Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - Gameplay

Gameplay

Abe's Oddysee is a two-dimensional platform game in which player's take control of a Mudokon named Abe, who must escape from a factory plotting to use his kind as food products. Abe must travel across the game, which is split off into separate screens, solving puzzles, navigating obstacles and avoiding enemies to make it out alive. Abe is particularly vulnerable and he will die if he is attacked by an enemy, killed by an obstacle or falls from too great a height, respawning at the last checkpoint. As well as jumping to navigate areas and crouch to roll under obstacles, Abe can break into a run to jump over large gaps or escape enemies, or tiptoe to avoid disturbing enemies.

Abe has the ability to use possession to possess enemies and control them. Whilst chanting, enemies will be alerted, requiring Abe to be in a safe area to avoid being attacked whilst chanting. Certain areas will also prevent Abe from chanting. Once Abe successfully possesses an enemy, Abe can freely control them, using them to attack other enemies and activate mechanisms that are dangerous to reach by himself and can then self-destruct them to return to his body. Abe's body is immobile and vulnerable whilst possessing someone else, though if his host is killed, control will return to Abe's body.

Along the way, the player will encounter many other Mudokons that he can attempt to rescue. Abe can communicate with these Mudokons using a system called "GameSpeak". By holding down the GameSpeak button and pressing various commands, Abe can command them to follow him, stay put and activate mechanisms, as well as praise or scold them. Sometimes Abe will have to go through certain procedures to get a certain Mudokon, such as a native, to listen to him, such as responding to whistles. Mudokons can be rescued by safely leading them past traps and enemies to bird portals, which can be activated by chanting to allow them to escape. If the player rescues at least 50 Mudokons during the course of the game, he will receive the good ending upon completion.

Throughout the game, Abe will encounter many different aliens such as armed Sligs, Scrabs and Paramites, each with their own characteristics. Sligs will shoot on sight, but can't see through dark areas, Scrabs will attack anyone in their territory whilst Paramites will attack in packs and become shy when on their own. Elum's are bipedal creatures that Abe can ride and communicate with GameSpeak, although they will be distracted by dripping honey. Late in the game, Abe gains the ability to transform into a demigod called a Shrykull, which can eviscerate all on-screen enemies. Abe can use this ability once after rescuing a certain amount of Mudokons at the same time.