The Oddworld saga has been with us for more than 20 years since it debuted in 1997 with Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. Since then it has received a few different adventures, including some versions in high definition or remakes, as is precisely the case of the newcomer Oddworld: Soulstorm.
The title is about a remake of Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus, the second part of the franchise that has now come to life with this adventure that sometimes gives the impression of being a completely new game , beyond being a reimagining of this one. fantastic classic that was released in 1998.
After playing it thoroughly, enjoying everything it offers and at the same time getting frustrated by certain details, we invite you to read the following analysis in which we are going to tell you the reasons why it is really worth giving it a try, like this like those points that you need to take into account before launching into it.
The last hope to save the Mudokons
As we have previously pointed out, those of you who know the original titles will be aware of the events that take place. However, if this is the first time that you give the series a chance, don’t worry because it is not essential to have played Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty, the remake of the first Oddworld and therefore the prequel to Oddworld: Soulstorm .
Even so, to put you in situation, the Mudokons that remained enslaved in RuptureFarm have managed to escape from this fearsome place thanks to the help of Abe, our protagonist. However, peace lasts for a sigh when a vengeful Glukkon and his minions begin to attack the haven they were in. Despite managing to escape safely, Abe is tasked with rescuing the rest of the Mudokons who are still trapped and working hard.
The whole story has a dark and sometimes sinister touch with touches of black humor that is told through some of the most impressive cinematic sequences and that are undoubtedly what we have loved the most. More than anything because of how well worked all the animations of the characters are and the feelings of anger, sadness, worry, fear, etc., that they constantly transmit just by looking at their faces. Nor is it that these sequences are especially numerous, but the plot is very well carried at all times and is most entertaining.
While there are some details of the original plot that have remained, another reason we say it seems like a new game is because the story has been expanded in a big way , which at the same time has caused certain events not to occur. in the same way or in the same order. All this will take place while we go through caves, deserts, factories and even a moving train, among many other places.
The setting must be recognized that it is also achieved wonderfully in some fascinating scenarios that bet on a 2.9D point of view , as they have been defined by their own creators. The reason is because the numerous phases will seem to be in 3D when at all times we will move in 2D as it is a platform adventure, but thanks to the camera it produces that feeling of going from one place to another in three-dimensional environments . The result is a fabulous effect and without a doubt one of the best points that Oddworld has: Soulstorm .
Of course, not everything is perfect and this point of view, unfortunately, also stands out for something negative. The point is that the scenarios are designed so that we move through them in the same way that we would in a 2D phase , but that is something that the game does not take into account when it comes to throwing objects with Abe, in so that the things we throw will take wind if we do not do it when the screen is fully centered without curves or anything. Unfortunately that is something that we have had to suffer, getting a little desperate at specific times.
Squeezing the coconut to solve all the puzzles
As much as we say that we are facing a platform adventure, the truth is that what predominates in Oddworld: Soulstorm are the stealth parts and the puzzles . The enemies will always be armed with firearms with which they will not hesitate for a moment to riddle us with shots if they have us in sight, so the only way to face them is by resorting to throwing objects or using other traps, although not We will always have this possibility, hence we must remain calm to move forward without being seen.
So that nobody despairs, a tremendous amount of save points have been included that will generally be placed conscientiously before each puzzle, something that in the long run ends up being appreciated because in many of the situations in which we will be involved they end solving based on trial and error . So you will have to squeeze your head to find out how to kill the enemies on the screen or avoid the traps, falls, machinery or the enemies themselves that appear everywhere.
At least sometimes we can take advantage of one of Abe’s abilities with which he will be able to possess his opponents in order to use them to our advantage so that they kill each other or directly so that they do not bother us while we continue forward. Naturally, this option will not always be available due to sensors that will electrocute us for the simple fact of trying, which will force us to think of other methods to overcome the puzzles.
As we have mentioned before, a good way is with the objects that Abe will make from scrap metal that he finds by searching in lockers or buckets or directly buying them in vending machines. This will allow us to create mines, smoke bombs or candy balls, among other things, although the part of crafting items is somewhat limited because the game takes us too much by the hand when it comes to knowing which objects will be useful or we will need them.
