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Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

Review
Also known as
Abe a Go Go Oddworld - L'Odyssée d'Abe SoulStorm

This stealth platformer challenges you to outsmart enemies and free your enslaved species from becoming food.

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee was released for MS-DOS in 1997, the same year as the original PlayStation version.

About Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee introduces a fictional universe where the protagonist, a Mudokon named Abe, uncovers a disturbing secret. His enslaved people are being processed as a food source by the Glukkon corporations that control them. After being discovered, his goal shifts from mere escape to rescuing fellow Mudokons and exposing the truth.

The gameplay is a platformer built around puzzle solving, where the character is physically weak and cannot engage enemies directly. Survival depends on stealth, precise timing, and environmental manipulation, such as luring foes into traps or using thrown objects as distractions. Abe's basic movements include running, jumping, climbing, and rolling, which are essential for navigating the hostile environments. In some sections, he rides a creature called Elum.

A key mechanic is the use of "Gamespeak," a system of verbal commands like "Follow me" or "Wait here," which is necessary for guiding other Mudokons to safety. To fully rescue them, Abe must first locate them, then use his chanting ability to open mystical "bird portals." This chanting also has combat applications, allowing Abe to briefly stun certain enemies or take direct control of their bodies, gaining their weapons and abilities to solve puzzles or clear a path.

The narrative is advanced through CG movies that match the style of the game's pre rendered background graphics. Player actions influence the conclusion, as the ending changes based on how many Mudokons are saved during the challenging journey, with many rescue opportunities being optional and hidden.

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee Screenshots

10 images
Main menu
Starting location. The game gives some helpful tips at the beginning
Grim
Finally outside. Touch the stone to get some advice. Jumping puzzle with falling stones ahead
Yeah, you need to pull that lever. But how can you do it with those ferocious animals guarding it?..
Abe will often go up and down on such platforms
Paramonian Nests, one of the most adrenaline-raising areas in the game - all done in shadowy graphics. Here you see two Paramites tear Abe apart
Entrance to Scrabania. Abe will chant (yo, yo, yo... :)) to get some advice
The game often shows two levels on one screen, one close, one remote
Even the loading screen is humorous