Oddworld: Soulstorm
A re-imagined sequel with crafting, double jumps, and a Quarma system.
Oddworld: Soulstorm is a 2021 platform game created by Oddworld Inhabitants. It follows 2014's *Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty!* and reimagines 1998's *Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus* as its creators originally intended. The game launched on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows in April 2021, with an enhanced edition arriving in November 2021 alongside versions for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch port, called the *Oddtimized Edition*, came out in November 2022. Critical reception was mixed.
The gameplay is a 2.5D side-scrolling platformer, much like its predecessor. Series protagonist Abe returns, aiming to free his fellow Mudokons from the Glukkons' brutal slave labor. Mechanics are heavily revised from *New 'n' Tasty!*, borrowing elements from both *Abe's Exoddus* and *Munch's Oddysee*. A new inventory system pairs with looting and crafting: Abe finds items in interactive objects or pickpockets enemies, then crafts weapons like smoke bombs or a flamethrower. Duct tape lets him apprehend enemies non-lethally. Moolah can be collected to buy inventory items or open cash gates. Abe now double-jumps across large gaps, and his throwing mechanic is tweaked so he can move while aiming. A health meter tracks his condition, recoverable over time, by rescuing Mudokons, or by finding hidden Royal Jellies that extend the meter. Some hazards still kill instantly regardless of health.
The Quarma system adds a tally for enemies killed, encouraging players to kill or spare them without affecting a level's overall Quarma rating. GameSpeak is simplified to greeting Mudokons and telling them to wait, working like in *Munch's Oddysee*: tapping or holding a button speaks to one or all followers. "Aggro" and "Passive" commands change follower moods, similar to that game's "Jump 'Em!" command—in Aggro mode, they throw inventory items at enemies. Abe's possession ability is reworked into a small energy ball controlled by the player, using a "chi" meter that limits time and distance. Chi extends based on how many Mudokons follow him. Dispossessing enemies can make them explode or temporarily knock them out. Mudokons now mimic Abe's every move—jumping, hoisting, running, sneaking—adjusting their voice and movement volume. Enemies can shoot at various angles and use different weapons, including stun guns that players can use to knock out foes harmlessly.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Oddworld: Soulstorm
- Publisher
- Oddworld Inhabitants
- Director
- Lorne Lanning
- Producer
- Bennie Terry III
- Composer
- Josh Gabriel
- Series
- Oddworld
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Cinematic platform
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Oddworld: Soulstorm is set hours after the events of Oddworld: New 'n Tasty, in which Abe escaped RuptureFarms and shut down the factory, only to be captured and rescued by free Mudokons. In Soulstorm, while the freed Mudokons celebrate, a shaman urges Abe to cut his lip-stitches, but he refuses. The Monsaic Lines is bombarded by surviving Sligs led by Molluck, who is vilified by the Magog Cartel. Abe and the surviving Mudokons flee, and Abe encounters a dying Mudokon who gives him a wrapped package and tells him to find 'the Keeper'.
Abe acquires a FeeCo train to lead the free Mudokons to safety, discovering along the way that Mudokon escapees have become mysteriously ill. He finds a video-cassette tape revealing SoulStorm Brew, an addictive drink that causes dependency and lethal side-effects if not consumed within 48 hours. Abe infiltrates Necrum Mines, reaches a chamber of elder Mudokons encased in amber, and the Keeper puts him to a trial: recovering the Stone of the Fragon's Eye from a Sleech-infested catacomb. Upon success, the Keeper places the stone in a pedestal that brands Abe's chest with lightning, granting him the memories of the elder Mudokons.
The game features substantially revised gameplay mechanics from New 'n' Tasty, incorporating elements from both Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. New mechanics include an inventory with looting and crafting, allowing Abe to find items and craft weapons like smoke bombs or flamethrowers. Duct tape can be used to apprehend enemies without killing. Abe can double jump, move while aiming throws, and has a health meter recoverable over time, from rescuing Mudokons, or by collecting Royal Jellies. The Quarma system now tallies enemies killed, encouraging sparing or killing, though it does not affect a level's overall Quarma rating. The GameSpeak feature is simplified, and possession ability uses a chi meter. Mudokons follow Abe's every move, and enemies can shoot at various angles and use different weaponry. Levels are large with secret areas and a badge system for completing specific tasks.
Reader's Guide
Oddworld: Soulstorm represents a significant evolution in the Oddworld series, reimagining Abe's Exoddus with modernized mechanics and a deeper narrative. Its mixed critical reception highlights the challenges of updating a classic while introducing new systems like crafting and inventory management, which divided players accustomed to the series' earlier simplicity. The game's Enhanced Edition added exclusive bonus levels—Vykkers Labs for Xbox versions and Toby's Escape for PlayStation and Epic Games Store versions—extending replayability. The Oddtimized Edition for Nintendo Switch brought the title to a portable audience. Soulstorm's emphasis on player choice through the Quarma system and non-lethal options, such as apprehending enemies with duct tape, reflects a broader trend in platformers toward moral complexity. Its large, explorable levels and badge system encourage thorough exploration, while the reworked possession and chi mechanics offer new strategic layers. The game's legacy lies in its attempt to bridge the original vision of Abe's Exoddus with contemporary design, serving as a divisive but ambitious entry in the Oddworld canon.
Did You Know?
- Abe can use duct tape to apprehend enemies without killing them.
- The Enhanced Edition includes two version-exclusive bonus levels: Vykkers Labs for Xbox and Toby's Escape for PlayStation and Epic Games Store.
- The Quarma system now includes a tally of enemies killed, though it does not affect a level's overall Quarma rating.
- Royal Jellies, when collected, extend Abe's health meter.
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