Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty Reviews
More often than not, remakes fail horribly. Oddworld: New 'n Tasty raises the bar for all that follow
If you have played Abe's Oddyssey and loved it, then you'll love what has been achieved here, it is a game you loved and then so much more. If you are going to be experiencing the game for the very first time, then boy, are you in for a treat.
Highly recommended for anyone who had a chance to play it when it came out 17 years ago. Even if you didn't think much of it back then, its still worth a look. For newcomers to the series should at least borrow it from a friend or look at playthroughs. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but overall this remaster has set a good example on how remakes should be done!
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! is a faithful recreation of the PS1 gem that is going to welcome back fans of the original. With some worthwhile future proofing in the form of quicksaves and screen panning, the trip is that little more accessible. For new players however, there is a chance that the awkward controls marring the precision timing needed might alienate and frustrate. Give Abe a chance however and even with the wealth of platformers available on the Switch, this stands tall as a title worthy of the purchase. A delicious remake.
Context of the original really can inform what level of accolades someone might give Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty. Without it, you might find the game a bizarre, competent, if clunky, 2D platformer with a few extra tricks up its sleeve. Looking back at Abe’s Oddysee, it couldn’t be clearer how much refinement was done in the action, and how much effort was taken to make it visually pleasing insofar as this world can be. There’s an undeniable charm in its oddness that provides a flavor to this Switch port either way, which makes it easy to recommend. Just make sure to give your fellow Mudokon co-workers a friendly hello.
Overall, I'm enjoying the game quite a bit. As someone who hasn't played much of the Oddworld series, this feels like a wonderful re-imagining of the series that new players and old alike will love and enjoy.
Overall, the game is solid, with a few annoying quirks about it, most notably the controls. Considering that controls are the most integral part of a platformer, Oddworld takes a heavy hit against it for what would otherwise be a rather minor niggle.
In terms of the quality of this remake Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is almost unrivalled. Just Add Water has gone above and beyond what fans of the series were expecting, and as a piece of fan-service it's second to none. It's the puzzle-platformer equivalent of remaking Baldur's Gate in Frostbite 3; a graphical and gameplay tour de force worth any fan of the genre's time.
Perhaps Oddworld Inhabitants and Nintendo were banking more on nostalgia rather than content for sales. Perhaps they only recently had the idea to rerelease this game. Either way, considering that they had twenty years to fix the issues, the result is disappointing.
Despite that imbalance, overall I enjoyed the challenging puzzles. While the Oddworld franchise may be unknown by many, and beloved by some, this remastered classic is rough but still fun.
New 'N' Tasty is exactly what it claims to be: a new experience still instantly familiar to anyone that played the original, and vital playing for those that didn't. Oddworld was a defining presence on the Playstation, and New 'N' Tasty will remain a defining experience on the new generation of consoles, too. It's a pleasure to see a remaster done so well.
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is currently retailing on PSN for $33.95 (NZ) and is a 4.5GB download.
Oddworld: New and Tasty is a painstakingly rebuilt example of how to breathe life back into beloved games. The game's satirical anti-capitalism message is still as relevant today and the dark and twisted humour and distinctive visual design serves to set the game apart from its contemporaries.
What's on show here is still a unique—and occasionally maddening—puzzle platforming game with a sense of identity unlike anything else on the market
A game that is comfortable in its own skin and endeavours to toil within its own ambitions is rare, yet that is exactly what Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty achieves. Such honesty should be applauded even if it does little to endear new fans to the fold who might be at risk of not properly adjusting to New 'n' Tasty's idiosyncrasies. Still, for those who take the time to persevere, New 'n' Tasty proves to be as delectable a treat as Abe's original Odyssey all those years ago.
When it works, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a beautiful, quirky, and devious puzzle platformer that deserves a spot alongside the likes of LIMBO, Another World and the original Abe's Oddysee in the gaming canon. Unfortunately, it doesn't work nearly often enough.
At the end of the day anybody who holds the original Abe's Oddysee in high regard will appreciate this remake immensely, but newcomers to the series should be wary of it's problems.
The immersive and acclaimed platformer arrives on Nintendo Switch with a completely new look. Revisit the origin story of Abe, and experience the innovative and frustrating design work that has cemented Oddworld's place in history.
Overall, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a good game. That said, it hasn't made me as interested in its sequels (that I've yet to play) as I thought it would. If anything, it makes me long for the original with its, if not timeless, nostalgic visuals. But the accessibility tweaks make this entry useful for new players who've yet to experience it.
From the beautiful (and ugly) ambience of your surroundings, to the mutinous and sad mutterings of the Mudokons and the cacophony of murder on every screen, New ‘N’ Tasty is the perfect addition to your gaming library.