Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee®

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,228 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee® Game Cover
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In Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, players control Abe, a floor-waxer at RuptureFarms, who discovers a plot to turn his species into food. He must escape the facility, rescue his fellow Mudokons, and protect Oddworld's creatures from the ruthless Magog Cartel. With newfound powers from the Shrykull, Abe returns to RuptureFarms to confront his enemies and dismantle the twisted meat-packing empire.

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Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,228 reviews
gameplay70 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions
  • A nostalgic classic that brings back fond memories from childhood.
  • Challenging gameplay that requires precision and problem-solving skills.
  • Unique art style and dark humor that enhance the overall experience.
  • The PC port suffers from poor controls and a frustrating save system.
  • Cutscenes are choppy and do not run smoothly on modern systems.
  • Frequent deaths due to cheap mechanics can lead to frustration.
  • gameplay175 mentions

    The gameplay of this classic platformer is characterized by its challenging mechanics, requiring precision and patience, often leading to trial-and-error experiences that can frustrate players. While the inventive gameplay elements, such as possession and puzzle-solving, are praised for their uniqueness and depth, the harsh checkpoint system and difficulty level may deter some newcomers. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience for those willing to navigate its tough challenges, complemented by a rich story and engaging atmosphere.

    • “Great storytelling, characters, and setting with solid gameplay make it a great choice for those with the patience to die a lot.”
    • “The gameplay relies on precision, and it is a joy to obtain the skills necessary to beat this game.”
    • “Its unique blend of challenging gameplay, compelling storytelling, and memorable characters make it a true gem in the gaming world.”
    • “This lack of fluidity can lead to unnecessary deaths and repetitive trial-and-error gameplay that may quickly sour the overall experience.”
    • “Ultimately decided to go with a thumbs down because I think the best part of the game is everything other than the gameplay, which in turn just isn't enjoyable.”
    • “But the challenge comes from a combination of trial-and-error gameplay, spaced-out checkpoints, and sluggish, awkward controls.”
  • story137 mentions

    The story of "Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich world-building, and memorable characters, blending dark themes of slavery and corporate exploitation with humor and charm. Players appreciate the game's unique storytelling approach, which combines serious social commentary with whimsical elements, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining. Overall, the narrative is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience, despite some critiques regarding its simplicity and the game's challenging mechanics.

    • “The story, characters, and atmosphere are compelling and cute (in an odd sort of way).”
    • “The political undertones within Abe's Oddysee are by no means subtle, but they are done so well and clearly weren't just shoehorned in; this game and its story were all built with meaning everywhere.”
    • “The story is a fantastic example of handling serious issues without being preachy, never forgetting to be fun and amusing.”
    • “The plot is a little thin and kind of puerile, but there's a certain charm to the Oddworld universe.”
    • “The story is kept together very well; you know why he does what he is doing and you understand why the ending plays out the way it is.”
    • “The story to this game is essentially one giant eco-friendly metaphor for our own industrial prowess, but it is so subtle and just plain ignorable that it will not rest on your conscience at all.”
  • graphics134 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally viewed as outdated, reflecting its origins as a 1997 PlayStation title, yet many players appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that have a nostalgic charm. While some criticize the graphics for not holding up to modern standards, others argue that the hand-painted backgrounds and character designs still possess a distinct beauty that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a blend of dated yet iconic, contributing to the game's classic status despite the desire for a remaster.

    • “The whole lore, visuals, and sound effects are so iconic; this game is a classic!”
    • “It's clever and funny with an interesting dystopic art style.”
    • “The graphics are indeed old, but for the time this game was released, they're nothing short of remarkable.”
    • “Also, the game has not been remastered, so the graphics look very old-school and I have a high-functioning PC.”
    • “Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee was released quite a while ago, and unfortunately, time has not been kind to its graphics.”
    • “Terrible console port with no controller support and glitchy, awful graphics.”
  • atmosphere68 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dark themes, quirky humor, and immersive environments, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and beautiful art design. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke nostalgia while providing a captivating experience through its rich lore and challenging gameplay. Overall, the game's atmospheric qualities are considered a standout feature, making it a memorable classic in the platforming genre.

    • “The haunting, atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the dark and gritty visuals, enhancing the immersion and creating an eerie ambiance that resonates with the game's overall theme.”
    • “The detailed and atmospheric environments breathe life into the game world, making it feel truly immersive.”
    • “Soaked in atmosphere, and dense with content and challenge, it is an unforgettable journey that everyone deserves to experience at least once in their lives.”
    • “Very dark atmosphere and a top-notch soundtrack.”
    • “The eerie atmosphere combined with relentlessly high difficulty at some points and comic relief at others had left an ever lasting impression in my then game-inexperienced mind.”
    • “Its dark atmosphere and quirky humor make the title as compelling now as it was back on the PS1.”
  • humor57 mentions

    The humor in "Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee" is characterized by a unique blend of dark and slapstick elements, providing a comedic counterbalance to its serious themes of slavery and environmentalism. Players appreciate the clever writing, memorable characters, and the game's ability to evoke laughter through absurd situations, even amidst challenging gameplay. While some may find the humor unconventional or off-putting, it remains a defining aspect of the series, enhancing the overall experience with its inventive and often satirical approach.

