he heroes of Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee are Abe, a mudokon, and Munch, the last of the race of gabbits. Mudokons are gangly, laid-back, tribal humanoids with the ability to influence the world through prayer. Gabbits are single-flippered fish that can hop about on land, but are at their speedy and high-jumping best when in the water. In addition to his natural talents, the cruel Vykkers have implanted a sonar system into Munch' s head that allows him to find captive fuzzles (think very active tribbles with eyes and teeth). All of this is to say that each hero in the game has his area of expertise. Players control Abe for a level, and then Munch for a level, and then the two heroes meet up. For the remaining six levels, players alternate controlling Abe and Munch as the action of the game demands. All eight levels consist of puzzles to be solved under dangerous conditions. Fortunately, the heroes are supported by mudokons and fuzzles whom they free along the way.
O:MO's graphics emphasize humor and stylization. The game is like a Pixar film. The levels are bright and detailed, and the water effects are cool and complex, but bored mudokons scratch their asses and fuzzles roll their eyes while talking with high-pitched enthusiasm. The game is funny, and at the same time there is a core of violence and darkness to the game that isn't erased by its bloodless combat, funny puzzles and cute heroes. Players are, after all, trying to save the gabbit race from extinction.
Trails of spooce guide the players through the game. Running over it gathers power for the heroes, and they can then trade that power in to open doors or to gain powers or to revive dead characters. Abe and Munch also gain useful powers by using various vending machines located about the
levels. Sometimes the heroes fight, sometimes they pray, sometimes they run, jump or swim. At some points in the game they take actual possession of their enemies' bodies.
An odd adventure for young and old
Like a Pixar film, O:MO is designed to have something for the whole family. People who avoid video games because they aren't interested in the usual run of guns, fistfights and alien invasions will be intrigued by the combination of oddball characters and the emphasis on problem solving. Parents will feel more comfortable with their children playing a game where the object is not to coat the virtual walls with blood. Kids will be having enough fun outwitting and out-maneuvering the various villains that they won't miss the blood. Hardcore gamers will admire the elegance of the graphics
and the detail of the world building.
The puzzles in O:MO are straightforward and yet difficult. It doesn't hinder the fun that solving the puzzles often involves Abe picking mudokons up by the pants and tossing them over obstacles or into wells. The designers put a lot of work into giving players reasons to chuckle even when they were trying to challenge them. Not all the puzzles are perfect. Some require more repetition than skill, and others require a defter hand with the controls than some players may have, particularly given the wide range of ages that can be expected to play this game.
The part of the controls that players of all ages may have trouble managing is the camera, the viewpoint from which the player sees Abe and Munch doing their things. Generally this viewpoint is fine, but occasionally it must be adjusted so the players can see some particular point they need to jump the characters to, or some particular obstacle they need to avoid. This is no problem when the characters are at one of the many places where they can adjust themselves to their heart's content without fear of attack. When Abe or Munch are on the run, however, dodging villains for all they are worth, it is frustrating if they plow into a wall that the player couldn't see because the camera is at the wrong angle.
During my first night of playing Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, my three-year-old took his usual turn with the controller and did pretty well. My wife asked for a turn playing and was soon laughing as hard as my son. This really is a game the whole family will enjoy.
— Eric
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