Just found this video, love your critique of the game. No one else goes into this much depth about the oddworld games on YT. Also, I very much agree agree with your vid on the humor in the newer games.
I always felt that the Paramites and Scrabs were now possessable due to the hand scars given to him after completing the trials in oddysee that connect him to those species. I know that’s not said or anything but I always just liked that as a headcannon
in regards to the ritual segment, tbf there is a story stone that tells you "complete the trials and we will help you heal your friends", though obviously it can be easily missed and doesnt have the same impact as the ritual segment in abes odyssey. Also boneworks + the barracks have different challenges that help them stand out beyond just visually. For boneworks, there are the boxes that drop down and the spinning gears you have to get past to progress. There are more slogs in the boneworks too. Barracks has more of an emphasis on slig based puzzles specifically. They're both magog cartel facilities so I think it's understandable that both of them would have sligs either way. It would be strange if there were no slig guards in either of them.
Honestly I just find the puzzles more enjoyable in Exoddus. Oddysee has a better sense of adventure but Exoddus has better puzzles, more variety, better looking industrial environments, more refined Mudokon control (they walk off ledges without prompt, All o ya etc). Too many levels perhaps but, honestly, I get a little fed up with Oddysee during Return to Rupture Farms, its wonky Checkpoint placement in areas (particularly with Secret Areas) and uninteresting backgrounds in the latter half. Also, I very much like possessing Scrabs and Paramites though I believe the Necrum/Mundachee/Mudomo sections feel like too much of a rehash from Oddysee thematically. Also the story itself is really just a new take on Oddysee and doesnt really explore anything new. I can see why Lorne wants to explore Brew/Addiction more in Soulstorm. Although I personally think the cutscenes are top notch.
The point of the Greeters is that you can take them out, unlike normal laser walls. Shooting them with a Slig is rare, but the commen way is to climb up or down with the right timing. When you trip the laser, they charge forward until they hit a wall. I think the first one you can kill is at the Feeco depot, who has lighting walls on both sides to run in and die.
I loved this game as a child(and still do). But I always found it a bit anticlimactic that this big giant epic, that Abe is thrown into, and with all the different aspect of his guest and everything, it all boils down to curing a hangover...... alright.. larger than life indeed.
I think they stop in place cuz they recognize your chant for what it is, and let you take them. They stopped in the first one for the same reason, but without the scars, you couldn't get them.
I love this game dearly, but even as a child, I was kinda bored by the whole "hub in a hub" thing. I started wondering who would build all these "Zulags" in such an impractical way and how anyone could traverse them in under 5 days when going from A to B. It also took the feeling of progression away, in that you would spent a lot of time doing a bunch of puzzles, just to open a few doors - just to be greeted by even more doors that had to be opened in the very same place. It also broke the fourth wall in such a way that it felt like the game was speaking directly to you in those stages, because it was built so heavily around your progress as the gamer, and not as a functional factory where people were actually working. Also, Soulstorm Brewery is HUGE! Like absolutely insanely massive, and there's, what... 100 mudokons working there? Yeah, they really enslaved the entire race. And what is the deal with the Mudokons giving you healing powers in the factory? What are they doing there since they're not slaves and don't count as escapees. They're there to give you powers, yes, but lore wise, it makes no sense.
Would you like to play a custom map for Oddysee? It's a standalone mod (separate, bundled with fan-remade game engine) so you don't need to replace any original game files. The difficulty isn't high and the level design is very open. If you are interested, the download link is in the description of my newest video. (cant post links in youtube comments or they get deleted...) Hope you enjoy if you decide to give it a try.
Lol. I feel Oddworld Inhabitants should have watched your videos before making soulstorm because all the pacing problem issues you mentioned apply equally/worse to Soulstorm. The game really does drag along.
