Classic titles and franchises have seen a resurgence in the gaming world. Remakes, remasters, and new sequels are getting released almost monthly by different publishers. One of these classic franchises is Oddworld. This franchise rose to prominence during the 90s and will now be part of the current gaming generation. Introducing Oddworld: Soulstorm!
See if this new offering from the Oddworld franchise should excite you by reading our preview.
What Is Oddworld: Soulstorm?
Oddworld: Soulstorm is the latest platformer from Oddworld Inhabitants. The game will be available for the PC, PS4, and PS5. Soulstorm is slated to be the continuation of 2014’s Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty! Remake, and the re-imagining of Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus which was released back in 1998. The game was released on April 6, 2021.
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Oddworld: Soulstorm Preview
Story
It was stated that Oddworld: Soulstorm is set immediately after the events of Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty. New ‘n’ Tasty is the game that was the ground-up remake of Abe’s Oddysey. The Remake is an entire revamp of that game’s entire level system in terms of graphics and other stuff. However, the game’s story is still the same; thus, we can infer that Oddworld: Soulstorm’s story will remain similar to Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus.
Abe and his friends managed to escape with the rest of the Mudokons. However, immediately after, he gets a vision from three Mudokon spirits who said that their ancient burial grounds are being mined by the Glukkons. They did this by employing Mudokon slaves and then blinding them to prevent them from seeing what they’re doing.
Due to this, Abe and several of his friends went to stop them, but they got separated on the way. Once they reunited, Abe sees his friends drink a new beverage called Soulstorm Brew, which made them sick. It’s there that they discovered that Soulstorm Brew is made by the bones of dead Mudokons.
Thus, their aim is clear: they need to stop the exhuming of Mudokon bones, as well as destroying the facility that’s making Soulstorm Brew and helping rescue captive Mudokons. It’s going to take a lot of effort for Abe and his friends, but with enough determination, they might have a chance.
World
The world of Oddworld is an incredibly depressing place, with enslaved Mudokons and megacorporate corruption. It’s grimy, dusty, and probably has a lot of really toxic chemicals floating around due to the bad work conditions. The Mudokons are a sorry lot, with a lot of them being abused by their overlords without fail. It also doesn’t help that they’re made to dig out the bones of their ancestors.
Even after all that though, there’s a sort of cool aesthetic to the game. The various machinery throughout the game areas are distinctive and you see where you need to go. The enemies now have an additional menacing look to them, especially the Glukkons, who are evil corporate businessmen but worse. Other than those things though, not much has changed in the game world, but we’ll have to see what the devs come up with to spice up the game.
Graphics
The game’s graphics have an incredibly polished sheen that seems to enhance the game’s atmosphere. The overall griminess of the world is more pronounced, and the 2.9D platforming is very well represented. It also helps that the character sprites are better detailed. Abe and the Mudokons look the best that they look with the new hardware, and the Glukkons and their enforcers look more menacing.
We need to talk more about the 2.9D here because it helped in making the game look better overall. The game’s platforming seems to have been helped to shift to 2.9D, with better platforming sequences and gameplay. Also, there’s now a sense of scale to the game’s areas, making them look bigger, and sometimes more menacing.
Gameplay
Unlike its predecessor, the game is going to be a 2.9D side-scrolling platformer game. Our favorite Mudokon Abe returns to help his fellow Mudokons escape the clutches of the Glukkons. Overall, the gameplay and platforming are similar to the previous game, with some hiccups due to the 2.9D nature of the levels. Possession is still a thing, but the game now has a new crafting system where Abe can create and even customize a few cool gadgets.
There’s also the part where you can give your items to other Mudokons that you rescued. These Mudokons can then help in keeping enemies at bay or even straight-up knocking them out. Making use of this, as well as positioning them correctly is going to be key on some of the game’s levels.
Sound
In terms of the game’s sound design, the Mudokons still sound as if they’ve inhaled a lot of hydrogen, which is hilarious. Meanwhile, the Glukkons sound like they smoke cigars 24/7. The game’s soundtrack is also on point, with some incredibly menacing tones that accompany some humorous ones when they arrive.
Oddworld: Soulstorm vs Past Oddworld Titles
Oddworld: Soulstorm is a clear winner in terms of graphics when compared with the other Oddworld titles. But that’s mostly because of the clear fact that the game is made in the current years. Gameplay-wise, there’s not that much change; it’s still a platformer game after all. However, there is some additional stuff on the gameplay in the form of crafting and the ability to give items to other Mudokons.
Levels-wise, the 2.9D layout of the levels is great to see with some additional fluff added into the various environments. It now feels like you’re traveling through a pretty expansive level when compared with previous titles.
Should You Play Oddworld: Soulstorm?
If you’re a fan of the previous Oddworld games, and you want to see a full-on re-imagining of Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus, then yes, you should be excited for Oddworld: Soulstorm. The game has a lot of things that tickle a platformer’s wet dream, and the probable addition of some new items for Abe to use is an enticing thing to consider.
