OddWorld: Abe's Oddysee

OddWorld: Abe’s Oddysee is a classic adventure video game filled with dark humor.

When OddWorld: Abe’s Oddysee was first released in the late 1990s, it may have seemed a step back at first glance. The general gamer was tiring of 2D platformers and 3D games were all the rage. Here was OddWorld, a 2D platforming adventure game that might have seemed so early 1990s. But OddWorld was new and fresh in ways we probably didn’t fully appreciate until years later.

OddWorld at its heart is an adventure game. It’s not fast-paced or action-packed but rather a game for the gamer who likes to think and take their time. It features many classic platforming elements, but it really isn’t a platformer per se. There are, however, a lot of puzzles, and if you’re new to them and don’t rely on the Internet, they can be quite challenging in a way modern games often aren’t.

The game is beautiful both in its aesthetic and setting. It also has a great sense of dark humor. Abe is a Mudokon slave who works with his fellow Mudokons at Rupture Farms. His slave-life is bearable until he overhears plans to turn Mudokons into the next meat specialty. Abe is thrust into the role of hero who must claim his freedom and save his fellow Mudokons from a horrible fate.

There isn’t much bad to say about OddWorld: Abe’s Oddysee. Like any game, it’s not for everyone, but it is a game everyone should try, and this isn’t something that applies to all games. The biggest issue is its age. It was released in 1997. It’s a 2D game and that certainly helps it age better than a 3D game released at that time, but the age shows both in graphics and controls. If you’re new to the game, then whether or not you enjoy it will largely depend on whether you can overlook those aged elements.

Pros

• Challenging adventure game
• Beautiful and unique aesthetic and setting
• Dark humor

Cons

• More than 20 years old