Oddworld - Abe's Oddysee
Company : GT-Games
Reviewed By : Lonelines

I rated this as action, even though it's more like a puzzle combined with action (just like Flashback and B-Thorne). At first glance this game appears extremely cute, and funny... However don't let the looks get you, this is a very HARD and challenging game created for those with tons of time. At the first few scenes you get above you all kinds of cute messages telling you how to control Abe (you) with the keys (what they don't tell you is that there are
tons of hidden screens that you will have to come back and see someday). After playing the game and enjoying yourself and having fun, the game becomes a real pain. First of all the puzzle get harder and harder as you go. Most of the puzzles are based on timing. Now the puzzles wouldn't be so bad if the game had a normal saving utility. So let's say after I kill some yucky slig monsters I could save and go on.

No ! asking for a damned normal save feature is too much from the programmers these days (much like LBA with that game's annoying save game feature); you will have to get to specific areas in order for the game to save, and even if u killed a million sligs and saved many of your race (which is by the way your primary goal), if you don't get to those annoying places you're screwed and you have to start over.

Very annoying. Another annoying fact about this game's save-game feature is also the puzzles. There are places where you have to solve 4 individual puzzles before a save game screen arrives. fail on one of the four and you're doomed to them all over again (even if you probably die in different locations and puzzles each time you try). Not to mention the fact that after you die for the 1000th time, those annoying fade ins/outs and the resurrection birds start getting on your nerves as well (and it seems to be slower each and every time). Leaving the annoying saving mechanism aside,

the egame boasts great graphics and sound, a LOT of playability (due to those die/retry situations), and a long life span (also due to those die/retry situations) - the only good part about the die/retry situations is that you get unlimited lives. So at least there's that. Also it seems as if the game isn't impossible to solve (since I actually made it through with all 99 mudokons saved, which is DEFINITELY not easy).

Game boasts lots of good features, but the lack of a normal save/load function which is really annoying and necessary (especially when you die a zillion times). I know it would have made the game shorter, but it would make it more fun (and if it isn't fun why we did we get it in the first place?).

Good graphics, good cut-scenes, good gameplay. If you liked B-Thorne, you will love this one; and for those of you who don't know what B-Thorne is, if you like action with puzzles in a platform game it's for you. You must have loads of patience and be a very calm player as well since I don't want you to go on a computer bash frenzy after you die for the 50th time on the same annoying puzzles. So players must be calm, relaxed, not trigger happy (or keyboard happy), and have tons of time. If you match the above specifications, this game is for you. Have fun. I don't think I'll be replaying this game in the coming century.