I’ve worked in IT management for quite some time now, and I know that there are times when one of the greatest pieces of systems software will be one that takes a totally unique approach. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee took a unique approach to the puzzle platformer, an extremely oversaturated category. You control Abe, a Mudokon who is trying to escape a meat factory that hunts down your creature kind to sell as food. You run, you jump, you communicate with other creatures, you possess creatures, and use those creatures powers to progress through the game. Never before Oddworld had a game incorporated these mechanics and ideas, and since Oddworld very few games have gone back to attempt it.
I love Oddworld’s commitment to uniqueness. I’m not simply talking about being different for the sake of being different. I’m talking about originality to provide a completely new experience. Oddworld’s aesthetic is unique. Oddworld’s gameplay is unique. Oddworld’s voice acting is unique. Oddworld is uniquely all of these things and executes them wonderfully.
What Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee Actually Does
You are Abe, a Mudokon who can speak telepathically to other creatures. You’re trying to escape a meat factory that hunts down your kind and sells you to the public as food. To move through the levels, you run, jump, and most importantly: talk to other creatures. You can possess those creatures and use their unique skills to solve environmental puzzles. Your goal is to save as many of your kind as possible.
The gameplay is simple- run, jump, and talk. However the puzzle solving is exceptionally smart. You’ll need to observe your environment. You’ll need to understand what creatures you can communicate with. You’ll need to speak to these creatures and figure out how their unique skills can help you progress. Some creatures can climb walls. Some creatures can operate machinery. Some creatures can move objects. You’ll solve puzzles by figuring out what each creature can do.
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee is a dark game. The meat factory you explore is industrial and terrifying. Literally men are hunting you down and slaughtering you for sport. But Oddworld infuses dark comedy throughout the game. Whether it’s the absurdity of the narrative. The fantastic personalities of each character. The game provides great tension but never becomesgrim.
Why Originality is Important
Here’s the thing Oddworld understood that many modern games seem to forget- Originality isn’t simply about being different. Originality is about having a vision that is one-of-a-kind and being 100% yourself when you’re executing it. Sure Oddworld had weird gameplay mechanics. But the game looked unique. It sounded unique. Every ounce of this game was strange. Oddworld understands and knows what made it unique, and leaned into that.
The animation is hand-drawn and wonderful. Abe conveys emotion solely through his body language. Each creature has a distinct personality that’s told through their movement. Movement in Oddworld feels so satisfying and personality-based, rather than just “moving from point A to point B”.
Speaking of personality, Oddworld’s voice acting is fantastic. Abe has one of the most memorable and personality-filled voices I’ve heard. He’ll be scared if he senses danger. He’ll cheer when he finds a way to save his friends. Each creature has their own personality that’s shown through their audio design. Together these two aspects give you characters that you care about, even though they don’t say much.
How Unique Gameplay Can Still Feel Approachable
Technically what I admire most about Oddworld is that it creates complexity out of simplicity. The base gameplay is easy to understand. The game becomes hard as you start to combine mechanics to solve super weird puzzles. You’re not learning new systems every level- you’re learning new ways to utilize simple mechanics to overcome challenges.
The game also just feels well-made. The puzzles are tough but fair. You can solve almost every problem just by observing your surroundings and trying things out. The platforming feels tight and methodical, but it’s never unfair. Between these two aspects you’re always challenged, but never feel frustrated.
There’s also great pacing. Although the game is a constant source of tension, it’s pacing allows you to feel that tension grow. Safe areas let you catch your break from danger. Dangerous areas actually threaten your journey. Abe’s emotional arc feels as harrowing as the gameplay itself.
Is Abe’s Oddysee still Relevant Today?
Yes. The animation still holds up. The voice acting is wonderful. The puzzles are smart as hell. Oddworld is just as unique now as it was back in the day. It sucks you in with its charm.
Controls are tight and easy to manage. There’s no ridiculous glitches and jumping feels good. Speaking of the gameplay, those puzzles still give you a run for your money. Playing Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee today is why people still praise this game to this day.
Graphically it obviously shows its age but the art style truly is timeless. Each creature is memorable and distinctive. The factory itself is a believable and deadly place. It sucks you in and makes you feel like you actually work here.
Why Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee Matters
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee showed that originality can still sink or swim in a market. Just because most games started to become the same doesn’t mean you should too. When platformers were all starting to play it safe, Oddworld decided to be as weird as possible- and it worked.
So many games have learned from Oddworld. It proved that you can captivate an audience through being unique. Other developers saw that you aren’t cool by refining your ideas, you’re cool by committing to your weird ideas. Indie game devs understand this and try to embrace it with every game they make because Oddworld showed them it could be done, on a big budget too.
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee is a game I’ll remember for years to come. Its gameplay is impeccable and never gets old. From its unique presentation to its impeccable gameplay to the voice acting- Oddworld is unique. Everything about this game is different than what you’d normally expect in a video game, and it all works together to create a masterpiece that stands the test of time.
When you play Oddworld, you’re playing it because Oddworld wants you to have a completely new experience. And that new experience is crafted to perfection.
If you haven’t picked up Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, go pick it up today. Trust me, it’s worth the trip. If you make games, listen to Oddworld and remember that when you have a cool idea, never be afraid to run with it.
Rating: 9/10 – A game that proved that originality and excellence are not mutually exclusive.
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John grew up swapping floppy disks and reading Amiga Power cover to cover. Now an IT manager in Manchester, he writes about the glory days of British computer gaming—Sensible Soccer, Speedball 2, and why the Amiga deserved more love than it ever got.
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