Welcome back to the world of odd! Or Oddworld rather. Now what’s interesting about the next game in the series is that it wasn’t meant to be part of the main story, it was a bonus game that was tacked on to the original Abe’s odyssey. Despite this it has plenty to add to the initial plot and expand Abe’s world to us, even if there is relatively little in the way of new features added. So with that bit of background done, let’s get into the story of Abe’s Exoddus!
Ohhh, I could do with a brew...
When we left our protagonist Abe in the last game (and you had played the game right) he had just saved 99 Mudokons from Rupture farms. He was rescued from the evil clutches of Mullock and Rupture farms went up in flames. And so as he stands before a cheering crowd he can finally relax…and breaks wind. After the raucous laughter, Bigface slaps him on the back, causing him to fall to the floor and have a vision of the ancient Mudokon spirits who’re suffering from a bit of a calcium deficiency. Well…more of a bone deficiency…
It turns out the new craze on Oddworld, is a drink with the not-so subtle name of “Soulstorm brew”. The key ingredient of which, it turns out is the bones of the Mudokon dead. I know, even in game logic the idea that you could make a drink out of someone’s bones is more than a little twisted and stupid. Seriously, the Glukkon’s really need to be more subtle in the marketing campaigns, I mean what next? Bubalock Balls? Unakete urine? Still! A great way to get your recommended calcium intake!
But this has the joint problem of, unsurprisingly, making the drinkers addicted to it and also making them very, very ill. Not only that, it’s also destroying the souls of the Mudokons buried in Necrum. So of course, Abe’s country break is cut tragically short as he has to hoof it across country with a few buddies to find Necrum.
Its a long way to Tiperary, its a long way to go...
And we’re plunged back into the familiar territory of AO’s platforming puzzles. These are thankfully much easier than the previous game aided by the inclusion of a quick save cutting out a LOT of frustration…as long as you don’t save at an inopportune time… However! Despite many similarities initially, the engine has been slightly upgraded making the animations look nicer and fluid.
Perhaps the most interesting and fun new element of the game is the expanded game speak, now including Glukkon’s, Sligs, Paramites and Scrabs. This adds a new dimension to the puzzle solving and trial and error game play. Yes, sadly there is still a lot of that about, so no conversions for those who disliked that style of game play. There is also the rather amusing entrance of being able to posses your farts and use them as deadly guided explosives. Which is fun!
"Thankyou for waiting, your call is very important to us."
Now for some the use of the first games engine may be seen as a cheap trick to cash in on the first games success. Given that the game was produced in just over 9 months after the first’s release, I’d say it’s to GT Interactive’ credit for creating something superior in such a short time. The artwork is just as good, if not better as the original as is the soundtrack. Sadly you do a bit or retreading some old ground, back into the temples again and it does feel a bit too familiar in some places.
The game is still just as solid as the original and much more easier and enjoyable thanks to the quick-save system.
As for the rest of the plot, well…you’re going to have to see that for yourself. There’s plenty more twisted devices and creatures in Oddworld for you to find…and run from. The joy is in discovery…so I’ll save that for you…
