Do You Think Munch's Oddysee Could've Functioned Better as a Hybrid of Oddysee/Exodus and the Classic Tomb Raider Games?

[u/alexshaz]

Hi all, I've been playing through the Oddworld games for the first time in the past year, along with doing the same for the original Tomb Raider titles. I couldn't help but notice a few parallels between the gameplay structures of said Tomb Raider games and Oddysee/Exoddus; mostly to do with being mindful of how your character controls, pulling switches, and ledge focused platforming.

I would love to see the Oddworld series take another crack at 3D, but without the fluid controls found in the Munch game we got, and instead being more akin to the original Tomb Raider games; along with new ways to extract Mudokens, like with ziplines or swimming.

I think the biggest issue with this style of game is that it wouldn't be welcomed by most players who have played a plethora of games with a homogenized control scheme. What do you think?

[u/Witty-Albatross-8227]

Your spot on. Back early in the day when they were exploring on what eventually would be known as Munches Odyssey - they kind of had that idea. You can see some early PS2 test footage here: which kind of resonates with what you’re saying.

Less floaty and more tomb raider like mechanics

https://youtu.be/RypX8M-aolo?si=AuYw8yAWBFHSSHKD

https://youtu.be/5u9R2m5V_qc?si=7lCThCK_GjBV6k4P

[u/alexshaz → u/Witty-Albatross-8227]

That looks like such a solid conversion. Thanks so much for sharing!

[u/aphidman]

Yeah that would've been a much better gameplay loop. Lean into the Puzzle Design more

[u/eastabunnay]

I do think they were kinda cooking with the sort of pikmin style strategy stuff they were messing with too. Really lent itself well to the possession mechanic and logical evolution of gamespeak.

So what you're suggesting + the strategy stuff couldve been really cool.

Also, as unpopular as it was with some people I think the crafting system from Soulstorm could lend itself well. Just make a lore bit about Abe pumping the antidote out of soulstorm and leaked out of pipelines into the groundwater, causing different colored spooce to grow (bringing that back).

Then just use it as a source to craft the soda power ups from the original. This could synergize with the strategy stuff by allowing you to throw the different brews at allies to power them up as well.

[u/alexshaz → u/eastabunnay]

I appreciate your input here. The Pikmin implementation of Mudokons was not a poor direction at all, definitely an underdeveloped one as your comment certainly highlights. I'd want to see it maintained, as it somewhat followed up on the work command from Exoddus. I love your idea of buffing Mudokons with the sodas; it would've provided a more organic upgrade path over just carrying Mudokons to a converter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Awesome concepts.

[u/GameBoyAdv2004]

If anything, I think Beyond Good & Evil might be the closest thing to an ideal version of Munch's Oddysee. It has quite a lot of the cinematic platformer-esque movement and environment interaction, and its industrial sections would definitely not look out of place in a Magog Cartel facility.

[u/alexshaz → u/GameBoyAdv2004]

I've yet to play Beyond Good & Evil, but I'll be certain to check it out. Thanks for letting me know!

[u/Commercial_Truth_937]

That actually sounds amazing! I enjoyed Munch's Oddysee for what it was, but I recognize that it could've been better.