Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee

"Homer would be proud."

This was my first ''Oddworld'' game, and I pray that it won't be my last. I was skeptical at first, but now that I have actually played the game, I have no regrets. It is honestly one of the best puzzle/platform games I have ever played. Now, let's begin the review, eh?

Graphics - The graphics are by far the best I've ever seen in a platformer. Granted, they don't hold a candle to the splendor that is Halo, but they are still pretty darn excellent. The box really struts its stuff in this wonderful collection of eye-candy. The graphical capabilities far exceed what would have been accomplished by the PS2. This game accomplishes it all, from the amazing sparks off Munch's head to the insane water effects.

Controls - On the whole, very intuitive controls. It didn't take me long at all to figure it out. The introductory stage with Abe is almost obsolete simply because the controls are so very easy to get the hang of. Every button has a specific use for both characters, and the Game Speak controls are almost flawless.

Sound - The music in Oddworld isn't bad. It's not all that good either, and you won't ever find yourself humming the tunes. They are, simply put, very forgettable tunes. On the brighter side, the sound effects and voices are terrific, and at times humorous. Sometimes it is a bit hard to understand what Abe and Munch are saying, but not often, and it usually doesn't affect the story at all.

Story - All right, here's the low point of the game. This story line is one of the most liberal-minded I've ever seen. But I suppose we can let that slide by, since the story line isn't the important part anyway. Basically, the *evil* Vykkers Labs (manufacturers of such wonderful concoctions as ''Butt-Flo'' laxatives) is trapping fuzzles, and it's up to Munch to save them. The other half of the story is Abe trying to rescue his Mudokon brothers from the *evil* Glukkons, who are trying to peddle their products (sodas such as ''Expresso,'' and ''Sobe'').

Gameplay - The gameplay is incredible. For the most part, there is plenty of variety. You can save Mudokons/Fuzzles/Labor Eggs, operate cranes and other machines, possess enemies, drink sodas, and do all sorts of other crazy stuff. However, the downside is that in the later portions of the game, the gameplay becomes too repetitive and starts to get a little boring (Drink the Zap, jump up here, zap the Slig/Vykker, repeat process). But, the beginning and final portions of the game more than make up for that.

Replayability - This game has more replay value than most games I've played. The story really isn't spoiled after the first time you've beaten it (since there isn't much of a story to begin with), and there are three possible endings to get, depending on your Quarma. And chances are you won't beat the game with perfect Quarma the first time through (though you might). Besides, it's always a joy to go back through the levels again to (possibly) find other solutions to certain puzzles.

This game is certainly worth buying. There's no way (unless you're a video game freak or have a LOT of free time) that you could beat this thing in a rental. It is definitely worth buying. If the sheer amount of fun you'll have the first time through isn't enough, there's plenty of replay to keep you going.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/27/02, Updated 05/27/02