Oddworld: Soulstorm

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 196 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Oddworld: Soulstorm Game Cover
A darker retelling of an outspoken hero, thrust into his role. With a few kinks to iron out, Oddworld Inhabitants have given Abe life anew.
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"Oddworld: Soulstorm" is a single-player fantasy platformer game with a delightful story, awesome visuals, and a good soundtrack. The game features intelligent new mechanics, twisted devices, and a dark parable about a volatile society. However, it is known for having lots of grinding and being very buggy, with updates and fixes ongoing. The game offers a fresh narrative and a complete story retake, aiming to break new ground for the Oddworld series.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 196 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
stability37 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning graphics and beautifully animated cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.
  • The story is engaging and offers a darker retelling of Abe's journey, with interesting character development.
  • The gameplay includes a variety of mechanics, such as crafting and puzzle-solving, which add depth to the experience.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and technical issues, including broken AI and frustrating checkpoint systems.
  • The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to cheap deaths and frustrating gameplay moments.
  • The crafting system, while innovative, often feels cumbersome and unnecessary, detracting from the core gameplay.
  • gameplay100 mentions

    The gameplay of Oddworld: Soulstorm is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of classic platforming and new mechanics like crafting and looting, which some players find cumbersome and unnecessary. While the game offers beautiful visuals and engaging environments, it suffers from AI issues, bugs, and inconsistent mechanics that can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, it modernizes the series but may alienate fans of the original titles due to its complexity and reliance on trial-and-error gameplay.

    • “Gameplay is multi-faceted and action-packed; there are tough enemies, challenges, puzzles to solve, and you get to explore a lot of beautifully strange places and do amazing stuff.”
    • “The gameplay has been changed a lot, although the platformer gameplay is still present, it feels fresh and new and didn’t bother me at all.”
    • “Overall, it is a good remake of Abe’s Exodus, with large open levels that look brilliant and a variety of gameplay mechanics on offer, from platforming, puzzles, and action.”
    • “The game mechanics make it unplayable.”
    • “It's not only frustrating but inexcusable in a game whose core mechanics rely on precision.”
    • “However, when it comes to gameplay, Oddworld: Soulstorm comes with a lot of bugs, and clunky and confusing controls.”
  • story79 mentions

    The story of "Oddworld: Soulstorm" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and character development, while others feel it strays too far from the darker themes of its predecessor, "Abe's Exodus." Players appreciate the unique world-building and visual storytelling, though some criticize the pacing and the absence of key elements from the original story. Overall, there is excitement for potential future installments that could further develop the narrative and improve gameplay mechanics.

    • “The game's storytelling is captivating and immerses players in a unique and bizarre world.”
    • “With an excellent stage and puzzle design, an engaging story that takes some unexpectedly dark turns, and a great presentation, Oddworld: Soulstorm is as good as the first entries in the series, if not even better thanks to some new gameplay mechanics.”
    • “Wonderful environments and a genuinely gripping story that is both dark and light-hearted.”
    • “The story has been changed a lot compared to the original, and in my opinion, the game feels less dark compared to the story of Abe’s Exodus.”
    • “I get the story they're trying to tell with this, but the passive knockout techniques with all the glitching and bugging out causing Slig deaths or Mudokon deaths just made it incredibly frustrating.”
    • “You see, Soulstorm has a very weak story compared to Exodus, and it truly baffles me that the big moments from that older game have been excised here.”
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals, detailed environments, and engaging cutscenes that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, some players noted technical issues such as poor framerates and limited graphical settings, which detracted from the experience. While the artwork retains the charm of the original series, some feel it lacks the magic and darker tone that characterized earlier titles.