I literally saw Sherry Mckenna post a sad face on reddit in response to someone saying exactly this. I guess that's the point they're at now in terms of responding to it. I'm looking forward to an autopsy on that game and learning some behind the scenes going on during soulstorm. I quite like it but compared to Exoddus it's like night and day. I suspect the issues you point out could be down to the fact that Lorne maybe doesnt have people questioning his decisions as much. All great work is nearly always collaborative, so we might be seeing abit of a George Lucas effect where he isn't getting as much pushback and therefore we end up with Soulstorm, which comes way under the quality of even something pushed out in 9 months and has a dozen more ideas and mechanics that are better integrated together.
I'm glad you're enjoying them. Hopefully I can get the rest of the series done in time. I haven't been checking up on it a lot. At the moment it's just the teaser and a glimpse of the HUD that we've seen isn't it? If there's gameplay footage, then let me know as I'd love to see it. I'm more than anything just excited that Oddworld is continuing. That wasn't expected and now they've gotten over their phase of just doing HD rereleases and remakes, it's nice to see something new. Primarily I'm liking that it seems to be returning back to the mature and horrific tone from the earlier games. The one thing that's peaked my interest about the game so far is that they have shown a HUD is in the game, and Lorne seems to hate HUDs based on his previous games, so I'm interested in what they've got coming since they've felt one was needed in this game. What are your thoughts on it?
Script is finished and recorded, so not long, as the editing should hopefully be a breeze from here. Channel was dead for a long while, so you've come at an opportune time.
This needs more views & you deserve more subscribers sir
Hugely improved on first game which i consider amazing aswell
Just found this video, love your critique of the game. No one else goes into this much depth about the oddworld games on YT. Also, I very much agree agree with your vid on the humor in the newer games.
These videos deserve so much more views. Awesome analysis to one of my favourite game series as a kid!
I always felt that the Paramites and Scrabs were now possessable due to the hand scars given to him after completing the trials in oddysee that connect him to those species. I know that’s not said or anything but I always just liked that as a headcannon
That is some very fine headcannon indeed. I like it.
in regards to the ritual segment, tbf there is a story stone that tells you "complete the trials and we will help you heal your friends", though obviously it can be easily missed and doesnt have the same impact as the ritual segment in abes odyssey. Also boneworks + the barracks have different challenges that help them stand out beyond just visually. For boneworks, there are the boxes that drop down and the spinning gears you have to get past to progress. There are more slogs in the boneworks too. Barracks has more of an emphasis on slig based puzzles specifically. They're both magog cartel facilities so I think it's understandable that both of them would have sligs either way. It would be strange if there were no slig guards in either of them.
Honestly I just find the puzzles more enjoyable in Exoddus. Oddysee has a better sense of adventure but Exoddus has better puzzles, more variety, better looking industrial environments, more refined Mudokon control (they walk off ledges without prompt, All o ya etc). Too many levels perhaps but, honestly, I get a little fed up with Oddysee during Return to Rupture Farms, its wonky Checkpoint placement in areas (particularly with Secret Areas) and uninteresting backgrounds in the latter half. Also, I very much like possessing Scrabs and Paramites though I believe the Necrum/Mundachee/Mudomo sections feel like too much of a rehash from Oddysee thematically.
Also the story itself is really just a new take on Oddysee and doesnt really explore anything new. I can see why Lorne wants to explore Brew/Addiction more in Soulstorm. Although I personally think the cutscenes are top notch.
But good video!
The point of the Greeters is that you can take them out, unlike normal laser walls.
Shooting them with a Slig is rare, but the commen way is to climb up or down with the right timing.
When you trip the laser, they charge forward until they hit a wall. I think the first one you can kill is at the Feeco depot, who has lighting walls on both sides to run in and die.
I loved this game as a child(and still do).
But I always found it a bit anticlimactic that this big giant epic, that Abe is thrown into, and with all the different aspect of his guest and everything, it all boils down to curing a hangover...... alright.. larger than life indeed.
I think they stop in place cuz they recognize your chant for what it is, and let you take them. They stopped in the first one for the same reason, but without the scars, you couldn't get them.
Great video from back when analyses and retrospectives were a more reasonable length
I love this game dearly, but even as a child, I was kinda bored by the whole "hub in a hub" thing.
