View source for Mortadelo y Filemón: El Sulfato Atómico

{{Infobox video game
|title = Mortadelo y Filemón: El Sulfato Atómico
|image = Mortadelo y Filemon, El Sulfato Atomico game box cover.jpg
|caption = Spanish cover art
|developer = [[:es:Alcachofa Soft|Alcachofa Soft]]
|publisher = [[:es:Grupo Zeta|Zeta Multimedia]]
|released = November 1998<ref name=dealerworld />
|genre = [[Adventure game|Graphic adventure]]
|modes = [[Single-player]]
|platforms = [[Windows]]
}}

'''''Mortadelo y Filemón: El Sulfato Atómico''''' ({{trans|''Mortadelo and Filemon: The Atomic Sulfate''}}) is a 1998 [[graphic adventure game]] developed by the Spanish company [[Alcachofa Soft]] and published by [[:es:Grupo Zeta|Zeta Multimedia]].<ref name=elmundo />

==Gameplay and plot==
An adaptation of the Spanish comic series ''[[Mort & Phil]]'' by [[Francisco Ibáñez Talavera|Francisco Ibáñez]],<ref name=elmundo>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010712080604/https://www.elmundo.es/ariadna/2000/A007/A007pag18.html | url=https://www.elmundo.es/ariadna/2000/A007/A007pag18.html | title=Desarrolladores "made in Spain" | author=Prada, Carolina | date=July 13, 2000 | work=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=July 12, 2001 | url-status=live}}</ref> specifically the 1969 first long story ''[[El sulfato atómico]]'',<ref name=elmundo /><ref name=sevilla>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823033007/https://www.diariodesevilla.es/comics/licencia-matar-risa_0_1339666330.html | url=https://www.diariodesevilla.es/comics/licencia-matar-risa_0_1339666330.html | title=Con licencia para matar, pero de risa | author=Macías, Gerardo | date=March 27, 2019 | work=[[:es:Diario de Sevilla|Diario de Sevilla]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=August 23, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> it follows the secret agents Mort and Phil as they attempt to steal a chemical weapon from the villainous Republic of Tirania.<ref name=dealerworld>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823031940/https://www.dealerworld.es/archive/el-sulfato-atomico-mortadelo-y-filemon-se-convierten-en-el-titulo-y-los-personajes-de-la-nueva-aventura-interactiva-de-zeta-multimedia | url=https://www.dealerworld.es/archive/el-sulfato-atomico-mortadelo-y-filemon-se-convierten-en-el-titulo-y-los-personajes-de-la-nueva-aventura-interactiva-de-zeta-multimedia | title="El sulfato atómico", Mortadelo y Filemón se convierten en el título y los personajes de la nueva aventura interactiva de Zeta Multimedia | author=Staff | date=November 1, 1998 | work=Dealer World España | publisher=[[IDG]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=August 23, 2019 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The player controls the two agents separately to solve puzzles,<ref name=pcmrev>{{cite journal | author=Burgos, Carlos | title=Pantalla abierta; El Sulfato Atómico | issue=73 | date=November 1998 | journal=PC Manía | language=Spanish | page=323}}</ref> in a manner that has been compared to the gameplay of ''[[Maniac Mansion]]''.<ref name=micromania1>{{cite journal | author=El Gran Tarkilmar | title=El club de la aventura; El eterno conflicto | language=Spanish | journal=[[Micromanía]] | date=December 1998 | volume=Third Época | issue=47 | pages=196–198}}</ref>

==Development==
''El Sulfato Atómico'' was the first original, non-[[Edutainment|educational]] game bankrolled by Zeta, and was created with input from Ibáñez.<ref name=elmundo /> Alcachofa head Emilio de Paz noted that the author provided [[model sheet]]s for the cast, sketches for the backgrounds and other assistance.<ref name=macedonia>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990826014739/http://www.ciudadfutura.com/macedonia/entedp.htm | url=http://www.ciudadfutura.com/macedonia/entedp.htm | title=Entrevista a Emilio de Paz | author=Álvarez, Raúl | work=Macedonia Magazine | language=Spanish | archivedate=August 26, 1999 | url-status=dead}}</ref> According to de Paz, Alcachofa chose to adapt Ibáñez's first story because it was longer-form than most ''Mort & Phil'' comics, although the team borrowed "gags and other elements from many other" installments in the series.<ref name=meristationint>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711203320/https://as.com/meristation/1998/12/21/reportajes/914242200_035995.html | url=https://as.com/meristation/1998/12/21/reportajes/914242200_035995.html | title=Alcachofa Soft | author=Alvarez, Raúl | date=December 1, 1998 | language=Spanish | work=[[:es:MeriStation|MeriStation]] | archivedate=July 11, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> He noted that the game's budget was "very, very limited".<ref name=elmundo />