    • “The game's visuals are breathtaking and the soundtrack is fitting and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Oddworld has always been known for their amazing visuals and art style, and Oddworld: Soulstorm is no exception.”
    • “Finally, the graphics and artwork are brilliant.”
    • “But the graphics themselves are not good as I expected from a 2021 game (on PS, came to Steam in 2022).”
    • “The artwork has lost all of its magic too.”
    • “The remaster of the original artwork kept the feel and magic of the original art, but this game has just lost it all.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting extensive bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that they encountered fewer problems, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and often unplayable due to game-breaking errors. Many hope for future updates to address these issues, but as it stands, the game's stability is a major concern.

    • “The game runs great; I've used the 40Hz/FPS setting, and the performance has been excellent.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, with minimal crashes and smooth gameplay.”
    • “I've experienced consistent frame rates throughout my sessions, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game after waiting so long for it to release on Steam, but it's buggy, unpolished, and poorly optimized.”
    • “This game launched with an extensive glossary of bugs and glitches that rendered it unplayable.”
    • “Oddworld: Soulstorm's charm, characters, and sincere narrative are imprisoned within buggy, erratic software.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it atmospheric but ultimately forgettable and generic. Issues such as buggy audio, abrupt track resets, and a lack of memorable melodies detract from the overall experience, especially when compared to previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the ambient soundscapes, the consensus is that the soundtrack fails to enhance the game's emotional impact or match the quality of earlier installments.

    • “The game's visuals are breathtaking and the soundtrack is fitting and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Every enemy encounter sound cue, ambience, cutscene musical cues, etc. are masterfully executed and successfully fill the caves with dread and large open areas with caution, and sheer dreariness from how arduous Abe's trek is.”
    • “I just hope that they will properly release the soundtrack to this one and Abe's Exoddus.”
    • “The soundtrack is very generic (boring), and the looping isn’t smooth.”
    • “Gone is the unique music, traded for a more generic track.”
    • “My biggest complaint/disappointment in comparison to Exoddus is the decision to have ambient tracks instead of dedicated stage music.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews highlight that while grinding in the game can be rewarding and challenging, it often becomes tedious and frustrating due to repetitive tasks, imprecise controls, and poorly designed moments that lead to unnecessary setbacks. Players express disappointment over the lack of manual save options, which forces them to repeat monotonous actions, detracting from the overall experience. However, some note that the game improves in the latter half, with more refined puzzles and gameplay.

    • “After slowly looting 17 lockers, bins, etc. and getting a key from a slig you knocked out to slowly open more lockers, then slowly and carefully taking out more sligs and, again, carefully timing jumps to not instantly die for 15 minutes... then suddenly dying due to a nervous finger slip or a badly designed 'gotcha' moment you didn't see coming feels so awful, because then you have to do all that slow, tedious monotony all over again.”
    • “It's tedious, and it lacks the 'it factor' that I loved about the first two games.”
    • “Oddworld: Soulstorm is a big, beautiful puzzle platformer with the spirit of Abe's adventures intact and some interesting new ideas, but it's all very quickly undone by imprecise controls, tedious level design, and a shocking lack of polish.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its breathtaking visuals and fitting soundtrack that enhance the storytelling and worldbuilding, immersing players in the experience. However, some users note inconsistencies, such as buggy music and a lack of memorable elements compared to earlier versions, while others feel that the game falls short in delivering the rich atmosphere found in the originals. Overall, the atmosphere is a strong point for many, but there are notable criticisms regarding its execution and depth.

    • “Like the older versions, it has the same atmosphere, and on top of that, it looks astonishing, with a great story.”
    • “The game's visuals are breathtaking and the soundtrack is fitting and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere and worldbuilding of this series is exceptional; it was enough for me to keep me engaged until I finished the game, something many other games with better reviews can't.”
    • “The general mood of the game is strongly lacking in atmosphere; there are no rich backgrounds and no intense musical score.”
    • “The atmosphere and worldbuilding of this series is exceptional; it was enough to keep me engaged until I finished the game, something many other games with better reviews can't achieve.”
    • “While the older versions had a captivating atmosphere, this one feels flat and fails to evoke the same sense of wonder.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, requiring them to lower settings drastically to achieve playable frame rates. While it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck and has beautiful graphics, many users feel it is buggy and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game struggles to meet modern optimization standards, leaving some fans disappointed.