I started wondering who would build all these "Zulags" in such an impractical way and how anyone could traverse them in under 5 days when going from A to B.
It also took the feeling of progression away, in that you would spent a lot of time doing a bunch of puzzles, just to open a few doors - just to be greeted by even more doors that had to be opened in the very same place.
It also broke the fourth wall in such a way that it felt like the game was speaking directly to you in those stages, because it was built so heavily around your progress as the gamer, and not as a functional factory where people were actually working.
Also, Soulstorm Brewery is HUGE! Like absolutely insanely massive, and there's, what... 100 mudokons working there? Yeah, they really enslaved the entire race.
And what is the deal with the Mudokons giving you healing powers in the factory? What are they doing there since they're not slaves and don't count as escapees. They're there to give you powers, yes, but lore wise, it makes no sense.
The only thing i did not like is the Sligs know when you possessed other Sligs and would shoot at you.
7:51 that's not true, you can stop a suicidal mudokkon from killing itself, you simply say "sorry" twice to bring them back to normal state.
Using the "Stop it" voice command also stops Mudokons from commiting suicide and angrily slapping others.
good review but I believe glukkons have both arms and legs.
invadertak1001 well they barely have legs
I thought the slog pups were called Sloggies.
Maybe it depends on the region.
Would you like to play a custom map for Oddysee? It's a standalone mod (separate, bundled with fan-remade game engine) so you don't need to replace any original game files. The difficulty isn't high and the level design is very open. If you are interested, the download link is in the description of my newest video. (cant post links in youtube comments or they get deleted...) Hope you enjoy if you decide to give it a try.
I disagree at some points but overall good review! Also I'm sure you have heard of the remake being made..
Tarponpet Secord i know this is two years later but Soulstorm isn’t a remake, it’s a reimagining
Lol. I feel Oddworld Inhabitants should have watched your videos before making soulstorm because all the pacing problem issues you mentioned apply equally/worse to Soulstorm. The game really does drag along.
I literally saw Sherry Mckenna post a sad face on reddit in response to someone saying exactly this. I guess that's the point they're at now in terms of responding to it.
I'm looking forward to an autopsy on that game and learning some behind the scenes going on during soulstorm. I quite like it but compared to Exoddus it's like night and day.
I suspect the issues you point out could be down to the fact that Lorne maybe doesnt have people questioning his decisions as much. All great work is nearly always collaborative, so we might be seeing abit of a George Lucas effect where he isn't getting as much pushback and therefore we end up with Soulstorm, which comes way under the quality of even something pushed out in 9 months and has a dozen more ideas and mechanics that are better integrated together.
9:05 is that the only time that the "stop it" command is used?
Loving these reviews. What are your thoughts on Oddworld Soulstorm based on what we know so far?
I'm glad you're enjoying them. Hopefully I can get the rest of the series done in time.
I haven't been checking up on it a lot. At the moment it's just the teaser and a glimpse of the HUD that we've seen isn't it? If there's gameplay footage, then let me know as I'd love to see it.
I'm more than anything just excited that Oddworld is continuing. That wasn't expected and now they've gotten over their phase of just doing HD rereleases and remakes, it's nice to see something new.
Primarily I'm liking that it seems to be returning back to the mature and horrific tone from the earlier games. The one thing that's peaked my interest about the game so far is that they have shown a HUD is in the game, and Lorne seems to hate HUDs based on his previous games, so I'm interested in what they've got coming since they've felt one was needed in this game.
What are your thoughts on it?
Raze Your Game I'm super excited. I think Lorne said that this is what Exoddus was supposed to be if they had more than 8 months to make it.
When are you planning on doing Munchs Oddysee?
Script is finished and recorded, so not long, as the editing should hopefully be a breeze from here.
Channel was dead for a long while, so you've come at an opportune time.
Raze Your Game oh cool can't wait to see it
You didnt get into why you consider ps1 version the ultimate version :/ its the sound isnt it
You can stop the suicide. I just told them to stop it and it worked xD
Ne it
Don't belive