==Reception==
''El Sulfato Atómico'' was commercially successful. With sales above 70,000 units, the game "multiplied by 50 the money [Zeta Multimedia] invested in the development", according to ''[[El País]]''.<ref name=70k>{{cite news | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823032857/https://elpais.com/diario/2008/11/13/ciberpais/1226545345_850215.html | url=https://elpais.com/diario/2008/11/13/ciberpais/1226545345_850215.html | title=Un campanazo en la abadía | author=Avellaneda, Elena | date=November 13, 2008 | newspaper=[[El País]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=August 23, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> Carlos Burgos of ''PC Manía'' praised ''El Sulfato Atómico'', writing that it will delight young and old.<ref name=pcmrev /> ''[[:es:MeriStation|MeriStation]]''{{'}}s Jordi Espunya was less positive, criticizing the game's length, simplicity and audiovisual fidelity.<ref name=meristationrev>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010329215136/http://meristation.com/reviews/ElSulfatoAtomico.htm | url=http://meristation.com/reviews/ElSulfatoAtomico.htm | title=''El Sulfato Atómico'', made in Spain | author=Espunya, Jordi | date=January 7, 1999 | language=Spanish | work=[[:es:MeriStation|MeriStation]] | archivedate=March 29, 2001 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Legacy==
''El Sulfato Atómico'' was the first installment in a series of adventure games based on ''Mort & Phil''. While the comics had previously inspired arcade-style games during the [[golden age of Spanish software]], such as ''[[:es:Mortadelo y Filemón II: Safari callejero|Mortadelo y Filemón II: Safari Callejero]]'', Alcachofa Soft's project marked the beginning of a new strain of adaptations.<ref name=nuevos>{{cite book | editor1=Florenchie, Amélie | editor2=Breton, Dominique | title=Nuevos dispositivos enunciativos en la era intermedial | section=La construcción transmedia y sus fronteras entre cómic y videojuego. La industria española frente a la estadounidense | author=Escandell, Daniel | publisher=Éditions Orbis Tertius | date=2015 | language=Spanish | pages=264–269, 278 | isbn=978-2-36783-061-2}}</ref> Zeta Multimedia proceeded to publish a follow-up to ''El Sulfato Atómico'' in 1999: ''Mortadelo y Filemón: La Máquina Meteoroloca'', developed by Vega Creaciones Multimedia rather than Alcachofa.<ref name=elmundo /> Based on the ''Mort & Phil'' comic ''[[:es:El estropicio meteorológico|El Estropicio Meteorológico]]'',<ref name=nuevos /> the game was again created with assistance from Francisco Ibáñez.<ref name=elmundo /> According to the magazine ''Dealer World España'', Zeta pushed ''La Máquina Meteoroloca'' as one of its "star products" during the Christmas 1999 [[Economics of Christmas|shopping season]].<ref name=dealerworld2>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829171802/https://www.dealerworld.es/archive/kit-navidad-de-zeta-multimedia-especial-para-dealers | url=https://www.dealerworld.es/archive/kit-navidad-de-zeta-multimedia-especial-para-dealers | title=Kit Navidad de Zeta Multimedia especial para dealers | author=Staff | date=December 1, 1999 | work=Dealer World España | publisher=[[IDG]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=August 29, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> The game drew a positive review from ''PC Manía'', whose Carlos Burgos deemed it "excellent" and more faithful than ''El Sulfato Atómico'' to Ibáñez's series,<ref name=pcmrev2>{{cite journal | author=Burgos, Carlos | title=Un cómic hecho aventura gráfica | volume=Second Época | issue=4 | date=February 2000 | journal=PC Manía | language=Spanish | page=158}}</ref> while Spain's ''[[:es:PC Actual|PC Actual]]'' declared Vega's game "a bit monotonous".<ref name=pcactual>{{cite journal | author=Martínez, Javier | title=Niños; ''Mortadelo y Filemón: La Máquina Meteoroloca'' | issue=116 | date=February 2000 | journal=[[:es:PC Actual|PC Actual]] | language=Spanish | page=364}}</ref><!--<ref name=aventuraycia>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720004213/http://www.aventuraycia.com/v3/entrevista.php?id=14 | url=http://www.aventuraycia.com/v3/entrevista.php?id=14 | title=Entrevista con Emilio de Paz y Santiago Lancha | author=García, Paco | date=December 2008 | work=Aventura y CÍA | language=Spanish | archivedate=July 20, 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref>-->