    • “On one hand, it has beautiful graphics and runs smoothly on the Steam Deck.”
    • “The game runs great; I’ve used the 40Hz/40fps setting and the performance has been excellent.”
    • “I am running this game on a 3050 Ti mobile on a laptop, and while I can run most new, yet still optimized, games very well at over 90fps at a solid resolution, for this I have to drop the settings to the lowest possible as well as the resolution.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game after waiting so long for it to release on Steam, but it's buggy, unpolished, and poorly optimized.”
    • “I am running this game on a 3050 Ti mobile on a laptop, but I can run most new, yet still optimized, games very well with my setup at over 90 FPS at a solid resolution. However, for this game, I have to drop the settings to the lowest possible as well as the resolution.”
    • “We hope one day an Oddworld game will be a must-play adventure worthy of the series’ late-'90s prestige, but Soulstorm on Switch hasn’t quite freed Abe and the Mudokons from the fetters of poor performance and archaic design.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the nostalgic and funny dialogue, others find it repetitive and tedious after multiple encounters. The comedic elements, such as quirky character interactions and absurd scenarios, evoke laughter, but the overall lack of variety in humorous gameplay can detract from the experience. Despite these criticisms, the game still manages to resonate with fans of the series, evoking fond memories and laughter.

    • “Haha, funny green men on fire.”
    • “Not only did I laugh at the humor that this game radiates, but I cried when I was yeeted on a trip down memory lane back to '97 with the familiar sounds and creatures of Oddworld.”
    • “It's good and honestly funny dialogue, but it loses charm after 47 times of repetition.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players express a mix of nostalgia and frustration in their emotional responses to the game. While some appreciate the humor and feel a deep connection to the game's history, others find the challenging difficulty and clunky controls lead to a consistently negative experience. Overall, the emotional impact ranges from joy and nostalgia to frustration and disappointment.

    • “This game did remind me of the older versions and that made me feel right at home.”
    • “Not only did I laugh at the humor that this game radiates, but I cried when I was taken on a trip down memory lane back to '97 with the familiar sounds and creatures of Oddworld.”
    • “The negative reviews for this game appear to be more emotional than critical.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through achievement hunting and multiple endings, appealing to players seeking challenges. While its initial presentation may have some drawbacks, it remains a compelling experience that encourages repeated play.

    • “It's still a very good game with a lot of replay value; you just need to take off those nostalgia goggles first.”
    • “Replayability is enhanced through achievement hunting and karma-based endings.”
    • “Despite being slightly held back by its overall presentation at launch, it largely remains a stellar experience with lots of replayability and challenges for those who are gluttons for punishment.”
    • “Replayability is limited, as the game relies heavily on achievement hunting and karma-based endings, which can feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
    • “The lack of diverse story paths makes replaying the game less appealing, as most choices lead to similar outcomes.”
    • “While there are multiple endings, the journey to reach them doesn't offer enough variation to keep players engaged for multiple runs.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the character development in the game is impressive, particularly noting that characters like Molluck receive more depth than the protagonist, Abe. The development is described as immediate and cinematic, aligning with the creator's vision of delivering a movie-like experience since the game's inception in 1997.

    • “I never thought I'd see them and Molluck get better character development than Abe.”
    • “I felt there was so much character development right off the bat; it's like watching a movie of Oddworld, which I know was what the creator wanted from the game even back in '97.”
    • “Never thought I'd see them and Molluck get better character development than Abe.”
    • “I felt there is so much character development right off the bat, and it's like watching a movie of Oddworld, which I know was what the creator wanted from the game even back in '97'.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game is viewed as thoughtful rather than exploitative, with players appreciating that it doesn't feel like a low-effort cash grab. Fans of the franchise seem to support the approach taken, indicating a level of respect for the game's development.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
12-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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