In this sense, if we have to go through a completely dark cavern we will run into flares before that. If we need to stun the enemies, there will be no lack of elements to throw them at them and thus stun them, just as if we have to blow something through the air, do not doubt that you will have all the necessary aids to make bombs. In the end, the part of creativity or thinking of strategies to overcome problems that arise is too short , especially since at the beginning of each phase we start from scratch by losing all the objects that we carried in our pockets.
That does not mean that everything is bad, far from it, because the levels are very extensive and will be loaded with the most different puzzles to present us with a constant challenge. You can be sure that in more than one we have been able to die more than a dozen times. In addition, they offer enormous replayability because depending on certain actions we will unlock medals , such as eliminating a certain number of enemies, finding secret rooms, health points, etc., which will be a joy for all those who seek to complete the adventure by 100%.
Added to this is the fact that in most phases there will be Mudokons that we will have to rescue and help them escape through portals that we will find. Our fellow humans will only be limited to following us from one place to another, unless we assign them objects to defend themselves from enemies, although we already warned you that this will only be necessary on very few occasions in which we will see parts in which it will be necessary to help hundreds of Mudokons at the same time so that they are not eliminated.
In fact, depending on how many companions we end up rescuing safely, we will cause a balance of love and hate to tip from one side to the other, which in turn will determine what the end is that we will witness .
When nefarious artificial intelligence and other bugs mess up the experience
We reached a somewhat sad point, as is the fact that it seems that Oddworld Inhabitants has removed the game half or without finishing at all. You can not get an idea of the number of bugs and problems that it has , both in its gameplay, as in the artificial intelligence of the characters or the bad approach of certain mechanics that in the long run cause the experience of Oddworld: Soulstorm look stained by all this.
For example, the control system is sometimes a real torture when Abe does not react as we want to jumps or with animations that are not correctly reflected with the buttons we press. Personally, that is why a large part of the times that I have died during the adventure has been due to Abe doing what he wanted or not doing what I wanted.
But this does not affect only our protagonist. The enemies have somewhat debatable behaviors when sometimes they shoot us just because, even if we are stealth or they have not detected us, although the worst part is taken by the Mudokons that we will save, because sometimes they will become a burden . If you are one of those who want to prevent someone from dying, then be aware that you are going to suffer, because in the end some will end up falling between what they take to react more than necessary to our orders or that sometimes they directly ignore us.
For this reason, it is so exasperating how you have to repeat one part over and over again simply because the game feels like it, even though we are actually following the process correctly. In turn, certain control points are placed in places without any logic , such as before a few lockers, buckets or machines that we must examine, which means that when we die we have to search these places again and again. time, which is quite tedious at times.
As if that were not enough, all this is accompanied by the strangest bugs . There are two in particular that I have found that are worthy of putting your hands to your head, such as one in which a Mudokon was almost next to a save point and sometimes it appeared and sometimes not, having to restart several Sometimes when he did not feel like showing himself, while another of the errors has been one in which the game directly did not restart when he died, forcing me to close the game and reopen it. Also, if they deleted me again in the same place, I had to force close again. A nonsense.
Perhaps because of everything discussed in this final part, you may think that at this moment it is not worth getting Oddworld: Soulstorm , something that would be more than understandable until Oddworld Inhabitants finishes solving all the errors it has, despite who have already released a few patches so far, but certainly not enough and there is still too much to polish until the game is perfect .
Anyway, the adventure is a real pass . Either because of its cinematics, because of the story, because of the level design or the setting, it has left me in general with more good feelings than bad and as I progressed, I even more wanted to move on. Especially for the number of challenges it constantly presents and for its replayability to get 100%.
In short, Oddworld: Soulstorm is a fabulous remake that you will love if you like puzzles, stealth and platforms, although the bugs and some approaches in its somewhat questionable mechanics are there, which means that they are not to the liking of all the world. At least, if you are subscribed to PlayStation Plus , you can give it a try completely free in its version for PS5.
Oddworld: Soulstorm
| Platforms | PC, PS4 and PS5 (analyzed version) |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Not |
| Developer | Oddworld Inhabitants |
| Company | Oddworld Inhabitants |
| Launch | April 6, 2021 |
The best
- The impressive cinematics.
- The amount of puzzles and how challenging some are.
- Its gigantic stages in 2.9D.
Worst
- The Mudokons that we have to save do not always react as we want.
- Problems with the control system or with certain mechanics.
- A few annoying bugs that need to be fixed as soon as possible.