Some of my key memories from university two decades ago revolve around playing Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee with my friends taking turns or watching to see if we could rescue every Mudokan. So it’s cool that the new Oddworld: Abe’s Origin book covers the series history with interviews and art.
For anyone not familiar with Abe, the first game was a 2D puzzle platformer on an alien world. And as the titular Abe, you needed to escape the RuptureFarms meat processing factory before you and your fellow Mudokans are turned into food, so rescuing everyone is important as you throw objects, hit switches, and telepathically control enemies.
Back in 1997 the graphics, animation and characterisation were all acclaimed. Some people claimed it was too difficult, but they were obviously wrong. And you can test that theory for yourself with the Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty remake from 2014 for the PC, Mac, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, PS Vita, and Wii U.
Anyway, the new Oddworld: Abe’s Origin book goes into archives with artwork and imagery from Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee, Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, the upcoming Oddworld: Soulstorm and some of the unreleased Oddworld Inhabitants titles.
The 288 pages of art (weighing over 1.7kg), comes alongside an original and exclusive 16,000 word interview with Oddworld Inhabitants creator Lorne Lanning. And a host of essays on the speciais, lands and design pillars of the Oddworld series.
The book looks pretty attractive, too. It’s a harcover with an embossed gold foil cover logo and spine text. And it comes from Independent By Design, who specialise in documenting and celebrating videogames and their creators. Their previous book is Independent by Design: Art & Stories of Indie Game Creation, available to order via Amazon.
The Kickstarter-funded Oddworld: Abe’s Origins can be purchased via the Indie By Design website, and costs £40.
The characterisation is one of the best elements of the game, particularly with Abe. The title screen interaction, and being able to do irrelevant actions (like farting) to the giggles of the Mudokans you’re trying to save, makes Abe one of the most likeable characters I’ve ever played in a videogame.
And the world created by Oddworld Inhabitants is amazingly rich, particularly for 1997. It’s comparable to sci-fi and fantasy classics like The Fifth Element (also released the same year), in the depth of design. Or dysfunctional worlds like Brazil (1985), 12 Monkeys (1995), or Nineteen Eighty-Four.
I can still hear the voice of Abe saying ‘Follow Me’, and immediately want to go and play the New ‘n’ Tasty remake right now. So I’m definitely temped to pick up the Oddworld: Abe’s Origin book. With the newest title, SoulStorm being delayed until 2020 so far, it’ll keep the Oddworld fire burning in the meantime…
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