An innovative game for a niche audience
The talented folks at GT Interactive have conceived a lively world quite different from those normally seen in platform games. The background scenery, ambient sounds, character design & animation are all done extremely well. From the way Abe turns and shrugs his shoulders when he doesn't know what to do, to the way he humorously moves while trying to sneak past the evil Slig guards, there are all sorts of little touches that give the game a polished look & feel. You'll probably find it'll take a while to get used to controlling Abe, learning all his moves and mastering his chants & whistles, but that's really part of the fun and challenge of this game.
Despite its looks however Abe's Oddysee should not be confused with a standard platform game. In reality, the entire 2D platform presentation is just a setting for what is actually a fairly deep puzzle game - think of it as a puzzle/platformer, with the emphasis on the 'puzzle.' This can be good or bad depending on your taste, and the level of challenge you're willing to endure. Either way it's important to know this going in lest you end up frustrated or disappointed. I have to confess, when I rediscovered this game not too long ago I didn't quite realize the degree to which puzzle solving plays a role in the game. Fortunately, for the less than dexterous and puzzle challenged Abe is given an infinite number of lives. This is a huge relief since you will find that poor Abe meets his demise often, and in some unfortunate ways. Dying simply means you're put back several screens and have to work your way back through them. But that's really the charm in all of this in that eventually you'll start figuring out how to get through each screen. Usually it's a combination of a little creative thinking and a whole lot of trial and error. Eventually you'll make your way to the next area, having (hopefully) rescued some of your comrades, which instills a great sense of accomplishment. This is further rewarding in that the story continues to unfold the further you progress and the scenes & settings are always fresh and pleasing. In short, there's a lot here to keep you moving forward. By the way, the more Mudokons you rescue throughout the journey the better the ending - when and if you finally get there.
Abe's Oddysee is by no means the kind of game that will garner widespread appeal. But for those who enjoy puzzle solving, or the occasional quirky title, and have the patience for learning how to effectively control poor Abe, this can be an enjoyable and rewarding adventure...probably like no other.