Vega was shuttered in the first half of 2000, and Alcachofa returned to creating ''Mort & Phil'' adventure games after ''La Máquina Meteoroloca''{{'}}s release.<ref name=elmundo /> The developer handled the remainder of the series,<ref name=nuevos /> which became its best-known body of work before the launch of ''[[Murder in the Abbey]]'' (2008).<ref name=meristationbest>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611022838/https://as.com/meristation/2012/03/31/reportajes/1333184400_101694.html | url=https://as.com/meristation/2012/03/31/reportajes/1333184400_101694.html | title=Regreso al Pasado: Aventuras Gráficas Españolas | author=Otero, César | date=March 31, 2012 | work=[[:es:MeriStation|MeriStation]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=June 11, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=abbeyprev1>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301060750/http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_noticia.php?id=cw46cea77a0b80c&pic=PC&idj=cw44ed72bb8c52d&idp= | url=http://www.meristation.com:80/v3/des_noticia.php?id=cw46cea77a0b80c&pic=PC&idj=cw44ed72bb8c52d&idp= | title=[GC] Los españoles Alcachofa Soft muestran ''The Abbey'' en Leipzig | author=Gavilán, Pep Sánchez | date=August 24, 2007 | work=[[:es:MeriStation|MeriStation]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=March 1, 2009 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Micromanía]]'' reported that the ''Mort & Phil'' games helped to put Alcachofa on the map.<ref name=tradicion>{{cite journal | author=Staff | title=Retromanía; Aventuras españolas: Una gran tradición | issue=131 | date=March 2006 | language=Spanish | journal=[[Micromanía]] | volume=Third Época | page=151}}</ref> Summarizing the company's history in 2008, Julio Gómez of ''[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]]'' wrote that Alcachofa ultimately saw "its fortunes joined to" ''El Sulfato Atómico''.<ref name=proposito>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601022458/http://www.vandal.net/reportaje/a-proposito-de-las-aventuras-graficas | url=http://www.vandal.net/reportaje/a-proposito-de-las-aventuras-graficas | title=A Propósito de las Aventuras Gráficas | date=March 14, 2008 | author=Gómez, Julio | work=[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=June 1, 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Alcachofa's second ''Mort & Phil'' title, ''[[Mortadelo y Filemón: Una Aventura de Cine]]'', debuted in 2000.<ref name=nuevos /> It launched as two games—respectively subtitled ''Dos Vaqueros Chapuceros'' and ''Terror, Espanto y Pavor''—sold separately for 3,995 [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]] each.<ref name=cinerev1>{{Cite web | url=https://as.com/meristation/2000/12/13/analisis/976724520_016134.html |title = Incompetentes habituales: Mortadelo, Filemón y la TIA|date = 26 January 2015}}</ref> Combining the two opens access to a third episode, ''Parque Jurásico'', to complete the full ''Una Aventura de Cine'' product.<ref name=nuevos /><ref name=cinerev1 /> The combined game also features local and online [[Cooperative video game|cooperative multiplayer]] support for two players.<ref name=cinerev1 />

Alcachofa followed ''Una Aventura de Cine'' in 2001 with ''Mortadelo y Filemón: La Sexta Secta''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.meristation.com/sc/juegos/todosobre.asp?c=GEN&j=2492 | title=Todo sobre Mortadelo y Filemon: La Sexta Secta | website=www.meristation.com | access-date=12 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040116111403/http://www.meristation.com/sc/juegos/todosobre.asp?c=GEN&j=2492 | archive-date=16 January 2004 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=nuevos /> It was again composed of two individual games, entitled ''El Escarabajo de Cleopatra'' and ''Operación Moscú'', that combine to form the complete product.<ref name=nuevos /> The final entry in the ''Mort & Phil'' adventure game series arrived with ''La Banda de Corvino'',<ref name=nuevos /> launched in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.meristation.com/sc/juegos/todosobre.asp?c=GEN&j=4246 | title=Todo sobre Mortadelo y Filemón: La Banda del Corvino | website=www.meristation.com | access-date=12 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906121819/http://www.meristation.com/sc/juegos/todosobre.asp?c=GEN&j=4246 | archive-date=6 September 2004 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Like its predecessors, it retailed as two complementary episodes, this time under the names ''Mamelucos a la Romana'' and ''Balones y Patadones''.<ref name=nuevos />

In 2019, [[:es:Erbe Software|Erbe Software]] re-released the game on [[Steam (service)|Steam]],<ref name=rerelease1>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629084644/https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350721233/erbe-lanzara-drascula-mortadelo-y-filemon-el-sulfato-atomico-y-sleepwalker-en-pc/ | url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350721233/erbe-lanzara-drascula-mortadelo-y-filemon-el-sulfato-atomico-y-sleepwalker-en-pc/ | title=Erbe lanzará ''Dráscula'', ''Mortadelo y Filemón: El sulfato atómico'' y ''SleepWalker'' en PC | author=González, Alberto | date=April 17, 2019 | work=[[:es:Vandal|Vandal]] | language=Spanish | archivedate=June 29, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=rerelease2>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813094126/https://www.elcorreo.com/tecnologia/fs-gamer/lanzamientos/mortadelo-filemon-regresan-20190813095054-nt.html | url=https://www.elcorreo.com/tecnologia/fs-gamer/lanzamientos/mortadelo-filemon-regresan-20190813095054-nt.html | title=Mortadelo y Filemón regresan a los videojuegos | author=Castillo, José Carlos | date=August 13, 2019 | language=Spanish | work=[[El Correo]] | archivedate=August 13, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> alongside several other ''Mort & Phil'' titles by Alcachofa.<ref name=rerelease2 />

==See also==
* ''[[3 Skulls of the Toltecs]]''
* ''[[Hollywood Monsters (video game)|Hollywood Monsters]]''

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* {{MobyGames|/game/mortadelo-y-filemn-el-sulfato-atmico}}

{{Mort & Phil}}
{{Alcachofa Soft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:Adventure games]]
[[Category:Point-and-click adventure games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Spain]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]
[[Category:Parody video games]]
[[Category:Video games based on comics]]
[[Category:Mort & Phil]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Alcachofa Soft games]]