Oddworld Hits Harder When You’ve Lived It
When you’re born in a totalitarian country, spend your childhood in it (though it changed its name during my adolescence — from the USSR to Uzbekistan), and then move to another country that also turns totalitarian — the Oddworld series stops feeling like just a humorous game. In fact, you realize you’ve been laughing at the Mudokons, who were bred for meat, their servitude, and their sewn-shut mouths, only to understand that you were actually laughing at yourself.
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (1997) and Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (1998) were part of the disc collection I received with my console. I gathered my willpower and didn’t start the second game until I’d completed the first. I still love 2D platformers on PSX because they looked absolutely gorgeous, and both games in the Oddworld series looked divine.
The developers at Oddworld Inhabitants set out not only to entertain players but to make them think about deeper things — and they succeeded. The character of Abe challenges the system and becomes the leader of his people, fighting to save them from extinction. I’d call the game the Lemmings of a new generation. Abe becomes the eyes and ears of his people, and when necessary, is ready to wield supernatural powers and even sacrifice himself for their salvation.
The game features a communication system with other characters based on feelings that are inaccessible to them. This created various situations and puzzles that were a real joy to solve. Plus, you can possess enemies and unleash your fury on your oppressors.
And the way the game handles light and shadow? It’s still mesmerizing. The music and sound are top-notch. For me, this is one of the most beautiful games on PSX, and it remains so to this day.
This game should be included in all game design textbooks. You rarely come across such a cohesive project where the developers perfectly implemented all of their ideas.
In my circle, almost everyone played it, but only a few managed to finish the game. Only a handful saved all the Mudokons and got the perfect ending. I never managed to do it. But that’s the beauty of it — it gives me a reason to return to this wonderful world again, and this time, to make sure the Mudokons finally find peace. And I recommend you do the same!