    • “It has an entertaining combination of silly humor and dark atmosphere.”
    • “The humor is an integral part of the series' identity.”
    • “Oddworld is a humorously dark tale of an unlikely hero as he saves his people from the horrors of an unforgiving world.”
  • music39 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall immersion and complementing the dark visuals. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to adapt to gameplay situations, creating tension during intense moments while also providing a haunting backdrop that enriches the storytelling. Overall, the combination of sound design and music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's unique charm and emotional impact.

    • “The haunting, atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the dark and gritty visuals, enhancing the immersion and creating an eerie ambiance that resonates with the game's overall theme.”
    • “When it comes to music, this game has some of the best soundtracks that you'll ever hear, whether you're sneaking around a factory, getting chased by paramites, or even exploring a temple.”
    • “Amazing atmosphere thanks to the visuals and the music which sets the scene really well.”
    • “The soundtrack is not the best, but it fits the atmosphere well enough.”
    • “Alarms sound, intense music plays and enemies chase you through halls and jungles, and when you make a mistake and lose the chase, there's the music again to remind you of your failure.”
    • “The 2 main problems with it, then, are the fail states and the save system - deaths (which are very frequent) are met with prolonged musical cues and delays before starting the levels again, and there's no way of telling just how far back a reloaded saved-game is going to take you.”
  • stability15 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and issues with the PC port, including problematic controller settings and a frustrating checkpoint system. Many players experienced audio and visual glitches that detracted from gameplay, and some found the game nearly unplayable due to constant game-breaking bugs. Overall, the port's instability has led to a recommendation for alternative versions of the game.

    • “However, the Steam port is a bit buggy and can be a deterrent to some.”
    • “Shoddy PC port controls and glitches, along with a frustratingly sparse checkpoint system, have had me playing the same section over and over for about four hours now.”
    • “It glitches the second the game begins and renders it literally unplayable.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, often requiring players to invest significant time to progress due to unforgiving checkpoints and challenging puzzles. While some players appreciate the nostalgia and the game's overall enjoyment, many find the repetitive nature of grinding and the need to replay difficult sections frustrating, especially for newcomers. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, adding challenge but also leading to potential burnout.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It can be hard for a newcomer to play this game nowadays, because of stiff controls, unforgiving checkpoints, and the tediousness of saving mudokons.”
    • “You get to the end, only to be fed into the grinding machine because you didn't happen to save enough mudokons!!!”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for running smoothly on various PCs, showcasing impressive visuals and mechanics for its time, especially on the PS1. However, users note significant issues with cutscene performance on modern hardware, leading to stuttering or failure to play, which suggests that the remaster offers a better experience with improved controls and optimization for contemporary systems.

    • “The game runs smoothly on my PC; it might differ between computers and laptops.”
    • “Knowing the limited disk space and performance of the PS1 console, this game is both visually and mechanically incredible for its time. It has remained a true cult classic since release and has undoubtedly stood the test of time.”
    • “The difference in performance is that bad.”
    • “First off, on modern hardware, the movies have extreme stuttering or just plain don't work.”
    • “Great game, but nowadays I would recommend the remaster as it controls a lot better and is more optimized for newer PCs.”
  • character development7 mentions

    The character development in Oddworld is highlighted by its visually striking and memorable designs, blending industrial horror with unique and disturbing creatures. While some reviews praise the aesthetic appeal and creativity, others criticize certain aspects as unoriginal or overly simplistic. Overall, the character design is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The character design in Oddworld is both visually striking and memorable.”
    • “Everything in this game, the sound, the music, the art direction, character designs, and world design, contributes to a rich experience.”
    • “Aesthetically pleasing; gorgeous environments and intriguing character design.”
    • “Overglorified memory game with annoying and uncreative character designs.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, with players enjoying the challenge of solving puzzles and improving their performance on subsequent playthroughs. The ability to navigate levels more efficiently and aim for higher scores adds to the incentive to replay, making it engaging even after multiple attempts.

    • “A great side-scrolling platform game with a ton of replay value.”
    • “Great puzzles that really make you think about how you approach a situation, and it also has good replay value due to being able to navigate through the levels much faster after playing through once, and getting a higher score or trying to save all the friendlies.”
    • “Good replayability.”
    • “Replayability: until you die”
    • “A great side-scrolling platform game with a ton of replay value”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story and the impactful moments that evoke strong feelings, particularly when players experience the heartbreak of failing to save characters like the mudokans.

    • “All this fits together in a state-of-the-art universe with a touching story.”
    • “When you fail to save a Mudokon, it's heartbreaking!”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers express a nostalgic sentiment, indicating that the game was developed in an era before heavy monetization practices became prevalent, suggesting a purer gaming experience untainted by shareholder influence.

    • “Made back when games weren't stalled by shareholders and corrupted by monetization mechanics.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

30hMedian play time
47hAverage play time
2-110hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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