Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Studio	Oddworld Inhabitants
Publisher	Microsoft Oddworld Inhabitants
Senior Developer	Lorne Lanning
Erstveröffent- lichung	November 14, 2001 (Xbox) December 20, 2010 (Windows) January 6, 2016 (Mac App Store)
platform	Xbox , Windows , PS3 , MacOS Nintendo Switch
genre	Jump 'n' run , action adventure
Game mode	Single player
control	Game controller , keyboard and mouse
medium	DVD-ROM , download
language	German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese
Age rating	USK

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is a platform game by the US computer game developer Oddworld Inhabitants and the third title in the Oddworld series. It was first published at the launch of the Xbox game console on November 14, 2001 via the US publisher and console manufacturer Microsoft . In December 2010 the title was ported to Windows as part of the Oddworld game collection OddBoxx . In 2012, a graphically revised HD remake was released for PlayStation 3 . There is also an adapted version of the same name for Game Boy Advance from 2003, which was developed by the Japanese developer Art Co. A port for iOS was also released on November 12, 2015 . A port for macOS followed in January 2016. Another version for Nintendo Switch will follow on May 14, 2020 in the Nintendo eShop .

action

At the center of the plot are the Mudokan Abe, known from the predecessors, and the eponymous amphibian Munch from the Gabbit people. The game begins with an introduction to a Mudokan village where the player controls Abe. Abe is given the task of freeing the eggs of his unborn brothers from the hands of the Glukkon. After a change of scene, the player takes control of Munch. Munch is the last survivor from the people of Gabbits because the Glukkons in their cravings for the eggs of Gabbits (Gabbiar) have nearly wiped out the entire population and their need for transplantation lungs as a substitute for their own smokers' lungs. In search of his relatives, Munch is captured by the so-called Vykkers, a people of scientists, and is brought to the Vykkers Labs. However, Munch escapes and goes in search of the last can of gabbiar with which he hopes to prevent his species from becoming extinct. Abe and Munch's paths cross, whereupon the two finally take action against the Vykkers and Glukkons. In addition to finding the eggs, similar to the two predecessors, the goal of the game is to free enslaved Mudokans and small fur animals from the people, fuzzles. Only if at least 50% of the prisoners can be liberated can the player reach the end of the game. Otherwise, the two characters fail in their mission and perish.

Gameplay

Munch's Oddysee is the first title in the series with a three-dimensional game world and essentially transfers the game principle of the two predecessors. The core of the game are the two protagonists with their different, mutually complementary skills. Munch is able to operate machines and, while very slow on land, his speed of movement and jumping ability in the water increase considerably. Abes strengths lie in the movement on land and his magical abilities, for example the possibility to take control of enemy creatures. Numerous tasks have to be solved through the skillful use of special character skills.

reception

Rating mirror

Xbox
publication	Rating
4players	87%
Games world	86%
Looki	88%
EGM	9.0 of 10
EuroGamer.net	6 of 10
Game Informer	7.0 of 10
GamePro (US)	4.0 of 5
GameSpot	7.9 out of 10
GameSpy	84%
Gaming Age	B-
IGN	of 10
Meta-ratings
GameRankings	79.14%
Metacritic	80 out of 100

Munch's Oddysee received mostly positive, but significantly lower ratings than its predecessors ( GameRankings : 79.14% / Metacritic : 80 out of 100).

“Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is being positioned as the Xbox's Mario 64 or Crash Bandicoot. However, it really transcends that role. Although the aforementioned games were great and certainly furthered their genres, Munch's Oddysee is the kind of title that will get game development noticed as an art form. It's so obviously a labor of love. The characters and story are unlike anything on the market and ooze personality. This is by far the most creative Xbox launch game, but it suffers from repetitiveness and unresponsive controls. "

“ Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee was positioned as Mario 64 or Crash Bandicoot for the Xbox. However, it exceeds this role. While the aforementioned games have been great and certainly expanded their genres, Munch's Oddysee is one of the sort of titles that will bring game development recognition as an art form. It is so obviously the result of loving work. The characters and the plot are unparalleled on the market and oozing with individuality. This is by far the most creative Xbox launch title, but it suffers from repetitive gameplay and sluggish controls. "

- Raymond Padilla : GameSpy review

Follow-up projects

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee (GBA)

An adapted version of the game for the handheld game console Game Boy Advance was developed by the Japanese company Art Co. The US company THQ acted as publisher and released the game in the US on September 24, 2003 and in Europe on October 10, 2003. Unlike the original game, the GBA version only uses two-dimensional graphics.

Munch's Oddysee for GBA received mostly negative ratings ( GameRankings : 49.45% / Metacritic : 44 out of 100).

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD

In July 2010, the British development studio Just Add Water announced that it would work with Oddworld Inhabitants to revive the Oddworld universe. After the republication of all Oddworld titles via digital distribution , a revision and republication of all previous titles on other platforms was announced. Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD was released on December 19, 2012 for PlayStation 3 as a downloadable title via the PlayStation Network .

Oddworld: Stranger's Retribution

→ Main article : Oddworld: Stranger's Retribution

The fourth title in the Oddworld series was released in 2005 via publisher Electronic Arts for Xbox. He deviated more from the previous game principle of the series and combined elements of an action adventure with those of a first-person shooter . In a Wild West scenario, the player controls the bounty hunter Stranger, who takes action against the oppressors of the Grubbs.

literature

• Cathy Johnson, Daniel Wade (Eds.): The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants: The First Ten Years 1994-2004 . Ballistic Media, Mylor, South Australia 2004, ISBN 1-921002-02-6 .

Web links

• Official Oddworld site (English)
• Munch's Oddysee at MobyGames (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee" new for iOS: 3D platformer full of crazy beings . iPlayApps.de. 20th November 2015.
2. ↑ http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/XBox/Test/155/1031/0/Oddworld_Munchs_Oddysee.html
3. ↑ http://www.gameswelt.de/oddworld-munchs-oddysee/review/seite-1,3462
4. ↑ http://www.looki.de/oddworld_munchs_oddysee_test_a183_1.html
5. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly (January 2002), p. 227.
6. ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_munch_x
7. ↑ Game Informer (December 2001), p. 101.
8. ↑ Star Dingo: Review: Munch's Oddysee ( English ) In: GamePro (US) . IDG . November 14, 2001. Archived from the original on July 2, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
9. ↑ Joe Fielder: Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee Review ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . November 12, 2001. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
10. ↑ ^{a b} Raymond Padilla: Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee ( English ) In: GameSpy . News Corp . November 13, 2001. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
11. ↑ Travis Dwyer: Review: Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee ( English ) In: Gaming Age . December 7, 2001. Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
12. ↑ Vincent Lopez: Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee ( English ) In: IGN . News Corp . November 9, 2001. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
13. ↑ ^{a b} GameRankings : Average rating of the game , based on 54 ratings. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
14. ↑ ^{a b} Metacritic : Average rating of the game , based on 30 articles. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
15. ↑ GameRankings : Average rating of the game , based on 22 ratings. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
16. ↑ Metacritic : Average rating of the game , based on 15 articles. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
17. ^ Andrew Yoon: New Oddworld games in the works at Just Add Water ( English ) In: Joystiq . AOL . July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 17, 2012. 
18. ↑ Kris Graft: Interview: Going Back To Oddworld ( English ) In: Gamasutra . UBM, plc . September 13, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2012.