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Oddworld: Soulstorm is a reimagining of Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus, a recreation that initially launched in 1998. Reality be informed, I had solely performed the primary two video games within the franchise means again through the PlayStation days. Abe’s adventures, to me, had been only a passing curiosity (not a lot full-fledged fandom).
As such, I checked out Oddworld: Soulstorm with recent eyes. I used to be eager on seeing what the staff at Oddworld Inhabitants can do with this newest providing. After all, the query nonetheless stays: is Abe’s latest outing value your whereas?
Abe the Savior
Oddworld: Soulstorm showcases the journey of Abe and his Mudokon followers after their escape from RuptureFarms (this narrative was a part of Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysey in 1997 and in 2015’s Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty remake). Somewhat than merely do a remaster or a remake of Exoddus, Oddworld Inhabitants selected a reimagined model, one that will current a sequel that’s each acquainted and vastly completely different from what it sought to emulate. As such, Oddworld: Soulstorm appears like a wholly new recreation.
Oddworld: Soulstorm even has a number of cinematics and cutscenes so as to add extra depth to the characters and plot. The story begins out with Abe and co. enjoyable in a secure location solely to get raided. This harrowing escape leads Abe to search for different survivors, in addition to varied Mudokons that proceed to be enslaved. Scorching on their heels is Molluck the Glukkon and his military of Sligs, all desirous to snuff out the flames of this rebellion.
Powering by means of puzzles
Oddworld: Soulstorm has 17 ginormous ranges stuffed with many setpieces to maintain you entertained. There are collapsing caverns, desolate ruins, large factories, darkish mineshafts, and even a stage set on a transferring prepare. Each stage and artwork design are top-notch right here. You’ve received a nominal path you’ll push by means of to succeed in the top of the stage, however there are quite a few secret areas so that you can uncover as nicely.
That is the place “badges” are available in. Consider these as achievements or tallies that you could full in every stage to point out you simply what number of nooks and crannies, or Royal Jellies (well being boosters), you’ve noticed. Make no mistake, Oddworld: Soulstorm is a masterclass in relation to defining its personal model of “2.9D” platforming gameplay. Sure, there are 3D components, however lateral motion and digicam angles will nonetheless give that feeling of nostalgia from classics within the style.
Likewise, as with action-platformers, the sport presents numerous sections with puzzles. Some lend to a extra easy strategy whereas others can preserve you guessing. And also you’ll most likely depend on trial-and-error options a number of instances, too. Abe has a plethora of instruments at his disposal due to some primary crafting options. You can also make stun mines, flammable brews, bouncing rocks that may tie opponents, and extra.
Abe may also chant to outright possess foes. Certainly, possessing an enemy even opens up new methods so that you can sort out targets. Enemies you management can kill their buddies, they’ll activate switches for you, and you may both stun them or make them explode whenever you’re achieved. The sport can be pretty beneficiant in relation to checkpoints. Failure or loss of life could have Abe respawning from the final checkpoint you handed by means of and also you’ll be again within the motion very quickly.
Mudokon insanity
One other central facet in Oddworld: Soulstorm is Abe’s objective to rescue Mudokons. There are round 1,400 Mudokons unfold throughout all ranges and Abe has a chance to avoid wasting all of them. Some are discovered as you’re finishing a stage in probably the most linear means attainable, whereas others is perhaps in secret areas. Mixed with present puzzles, you’ve received your work reduce out for you. For example, there are occasions whenever you’ll have to have Mudokons wait at a secure spot when you clear a room, since having them observe you may put them in danger. In different situations, you’d have them working previous snipers to cover in a steam cloud, or gingerly strolling in order to keep away from waking up sleeping mutant canine.
In some ranges, you’ll even encounter a “Mudokon Escape” minigame. Lots of of Mudokons will try to succeed in security all whereas Sligs are trying to shoot them down. There are a great deal of choices so that you can take out your foes whereas defending your folks. You possibly can possess hostiles so you could have the additional firepower, equip Mudokons with crafted gadgets to allow them to throw projectiles, or lay down your personal traps to disable reinforcements.
I’ve only a few gripes in relation to Mudokon followers because the mechanics are pretty streamlined and respectable. Nevertheless, there have been a number of events when AI followers generally is a little clunky, akin to forgetting to cover in a locker when everybody else has (they’d find yourself getting shot), or poor motion/climbing/pathing to keep away from traps (they’d find yourself getting sliced).
The shortcomings of Oddworld: Soulstorm
Evidently, Oddworld: Soulstorm does have some noticeable flaws. As an motion platformer, there’s a little bit of jankiness in relation to climbing and hanging actions. For one factor, it’s annoying when Abe dawdles round when he’s on the sting of a platform. In particular moments, this could spell your doom since an enemy may detect you. It may also be an issue whenever you’re climbing ladders or hopping on ledges with the digicam fastened at an odd angle. It’s more durable to gauge your jumps, and that is compounded by the presence of floating mines, rolling spikes, or rotating pistons that’d immediately kill you.
Maybe probably the most egregious flaws, although, are with its stage choose function and save system. Sure, Oddworld: Soulstorm‘s checkpoints are a dime a dozen and also you shouldn’t have points for probably the most half. However, there are instances whenever you’d move by means of a checkpoint and an enemy may find yourself taking pictures a Mudokon follower. In the event you resolve to reload, you’ll be again on the similar checkpoint experiencing the identical mishap. I genuinely would’ve most well-liked a function that allowed for a number of autosaves or quicksaves (even Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus had a suitable save system).
As for the extent choose function, it means that you can replay any stage that you just’ve reached within the marketing campaign. That is essential should you want to rescue no less than 80% of the Mudokons in every stage as doing so will allow you to unlock all endings and the sport’s final two ranges (16 and 17). Though checkpoints exist whenever you replay a stage through the extent choose function, your progress isn’t utterly saved except you end the whole factor. As a result of sure ranges are large and there are a number of puzzles or dozens of Mudokons to search out, you possibly can anticipate to spend half-hour to an hour doing a replay. In the event you can’t end in a single sitting, or in case your recreation freezes, that total run is wasted.
There’s additionally a notable bug the place Abe may get caught in an infinite loop whereas exploring — restarting from a earlier checkpoint will repair this. Fortunately, this wasn’t one thing I encountered through the course of this evaluate. What I did expertise had been a few infinite loading screens earlier than spawning in a stage. I needed to utterly shut and relaunch the sport. Lastly, PS4 homeowners may get booted again to the house display through the recreation’s tenth stage (simply hop again in, no worries).
Again and higher than ever
Total, although, Oddworld: Soulstorm nonetheless managed to offer the challenges and thrills. Since I used to be going for a completionist run to unlock ranges 16 and 17, I had solely missed out on the 80% Mudokons rescued requirement in a few ranges. Looking for all Mudokons (or most of them) took me some time. A traditional run should take you roughly 15 runs, however you’ll spend extra time should you want to uncover all of the secrets and techniques.
With all certainty, I may say that Oddworld: Soulstorm is without doubt one of the higher motion platformers I’ve performed in a protracted whereas. Even when I solely had a passing curiosity within the older Oddworld video games, Oddworld: Soulstorm undoubtedly captured my consideration. I’m trying ahead to what the builders can do within the close to future as they proceed remaking or reimagining the franchise.
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