Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus

2D platform games on the PC are about as common as a condom in the Vatican, which means that when the occasional contender does come along it has the whole market to itself. Of course, there is a reason for their scantness - nobody wants to play them, especially when they're as bloody hard as this one.

There are many things to applaud in Abe's Exoddus. its bravery, its oddness, the original communication and farting system, even the animation. Sadly, they don't make up for the suicidal tendencies and pathological teeth-grinding induced by the gameplay. After a few hours of frustrating deaths and samey puzzles you'll want to beat cute little Abe to a shapeless pulp. At least when Lara dies you've got her three-dimensional buttocks to stare at.

It's an odd, Oddworld once again. Abe, the absintheskinned Mudokon and star of GT Interactive's Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee title, will soon be embarking on his second journey, picking up precisely where his last mission left off.

The story begins at the point where, by destroying the factory and ail the Mudokon bones stashed inside (during the end of the first game), Abe has given the Glukkons reason to need another cache of bones so they can continue making their carnivorous beverages. In Exoddus, you will again venture into the mission as Abe, only this time, with more feeling. Not only will Exoddus include more gamespeak and more special features (like invisibility), you will also reportedly discover more intelligent Al, and fellow Mudokons will wear their emotions on their skin, literally, as blue will depict melancholy, red will display anger, and so on. As Abe, you will have to interact with the Mudokons, by hugging and so forth, to keep them from committing suicide and even taking advantage of your kindness. Zombified Mudokons, notably Mudombies, will need Abe's assistance in finding their way to safety as well.

Many of the former enemies, such as Scrabs and Sligs, will return. However, Fleeches, Slurgs, Necrum Spirits and Slogs will also attempt to keep you and your kind from safety. And while saving the Mudokons is foremost, there will be lots of chores for Abe along the way, so to speak.

The Next Oddysee

You may know that Abe's Oddysee is part one of a quintology (that's a five-part series to you non-scientists out there). Abe's Exoddus is actually not part of this quintology. Part two of the series is going to be called Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. Oddworld Inhabitants (the developers) have such a grand artistic vision for part two, they're waiting for a larger, more powerful canvas to paint on. "We definitely won't be doing Munch's Oddysee on the PlayStation," says Lome Lanning, president of Oddworld Inhabitants. "We're going to wait for a more powerful system. Whether that system will be Dreamcast remains to be seen."

So where does Abe's Exoddus fit in all of this? GT Interactive knew that Oddworld Inhabitants weren't going to put Munch's Oddysee on the PlayStation. So GT basically explained to them that they'd be crazy not to do one more PlayStation Oddworld game, seeing how the first game met with such critical and financial success. Oddworld Inhabitants agreed, so now we have Abe's Exoddus.

Just remember, all of the games in the Oddworld quintology will have "Oddysee" in the title. Anything with "Exoddus" is considered outside of the quintology. Got it?

After making a big splash with Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee last year, GT Interactive's sending Abe out to save the day once again in the awesome sequel, Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus. Rejuvenated with tons of slick refinements, cool new levels, and, most importantly, a clutch new save feature, Exoddus easily earns a place among the PlayStation's best this year.

Hello!

Engaging characters and settings were a big part of Oddysee's allure, and Exoddus doesn't skimp there either. Set on a quirky little planet called Oddworld, this 2D side-view adventure picks up after Abe's just rescued his people, the Mudokons, from the Glukkons' meat-packing plant where they were the main ingredient. Now their ancestors' bones are being excavated to make the Glukkons' latest "treat," SoulStorm Brew, and Abe's the man for the job as he sneaks around enemies, solves brain-busting puzzles, and runs for his life. It's charming, it's hilariously funny, and it'll glue you to the screen.

But Exoddus delivers more than just new levels. The most welcome news for Oddysee pros is the new save, which lets you save to the memory card at any point in the game and return to exactly where you were.

Even better is the Quiksave feature, which lets you create your own check point. If you pause anytime and rapidly save to the PlayStation's RAM, whenever you die, you'll return to your last

Quiksave point. This simple but ingenious addition eliminates the frustrating repetition that plagued Oddysee--once you solve even the smallest part of a puzzle, you just Quiksave and never have to do it again.

Follow Me!

Exoddus jams in a ton of other cool new features, too. Abe's vocabulary has been smartly expanded, and it's much easier to command groups of Mudokons. He can also possess many more types of enexmies, turn invisible, smack those who need it, ride in mine cars, and even cut exploding farts.

This game's much bigger than before, offering tons more levels on two CDs. Cool new environments like the Slig barracks or Glukkon offices await Abe, all loaded with familiar enemies like Paramites and Scrabs, and devious new foes like Fleeches and flying Sligs. Overall, Exoddus has a much more balanced and fine-tuned feel--things just flow more smoothly and intuitively.

