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Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee HD in development

By Eddie Makuch

Series creator Lorne Lanning reveals original title getting updated rerelease; Stranger's Wrath Xbox Live Arcade launch in limbo.

Fans of the Oddworld series have been treated to sweet morsels of news in the past few months. In July, developer Just Add Water announced it was currently creating multiple projects for a variety of platforms. In September, a remake of 2005's Stranger's Wrath was announced for release on the PlayStation Network. And in December, the developer released an Oddworld compilation pack for the PC.

Now, the Oddworld is primed to be repopulated once more. Series creator Lorne Lanning told Electronic Gaming Monthly, in a preview teaser announcement, that Just Add Water is currently beginning production on a high-definition remake of the first title in the franchise: Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee.

"Abe HD is going into production. It's basically Abe's Oddysee being redone in a 3D physics engine as a 2D side-scrolling platformer," Lanning said. "So the way Just Add Water wants to approach it, we thought was very smart; they are not trying to reinvent any wheels. It’s like, 'Can we make that experience in a new engine, with new tech, in the old way?'"

The interview was light on details concerning the HD remake of Abe's Oddysee, but Lanning did offer a statement concerning a possible Xbox Live Arcade version of Stranger's Wrath.

"We have Stranger all ready to go on XBLA, but the answer keeps being no. We're still talking to them, and we're hoping to work it out," he said.

For more on titles in the series, check out GameSpot's reviews of the original Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee.

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nilemonitor 12 pts

I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a Stranger's Wrath today!!!!

rigzzsy 5 pts

all o' yis hi hi hi hi... wait

Infinity_Gauntl 6 pts

I really hope this gets approved. I want to play this again.

ChaosUndivided 27 pts

Just started playing it again and now finding out that they might releasing a HD Version... Awesome

ROMSES 5 pts

Oh, this is really amazing! Still remember the time playing on playstation and pc!) Please make it come true!))

SuicideSekt 5 pts

All the Oddworld games are just Brilliant beautiful games! I dont think any of them was a horrible experience. My personal fav was Stranger's Wrath. 1- I love action/adventure. 2- I love shooters. 3- I love anything that is unique and wierd. Can't wait for PSN to be up to see if it's been released yet. Was supposed to be out April 30th? CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

TheJamin 5 pts

I loved both Oddysee and exodus... Exodus was hard as nails! for me at least.

warhawk-geeby 108 pts

I never owned this game, but I did play it a lot as a youngster round a friend's house. Brilliant game. Although now I'm older maybe it won't have the same appeal? Who knows.. Nostalga overload either way :p

MichaeltheCM 23 pts

:o so weird to see jeff again. i miss that old gang :(

Kravyn81 26 pts

They should just do what a lot of developers are doing and rerelease the entire series in an HD remake instead of just the first game.

FallenOneX 36 pts

These games never caught my eye, and an HD remake won't change that. ON the other hand, I'm glad fans of the series get another chance to relive their past.

MJ12-Conspiracy 89 pts

I've been thinking about getting Abe's Oddysee from PSN for awhile now, maybe I'll just wait until Abe HD comes out......

XzAkUt3r 5 pts

Was thinking of buying the original at PS Store but now i think Im gonna get this one instead. :D

SillySkeleton 10 pts

Will this be the first PSone game to go HD? Either way, I'm in. I wonder how they're going to manage the widescreen aspect ratio with the level designs.

HaloPimp978 90 pts

One of the best PS1 games of all time.

fetusfart18 5 pts

I'm going to be spending a lot of money on Oddworld games in the near future....and that couldn't make me any happier. I just can't figure out why Microsoft would possibly not want Stranger on XBLA? What's their deal? No biggie though, I just bought the Oddbox off Steam so I'm good to go.

ShroudedEagle 5 pts

I'm really looking forward to this. Although I do hope that this HD remake has some Exoddus features, like being able to talk to multiple Mudokons, or flying Sligs.

benleslie5 39 pts

Loved Stranger's Wrath for what it was back in 2005, especially the graphics which look stunning

robdar602 5 pts

There's my buddy! Missed ya Abe! :D Oddworld is an awesome series. I really hope they bring all the classics to the 360 and add sequels to Stranger and Munch's Odessey.

bignick217 27 pts

First reaction...yes...I like this idea Second reaction...3D engine...noooo...don't change what made abe so amazing. Third reaction...keeping 2D scrolling gameplay.... oh hell yes. I am all for this. I would love to play Abe again in it's original glory with revamped graphics. Just please for the love of god, release it for PC as well. Fart... huhuhuh!

killeroo 10 pts

Hi! . . Hi . . Follow me . ok?! Brilliant game

loopy_101 15 pts

Release it on Wii, preferably on a disc. It makes me sadface when remakes/re-releases of harder to find games only become available online.

