Editions Mondiales S.A. (February 1988). Tilt 051.
- ^ "Jeux & stratégie 49". February 1988.
- ^ Joker Verlag, Haar (1992-12-23). PC Joker January 1993.