HERE BOY!

As far as gameplay goes, Exoddus is definitely not for twitchy action gamers. Sure, there are plenty of pulse-pounding moments--and even some standard platform gaming challenges like jumping across voids--but Abe s always the weakling, and always must either flee or use his wits to win. It makes for thoughtful, cerebral puzzle-solving that's wholly addictive. It's not the kind of game you'll ever play again once you beat it, but plowing through to the end is an enjoyable challenge that will easily consume you.

On the control side, Abe's easy to guide and has plenty of fun moves, though mastering them takes a little practice. Unfortunately, as in Oddysee, lining up jumps is a fussy, vexing process that's just way harder than it should be. It's the game's only significant flaw.

Git 'Em!

Visually, Exoddus shows how awesome 2D can be. Spectacular backgrounds will capture your attention with their creative style and gorgeous color, while every one of the game's characters move with graceful realism. Killer cut scenes and seamless in-game transitions between levels imbue Exoddus with an absorbing cinematic flair.

The sound's a huge success too, forming an integral part of the game's charm. The character voices and sound effects, such as Abe's.creaky sneak or the Sligs' delighted cackle when they blast Abe to bits, will make you crack a grin.

All Ya!

Exoddus isn't for everyone, but if a fascinating puzzle-packed adventure appeals to you, this one will enthrall you for weeks. A must-buy title for adventure gamers, Exoddus is worth every cent.

Graphics

Abe's looking mighty fine again. Spellbinding prerendered backgrounds overflow with lush colors and rich details, while Abe and the other characters glide across the screen with lifelike fluidity.

Control

As with any good game, Exoddus is a breeze to get into but takes time to master. Once you have, you can do so many cool, innovative things that it's a shame that something as simple as jumping is so unreliable and finicky.

Sound

The awesome sounds are a huge part of what makes Exoddus so captivating. Charmingly humorous voices, cartoon-style sound effects, and perfect mood music make for a stellar audio experience.

Fun Factor

Exoddus blows the doors off Abe's Oddysee with a vast new adventure for Abe that packs in tons of sweet new touches and, best of all, an excellent save feature that completely eliminates Oddysee's frustrating repetition. This one's a masterpiece.

Overview

I have to admit I am taking this right out of the manual that comes with the game. GT Interactive sums up the storyline better than I ever could. So here it goes:

Your mission is to destroy the Mines by sabotaging the boilers that power the place. You’ll have to find your five friends too … but keep them away from the SoulStorm Brew! One slug of that stuff and they’ll get sick, and be no use to anyone … unless you can find a way to heal them. And how do you do that? I bet those three ghosts might have an idea. They’re probably hanging around their tomb. If you can find the ghosts, maybe you can get them to confirm the rumor that Scrabs and Paramites are running free in the Vaults of Necrum.

Gameplay, Controls, Interface

The gameplay for Oddworld can be kind of slow one moment and fast and furious the next. It all depends on where you are in the game. Whenever I would start the game, I had to be in the correct state of mind to play. I could not have anything else going on in the house or I would lose my train of thought. Yes, this game makes you think!! I know, I know, this is not Riven or Myst or anything like that, but let me tell you what, some of those Mudokons are in situations where you have to sit back and ponder how you are going to save them.

Once again, I have to say that the game can be very frustrating when it comes to controlling Abe. I felt that if I had a third hand on my controller I would be able to handle the game like a champ. This was a problem in the first game, and it seems like GT Interactive has tried to make it easier on the player, but personally I think there are too many things that Abe is capable of doing. If you have a 9-button joystick you will be able to do things more proficiently than the people with a 4-button joystick.

GT Interactive has taken our suggestion to heart and has resolved the savegame option that plagued the first game. You can now save anywhere in the game. Believe me, you will be saving quite a bit if you want to save all the Mudokons.

Graphics

The graphics are impressive. It is hard to find any games on the market right now that do not require a video accelerator card. But Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus is one of those games. So if you are one of those gamers who have not yet gone out and dropped $150 on a new video card, this game probably has the best graphics you will ever see.

The background graphics are sharper than the first game, and the levels are a tad bit larger also. The CD even comes with an Oddworld desktop theme for those of you that have MS Plus or Windows 98.

System Requirements

Windows 95 & 98, Pentium 166 Mhz (Pentium 200 Mhz MMX recommended), 16 MB RAM (32 MB RAM recommended), 2 MB video card, 4X CD-ROM drive (8X recommended), and 100% SoundBlaster-compatible sound card

Relation To Previous Installment

Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus is a worthy successor to Abe’s Oddysee. The gameplay is almost identical and the fun factor is just as high as the original. GT Interactive has picked up the storyline right where it left off. I believe the next game in the series is going to be a 3D game, so I am not sure whether we will ever see another side-scrolling game come out in the future.