TheDreamSeeker 5 pts

I remember the first time I played Abe's Oddysee. It was on the demo that came free with the original Playstation. Skip forward 15 years, and I'm ready to relive it all over again.

richwalker13 5 pts

Stranger's Wrath was an incredible game, I always wanted a sequel but sadly it never came due to the bafflingly low sales... Fingers crossed on an XBLA version

Gliave 9 pts

Ya pansies better not overlook PSN this time around either. They've had it on Xbox already so they need to prioritize accordingly. As for the Abe's Oddysee HD remake....How about you get dazzled by such a notion...BEFORE releasing the original version on PSN, both Abe' Oddysee & Exodus... Whatever it is, Stranger's Wrath is what we're looking for, and better yet Munch's Oddysee as well, both on the PSN / PS3. Now chop chop! Make it snappy.

ecoolen 6 pts

I read somewhere that Lanning said that the source code for the original Abe had been lost. Considering this, Just Add Water would have to rewrite the game from scratch. Although I would love to see Abe in HD, I wish they would use their resources to create a brand new Abe game. Then again, they would be able to use the new engine for a new game afterwards if (!) the remakes turn out to be successful. In any case , I'm intrigued.

Philly1UPer 86 pts

Hearing this game getting a remake makes me ver happy. I really hope sometime down the road if this is a success that someone picks up and remakes Heart of Darkness as well.

gamerboy100 14 pts

You know, I think Microsoft is run by hypocritical jerks. There are games that surpass the download size limitations (Lara Croft: GoL is said to be just over 2 GB) and yet they won't allow the release of Stranger's Wrath? Practice what you preach, you jackasses!!

Quinzark 5 pts

PLEASE bring stranger to live. Also FF7 [ not connected in anyway but i want it bad. ] will give the HD odyssey a go though. love Abe XD

skooks 5 pts

Microsoft keep saying no? GET IT TOGETHER YOU INCOMPETENT BUFFOONS!

ziproy 104 pts

Why did Oddworld stop making games after Stranger's Wrath? That game was surprisingly terrific and yet they just stop

Fandango_Letho 41 pts

Abe's Odyssey and then surely Exodus in HD? I'm so in. These games are masterpieces.

Lunarmeow 5 pts

Will this be coming out on ps3, cause i never got around to playing the original on the playstation????????

Lunarmeow 5 pts

Will this be coming out on ps3, cause i never got around to playing the original on the playstation????????

spike6958 13 pts

Come on M$ stop been dicks and increase download sizes, I wanna play Strangers Wrath, it's the only Oddworld game I have never played. As for Abe's Oddysee HD, I'll probably get it, I loved the original as well as Exodus, but haven't played them since before the PS2 came out, and I would love another chance.

Sigil-otaku 27 pts

@DarthVeng_basic: I agree, sadly I feel the days of real remakes (like resident evil or metal gear on gamecube) are over, and promise of titles like FF7 being remade are lessened when devs see how easy it is to just tune up the resolution and get the cash.

KillerJuan77 31 pts

I just hope it's not as poorly optimized as the Oddboxx versions of Stranger's Wrath and Munch's Odysseey

burgeg 36 pts

I love the 2D Oddworld games, but sorry I just cant get excited for this. If it's exactly the same as the original just with prettier graphics I don't see the point. I still have my original PS1 version and the PSN version on my PSP. Make a new Oddworld game and I'll get super hyped.

okassar 73 pts

Oddworld was important to me when I was a kid...it desensitized me to the gross, and there's a lot of that in this world.

DrEvilKoala 5 pts

@DarthVeng_basic As long as they're doing it to games that I actually like while respecting the things that made it great in the first I don't mind. Star Wars is a great example of how NOT to do it. I'm curious if they'll be able to maintain the amazing art of the original in HD form. Thought it might have been fun if these versions would have released alongside the OddBoxx...

daviwinn 5 pts

Love this game, looking forward to playing through it again. I would also like to see Abe's Exodus redone in HD.

johny300 5 pts

I remember the ps1 game oddworld guys used to fart a lot lol.

IonescoF 5 pts

I wonder if Abe HD will be as difficult as the original! Huh!

irishdude199210 35 pts

I just hope they don't ruin the charm of the original by doing this.

DarthVeng_basic 5 pts

So, now the new fad is upgrading old games to HD instead of making new ones? Sounds like the same thing Hollywood is doing, and I find it disgusting.

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