I just picked up Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (the first of an Oddworld
"Quintology") and have played it for about one hour now.  These
are my initial impressions so far...

Oddworld allows you to take on the identity of Abe, a lowly meat-packing
plant worker/slave laborer working for Rupture Farms, a rather sinister
and notorious place to work.  As a Mudokon (Abe ain't human if you didn't
know that already), he is rather alarmed when he accidentally spies in
on a conference by the higher-ups (Glukkons) to introduce a new product:
Mudokons!  Yes, Abe and his fellow workers are to become the products
instead, and as Abe is noticed, he's number one on the list.  This is
where you step in to play the game and begin by helping Abe escape from
Rupture Farms and (whenever possible) save as many other Mudokons as
you can.

The manual insists that the plot thickens as the escape is just the tip
of the iceberg for the game.  Abe will eventually enter all kinds of new
areas as the plot develops, but I just made it to the outdoor area and
thusfar nothing new has occurred.

Graphically, the game has some incredible 2-d super-fluid animation with
highly detailed and lightsourced backgrounds.  For this style, it's about
the best I've ever seen--very professional and amazing attention to
detail.  When you arrive at new areas, the atmosphere changes and lighting
effects are used to really emphasize this.  Example:  You arrive outside
and the moon is full overhead.  Everything is very dark and silhouetted
against the starlit backdrop.  Creatures can be seen moving in the
shadows, and Abe's very survival depends on sneaking around and hiding
in shadows to avoid being noticed.  NO complaints here with regards to
the graphics in Abe's--highly impressive all the way.  There's even
integrated FMV sequences (ala Final Fantasy VII) adding to the feel of
depth and 3-d in what is essentially a fully 2-d game.

The sound in the game is essentially atmospheric.  There is little in
the way of music, but lots of background sounds appropriate to the area
give a very immersive feel to the game. Sound effects from actions and
talking/communicating are nice.  Instead of dialogue boxes, various
two button commands cause Abe to communicate with audible "Hellos,"
whistles, and even farting (don't know if this has any practical use
though).  This does lend itself to initiate farting contests with other
Mudokons you meet, etc. which caused me to laugh hysterically ;)  You
can even cause guards to make annoyed noises when you start filling up
a room with farts!  Okay, okay, I digress...

Gameplay should not be new to anyone who's played games like Prince of
Persia, Out of this World, Flashback, Blackthorne, etc.  You can walk,
run, sneak, jump, running jump, jump up/grab, hang, duck, roll like its
predecesors.  You cannot "inch" however like most others for fine tuned
movement.  This is probably a good thing though, so that you don't have
to be pixel perfect in movement.  Small chunk movement allows you to
not have to guess if you're close enough for a jump, etc. most of the
time.  Also, noticeably not found in the game, is a standard method of
attack.  Abe's got no weapons of any kind, so avoidance is key for his
survival.  You CAN operate various machinery and devices to creatively
(and often messily) kill guards (or accidentally kill Modukons).  Also,
Abe can sometimes pick up and throw things which may be used as weapons
(but not commonly).  There is often more than one way you can go, and
the book mentions that there are MANY secrets to find, which can lead
eventually to a secret "good" ending.  Also, saving all the Modukons
(there are 100) is a SERIOUS feat indeed, and just part of the beginning
of the game... (seems like it could be quite long).

There are no inventory lists, stats, submenus, etc. once you start,
except when you pause you can look at the controls, save your game
or quit.  You can save anywhere, but it's not really necessary until
you're ready to quit.  You see, Abe's got infinite lives--you die and
you start back at one of the many unmarked continuaiton points.  Every
few screens or so is a new part where you'll automatically start when
you die (not IF, but WHEN).  Yes, Abe has a rather hard to break habit
of dying, OFTEN.  You just have to accept that to play this game.  Each
new area offers new threats, challenges, and puzzles to offercome, and
trial and error are necessary to figure out how to pass each one.
Enevitably, Abe will die numerous horrible (yet creative and fun to
watch) deaths throughout the course of the adventure.  It's a good thing
that there is basically no penalty for dying...

Anyone who liked Flashback, will probably love Abe's (that's what it
most reminds me of).  The other similar games are also comparable, so
odds are that if you liked any of the other similar games, Abe's should
be a real treat.  If you've never played Abe's, well, it's hard to say.
But if you like new things, you aren't overly obsessed with polygonal
graphics, and appreciate a great degree of attention to detail, I'd say
odds are that Abe's Oddysee would be a good buy.  I am thoroughly
impressed so far!

Back to the game.....
 
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|    ,o888b `?88666b                                                     |
|  ,8888 888   ?8666b   It may be that your whole purpose in life        |
|  8888888P'    88666b  is to serve as a warning to others.              |
|  888P'        88666P                                                   |
|  `88  O      d8666P   Alex Pelton: University of Colorado, Boulder     |
|    `?._ _.o888666P    E-mail: peltona@ucsu.Colorado.EDU                |
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