Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty are generally positive. Many critics praise the story for its engaging and thought-provoking nature. They highlight the themes of anti-capitalism, anti-consumerism, and social commentary, which they believe are still relevant and important. Critics such as GameCritics and Eurogamer Italy specifically mention the fresh and timely messages conveyed by the game. The story is also commended for its dark humor and charming tone, with critics like Nintendo Insider and Switch Player appreciating the whimsical and comedic elements. The protagonist, Abe, is widely regarded as a lovable and endearing character, as mentioned by Nintendo Insider and TheSixthAxis. The storytelling is also praised for its use of rhyming couplets, as noted by Gamer Escape. On the negative side, some critics mention that the story is relatively straightforward and lacks complexity. Gamer Escape states that the story is mostly told through cutscenes that occur every few levels, which may limit the depth of the narrative. Additionally, Pure Nintendo mentions that while the Mudokan characters bring life to the adventure with their chatter, some may find their hesitancy a bit off-putting. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the story of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty is enjoyable, memorable, and engaging. The game successfully reinvigorates the original plot of the PS1 classic, Abe's Oddysee, and delivers a compelling narrative. The themes of anti-capitalism and anti-consumerism are seen as fresh and important, while the dark humor and charming tone add depth and entertainment value. The protagonist, Abe, is widely loved and the use of rhyming couplets enhances the storytelling experience. Despite some critics mentioning the straightforward nature of the story, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics like Eurogamer Italy and Hardcore Gamer praising the dark and compelling narrative. The story's timely and meaningful message, as well as its smart and challenging adventure, are also highlighted by Post Arcade and Push Square.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty are quite varied. Many critics praise the challenging and rewarding nature of the puzzles and platforming elements. Digital Chumps commends the unique puzzles and platforming elements, while Gamer Escape describes the gameplay as a slow-paced puzzle platformer. Nintendo Insider mentions that the gameplay requires precise movements and commitment, similar to the original Prince of Persia. Switch Player finds the gameplay satisfying with trial and error, and The Games Machine mentions that the gameplay is challenging but accessible. These positive opinions highlight the engaging nature of the puzzles and platforming challenges in the game. However, there are also some negative aspects of the gameplay that critics point out. GameCritics criticizes the slippery and imprecise controls, which can lead to frustrating deaths. Starbit mentions that the controls are imprecise and frustrating, which may be a problem for the reviewer. TheSixthAxis and Eurogamer both mention issues with the controls, with TheSixthAxis specifically mentioning the frustration caused by the Switch's drifty sticks. These negative opinions highlight the potential frustration that players may experience due to the controls. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty offers a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience. The emphasis on puzzles and platforming elements is praised by many critics, who find the puzzles to be well-designed and the challenges to be engaging. The game's faithful adherence to the original game's structure and puzzles is appreciated by Eurogamer Spain. While there are criticisms regarding the controls, such as their slipperiness and imprecision, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics acknowledging that the game's difficulty has been adjusted for today's audience and that the gameplay is enjoyable and accessible.