Documentation

The manual is more than adequate to get the average gamer up and running in no time. It has all the enemies in it with a little bio on them also. And of course, it has the storyline that I mentioned earlier in this article.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that if you like good graphics and a well-designed game, this game is definitely worth looking at. Abe’s Exoddus is entertaining and can be quite challenging at times. The only thing that bothers me about the game is that it looks and feels too much like the first game. We all have played the Tomb Raider series and have seen how dry that can get. That is why I am going to go out on a limb and give this game two separate ratings. If you have solved the first game, then I would rate the game as about an 82. If you have not played any games in the series, this is a no-brainer. Score it as a 94, Baby!

The funniest and most original platform hero of 1997 returns to the PlayStation--and he's packing plenty of slide refinements, like more intuitive gameplay, and even...exploding farts.

Iast fall, Abe's Oddysee garnered plenty of acclaim with its charming humor, engaging story, and smooth graphics and gameplay. Building on that success, the developers, Oddworld Inhabitants, are plugging away on a sequel, Abe's Exoddus, that will deliver the kind of upgrades, new features, and fine-tuning that should attract both Abe's original fans and a legion of new players.

Hello! Follow Me!

Exoddus takes place right after Oddysee, when Abe and his fellow Mudokons learn that their burial grounds are being excavated by the evil Clukkons, who are using the bones to brew the addictive drink that enslaves the Mudokons. Naturally, it's up to the none-too-fearsome Abe to save the day in all-new levels packed with new enemies like flying and crawling Sligs, baby Slogs, and a creepy new inchwormlike brood called Fleeches.

It's an Oddworld After All

On the surface, Exoddus looks a lot like Oddysee, featuring the same kind of gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds and puzzle-laden platform action. But some sizable improvements and cool new touches quickly reveal themselves. The most welcome news is that saves now work like they should have in Oddysee--you can save anywhere, anytime, and you'll return to exactly where you were.

Oddworld Inhabitants is also souping up Abe's abilities, as well as the puzzle mechanics. Abe's CameSpeak (his ability to talk aloud with other characters) is being greatly expanded. And, instead of having to talk one-on-one, he can now issue commands to whole groups of Mudokons, ordering them all to follow him, apologizing to them, or getting help operating equipment. Abe can also slap other characters (like Mu-dokons overwhelmed by laughing gas or Sligs he's snuck up on), turn invisible, and possess almost everything in the game, including Scrabs, Paramites, Clukkons, and even his own farts, which he can then steer into an enemy and explode. These greater powers of possession factor into the gameplay, too--for example, Abe will need to possess a Clukkon, the bosses of Oddworld, and order around Sligs, the grunts, to get through a series of obstacles.

Oddworld Inhabitants is also addressing complaints that the puzzles were too difficult and involved too much jumping and too many deaths to figure out. "Exoddus isn't easy; it's still a challenging game with lots of puzzles," reports Lome Lanning, president of Oddworld Inhabitants, "but the frustration factor is much lower."

Munch's Oddysee?

In a tantalizing preview of things to come, Lanning also discussed the future of the Oddworld series, which involves four more games that are being built for the next generation of gaming hardware. The next, Munch's Oddysee, is due out in fall 2000, probably on Sega's Dreamcast and possibly on the PlayStation 2. While Lanning couldn't discuss the specifics of the game, it does sport real-time 3D graphics, and Lanning hints that, "We've just scratched the surface of CameSpeak--it's integral to our future games."

Excited for Exoddus

Fans of Oddysee definitely have a lot to look forward to when Exoddus hits stores this November. As Lan-ning puts it, "If you liked Abe's Oddysee, you'll love Abe's Exoddus."

After saving the day in Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. Abe's back for another stab at rescuing his race from extinction. Billed as more of an add-on pack than a sequel Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus picks up after Abe closed down Rupture Farms' processing plant in Oddysee--a move that forces his evil masters. to/raid the sacred burial grounds of Abe's people to score the secret ingredient of their favorite soda.

While Abe's still as wimpy as ever, 1997's coolest un-hero packs a bigger punch with newfound abilities that include invisibility and slapping. He also has an expanded vocabulary and the power to possess more enemies. including Scrabs and Paramites. But the all-new levels are loaded with new adversaries, too, such as crawling and flying Sligs, so Exoddus looks like it's shaping up for another round of skull-busting action/adventure mayhem.