Abe returns in 2021 with a desire to rewrite history. More specifically, its exodus led to a time when consoles were only 32 or 64 bits. Thanks to today’s technology and the many changes in the way we play, Lorne Lanning offers a new vision of his cult work. Yes, Oddworld: Soulstorm is all about reinterpreting, but does it manage to sell dreams? Everything has to be paid for in this strange universe dominated by the Glukkon.
If you are Mudokon it is for life
The story of Oddworld: Soulstorm takes place directly after that of New ‘n’ Tasty !, the 2014 remake of Abe’s Odyssey. Abe and his Mudokons burned RuptureFarms and literally flee from the suppression of the Glukkon. Oddworld has always addressed a political message by addressing the issue that big corporations earn their wealth on the back of their poor employees. This episode is not a simple remake, but a real reinterpretation of the original title. The scenario in which the places visited stay close to each other, but multiple upheavals affect both the narrative framework and the places to be examined. It’s what 2020 Resident Evil 3 (2020) through 1999 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is, except that it adds content instead of removing it, and the genre stays the same. Soul storm is a Platformerstrange as it is, now in 2.5D. Like its original model, it requires running, jumping, rolling, avoiding traps, owning enemies, and infiltrating creepy locations full of overarmed enemies. The images sometimes emphasize the platform, sometimes the reflection, sometimes the action, but always the skill. The frustration of repeated deaths is alleviated by the presence of numerous checkpoints. This does not mean that the adventure is easy: the last part of the story multiplies the buzz saws, the powerhammers, the flamethrowers and the guard robots more than common sense. In general, despite two incredible peaks facing the boss, the difficulty is well mastered. “Bad mother
Abe’s Exodus uses the year 2021 to check the accessibility of his paths. Above all, the protagonist has more responsive controls, even if not everything is corrected at this level especially at the role or meditation / possession level. Then it can extinguish flames (with water bottles and then with a fire extinguisher), but also light up at night (with glow sticks or a flashlight). These items have to be equipped with a very up-to-date selection wheel that can be crafted. Because yes, Soulstorm is setting up a craft menu that can be accessed at any time. From a simple mine to a smoke grenade that can make it undetectable, Abe can now craft various objects far from anecdotal to counter the dangers of Oddworld. They not only give the Mudokon somewhat more offensive solutions, but above all offer the player a number of possibilities to better cope with a situation. This gain in depth is noticeable. Unfortunately, various flaws prevent this suggestion from being used to its fullest extent, such as the smoke that cannot be placed on a moving platform. Changing the level strangely removes everything we have in our backpack: we must therefore remember to replenish resources in order to design the weapons previously acquired. In the Novelty Department, we note the addition of destructible cover zones and the establishment of an enemy alert. We also note the disappearance of the personalities of the Mudokons, as well as the absence of paramites and other scrabs during the 15 main chapters.
Compared to his adventure in 1998, Abe has developed his physical condition. The sewn-mouth hero is now able to absorb damage before moving from life to death Platformer today. He also knows how to swing on parallel bars and tie up sleeping sligs so they can be better put in your pocket. Oddworld pledges, stealth is always brought forward. Pressing one of the triggers eases the steps of the mudokon, a very useful exercise in the many sequences in which the opponents do not need to be alerted. Abe can also hide in lockers, use a cloud of smoke to go unnoticed, or take out a few sligs with projectiles. The challenge here is not so much to complete a level as to save a maximum of Mudokons, a rescue that affects the karma … and thus the end of the game. Abe’s congeners are effectively hidden in every corner of the level and guide them to get to a magical portal without falling into a trap or being killed by an enemy is no easy task. Artificial intelligence proves a bit out of date when mudokons have to hide in lockers while their poor timing leads them to certain death too regularly
The great escape
The journey is divided into several levels, each of which contains secret areas to discover and other hidden resources. They differ in their atmosphere and show work graphics highlighted by excellent artistic direction.. The camera following the action on an imaginary track to ensure that the spectacle sometimes struggles to make the action the way it should and especially to show any dangers that are above or next to the player. The design of the creatures will continue to enchant us in 2021 and the animations are very detailed. However, the tech is tarnished by some textures that lack detail, as well as the presence of jerks, especially in the final levels of the adventure when the game tries a display distance that defies reason. Despite the variety of situations (passages in the dark, phatolin to put the generators in, means of development, flying with slig to clean up, etc.) this episode of Oddworld avoids passages that occur in the repetition. Whole sections whose game is not necessarily exciting are copied and pasted. Yes, the gigantic level would certainly have gained in efficiency with noticeably shortened passages. Perhaps the developers at Oddworld Inhabitants decided that it would be better to complete their smooth story of 20 hours of gameplay than make cuts that could improve the pace.
Overall, Soulstorm has a good accessibility strategy. The important elements that need to be made have practical scenarios to immediately understand their usefulness.ZZZIndicate that an enemy is sleeping nearby so as not to be caught off guard, and any switch pressed will trigger a camera that will show its effects. Tables aren’t mazes, so knowing where to go to make progress is easy. The attention to detail is there, as opposed to a finish that is anything but exemplary. Yes, the title introduced by Lorne Lanning is much more pleasant to handle today than Abe’s Exodus from 1998, although the bars would have trouble recognizing the player. But the title still takes pleasure in killing us for its own limits.. Chapter 15 crystallizes this feeling: the inaccuracy of the gameplay (getting on and off a platform) and the inability of the controls to react (after expropriation, after aiming) lead to a hell of a loop of defeat. Oddworld: Soulstorm, despite its hand that sticks to current standards, still has some not-so-pleasant hints of the nineties.
The notes
+Good arguments
- Platform, puzzles, reflection, action …
- Gadgets bring more depth to the gameplay
- Jumping management is more pleasant than before
- Long levels with different visual atmospheres
- Excellent artistic direction
- Beautiful cutscenes for an interesting story
– –Negative points
- Lack of responsiveness and precision in steering
- A camera that sometimes has difficulty capturing what needs to be
- Too many repetitions in game situations
- An AI ally who is struggling a bit
- Presence of slowdowns and errors
- No French voices and some VO without subtitles
Abe was easier to use and equipped with new skills. He recovered with this new version of his exodus. The Mudokon indeed returns in an adventure that meets current standards and is full of challenges and sadistic traps that must be avoided with a well-placed throw. Like the disappearance of the flatulence, our famous petomaniac does not let go of the gas completely, which is due to various inaccuracies on the side of the handling, the camera, but also the artificial intelligence. Soulstorm remains a well orchestrated adventure with qualities as great as a Glukkon’s greed.
Journalist igamesnews.com
April 09, 2021 at 8:23:53 PM
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