The majority of the critics praised the graphics and visual design of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty, considering it a significant improvement over the original game. They commended the transition from flat backgrounds to fully 3D environments, which added depth and immersion to the game. The seamless panning between screens was also highlighted as a major improvement, providing a smoother and more cohesive experience. Critics such as Cubed3 and Nintendo Insider appreciated the game's ability to add detail and modernize its visuals without losing sight of its roots. The graphical overhaul was described as gorgeous, stunning, and visually appealing by Metro GameCentral, Eurogamer, and Starbit, respectively. The use of the Unity engine was also praised for enhancing the game's visuals, with critics like Pure Xbox and Destructoid noting the game's beautiful new visuals and completely overhauled engine. However, some critics did have reservations about the graphics and visual design of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty. Gamer Escape mentioned that while the environments and animations still looked good, they didn't quite have the polish of a modern release. The surprisingly numerous cutscenes were criticized for appearing low-resolution and washed out. Noisy Pixel also noted that the game showed its age during cinematics with a low resolution. Nintendo Life mentioned that some aspects of the game, particularly in terms of level design and animation, did not compare well to the original. Overall, the critics' consensus on the graphics and visual design of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty was overwhelmingly positive. They praised the game for its visually attractive recreation, unique character models, and improved environments. The game was described as visually impressive, gorgeous, and having stunning visuals. The use of the Unity engine was seen as a success, enhancing the game's graphics and making it look better than the original. While there were some minor criticisms regarding certain aspects of the visuals, these were outweighed by the overall positive reception. The graphical improvements and attention to detail were widely appreciated, making the game visually appealing and a significant upgrade from the original release.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty are quite varied. Several critics praised the sound design and music in the game, highlighting its positive aspects. Critics such as Nintenderos and Starbit mentioned that the accompanying melodies and effects enhance the gameplay experience and contribute to the overall charm of the game. Switch Player also commended the atmospheric sound design, stating that it adds to the sense of helplessness and accomplishment in the dark and disarrayed world. Pure Xbox and Impulsegamer appreciated the accomplished sound design, mentioning the moody and ethereal music, enemy chatter, and industrial sounds that create an immersive experience. The unique Gamespeak communication system and the dark humor and charm were also noted positively by God is a Geek. However, there were some criticisms regarding the sound design and music. GameCritics expressed disappointment with the added dialogue for Abe and the Mudokons, finding it terribly repetitive. Nintendo Life mentioned that the sound of Abe's chant, which was once mystical and otherworldly, now sounds like babbling, indicating a potential negative change in the sound design. Gamer Escape criticized the difficult-to-understand voice acting, particularly for characters like the Glukkons, which seemed purposely impossible to make out due to their weird tones and accents. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty have both positive and negative aspects. While some critics appreciated the atmospheric sound design, charming dialogue, and enhanced sounds that added to the overall experience, others found repetitive dialogue and difficulties in understanding certain characters' voices. Despite these mixed opinions, it is clear that the sound design and music contribute to the unique and darkly humorous world of the game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty are quite diverse. Some critics, like Nintenderos and Pure Xbox, have positive views on the voice acting. Nintenderos mentions that Abe's small phrases are well-adjusted and help round out the character, while Pure Xbox states that the voice acting, mainly done by series creator Lorne Lanning, is very well done. These positive opinions highlight the effectiveness of the voice acting in bringing the characters to life and enhancing the overall experience of the game. However, there are also negative opinions regarding the voice acting. Gamer Escape points out that the performances are done in weird tones and accents, making them difficult to understand. They mention that while Abe can be understood with enough focus, characters like the Glukkons seem purposely impossible to make out. This criticism suggests that the stylistic choices made in the voice acting may hinder the players' ability to fully engage with the dialogue and understand the characters' intentions. Overall, the consensus among the critics seems to be mixed. While some critics appreciate the voice acting and its contribution to character development, others find it difficult to understand or feel that it could have been improved. NintendoWorldReport mentions that Abe's voice sounds like a folksy fish, and ZTGD notes that the dialogue is minimal and mostly consists of monosyllabic grunts. These varying opinions indicate that the voice acting in Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty may be a subjective aspect of the game that could be appreciated by some players while being a potential drawback for others.

In terms of the technical performance on the Nintendo Switch, the critics had a mixed opinion. Cubed3 found the controls to be awkward but charming, while Pure Nintendo mentioned minor issues like falling through a level and audio stuck on a loop. However, Nintenderos stated that the occasional framerate instability was not frequent or bothersome, and Vooks praised the solid port with no issues in handheld mode. These positive aspects indicate that the Nintendo Switch version of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty generally performed well, with some minor hiccups. On the other hand, there were some negative aspects mentioned by the critics regarding the technical performance on the Nintendo Switch. God is a Geek pointed out framerate issues, especially in busy visual sections, and Nintendo Insider mentioned occasional frame drops and long loading times. TheSixthAxis also highlighted the sticky controls and the Switch's drifty sticks as problematic. These negatives indicate that the Nintendo Switch version of the game had some technical issues that affected the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the critics' consensus for the technical performance of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty on the Nintendo Switch is mixed. While there were positive aspects such as the addition of extra checkpoints and a new quicksave system that adheres to the Switch's unique selling point (USP), there were also negative aspects like framerate issues, frame drops, and sticky controls. It is worth noting that the reviewers were unsure if the Switch version itself was the problem, indicating a lack of clarity regarding the source of these technical issues.

In terms of the positives, several critics highlighted the replay value of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty. Nintendo Insider mentioned that the game has collectibles to increase replay value, while Switch Player noted that the multiple endings based on saving friends add replayability. The Games Machine also mentioned extra zones and additional Mudokon to save, increasing the replay value. Pure Xbox praised the inclusion of online leaderboards and the ability to compare Mudokons saved with friends, making it rewarding for speedrunning. Impulsegamer commended the potential for more gameplay hours if players are committed to saving all 299 enslaved Mudokons. However, there were also some negatives mentioned by the critics. Nintenderos mentioned that the game only offers around 10 hours of gameplay with limited extras, which may not be enough for some players. Nintendo Life stated that only the hardest difficulty mode is really worth playing, suggesting that the replay value might be limited in other aspects. Digital Spy mentioned that the game's increased accessibility and forgiveness through additional checkpoints and quick save options might reduce the challenge and trial-and-error aspect, which could be seen as a negative for some players. Overall, the critics' opinions on the replay value of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty were generally positive. The game was praised for its collectibles, multiple endings, extra zones, and additional Mudokon to save, all of which contribute to its replayability. The inclusion of online leaderboards and the ability to compare progress with friends also added to the overall replay value. However, some critics mentioned limitations in terms of gameplay hours and difficulty modes, which could potentially impact the overall replayability for certain players. Despite these minor drawbacks, the majority of critics found the game enjoyable and worth revisiting, whether for speedrunning or completing challenging tasks for achievements such as the Platinum Trophy.