Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee Reviews
It really sucks having to rate Munch's Oddysee so low – this version has obviously been made with care, but as the old saying goes you just can't polish a... well... you know.
Although it was good in 2001, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is let down on Nintendo Switch by awkward camera angles, frustrating controls, and bland environments.
Munch's Oddysee is still the worst Oddworld game and his new remastered version for Nintendo Switch doesn't change that. The result of this last port is a game that is truly mediocre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As previous iterations, Munch's Oddysee lacks the charm from the original 2D games. When it jumped to the 3D real, new doors were open, as new problems, focused in the camera and controls, that are present here. It's a more typical platformer, with easier puzzles. But it still is an endearing game that fans of the series will enjoy.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As an easy-to-pickup game, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee is an enjoyable choice for those who aren’t looking for too much of a challenge but would like to utilize their brain and platforming skills for something fun and simple.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee on the Nintendo Switch brings back this chapter in the Oddworld series and while the gameplay mechanics are solid and the Oddworld universe remains attractive, it's clear that there was not enough work in this conversion to make it appealing enough beyond fans of the original game, especially when it comes to its visual environment and to its frustrating controls.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Third installment of the series, Munch's Oddysee is a flawed yet enjoyable game for its first entry in 3D. However, this port of the 2011's remaster still has some issues, such as remaining bugs and inadequate button assignments.
Review in French | Read full review
While it does exhibit a lot of absurd charm, this HD remaster of Munch's Oddysee simultaneously holds up both with its unique characters and world while also showing its age in varying degrees in its gameplay.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is a classic game that might be stuck in 2001 visually, but still is fun to play thanks to the story and characters.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is a pure and simple port of the original game that runs perfectly
Munch's Oddysee is the second chapter of the Oddworld saga on Nintendo Switch. However, it cannot offer an experience absent of disappointment and imperfections.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee adds one more dimension, but throws what made the original a classic out of the window. Not only this doesn't have the beautiful visuals of the PlayStation duology, or its fantastic atmosphere and narrative strength, but it's also far from a fun, cinematic puzzle-platformer - in fact, it's not even a puzzle-platformer, but just a collection of boring tasks sewn together, and masquerading as an adventure.
When Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee released on the original Xbox, it came with high praise and was one of my personal favorite titles from that system. The game was mind-blowing at launch, but almost two decades later, a lot of it is rough around the edges. The cutscenes, world-building, and storytelling hold up to this day, but almost all of the gameplay elements are out of place compared to modern games, with the wonky, tough-to-handle controls taking the cake.
For a game that's almost 20 years old, Munch's Oddysee on the Switch holds up incredibly well. It's a fun and creative platformer in an odd world that is still super fun to play and figure out from start to finish. Don't expect any technical leaps forward or special additions to this Switch version. If you already own Munch's Oddysee on another platform, there is not much reason to buy the Switch port, unless you must have a portable version of it at all times.
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD encapsulates a time in gaming when 3D puzzle platformers were still in their infancy yet its campaign is undeniably fun and full of variety. However, many facets of its adventure simply don't hold up well with today's standards in mind.
Remasters of games that are getting pretty old, especially when they're from the earlier days of 3D adventures, are tough to evaluate...
It is fairly obvious, based on the data discussed above, that platforming turns more into a chore. If we add to the equation the bad AI of the creatures the player is trying to save, the scale keeps tilting to the negative side.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Ultimately, Munch’s Oddysee as a game hasn’t aged particularly well. It shows very plainly that it was made in a transitional era, when 3D adventure games were still coming into their own and finding ways to create purpose for themselves. The charm of the Oddworld franchise is here of course, and performance of the game is excellent. As far as ports go, this is about as solid as you could ask for, but all of the improved performance mostly serves to center the shortcomings and frustrating mechanics of this awkward duck. For longtime fans of the Oddworld series, this is a fine way to revisit Munch’s Oddysee, but I don’t know that there’s much joy to be had here for anybody who isn’t a staunch fan, an avid collector, or a dedicated archivist.
Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee offers a varied and enjoyable experience, though it is guilty of showing its age in multiple facets of its design. The controls and the camera are the worst offenders and I can imagine that they’ll cause a few frustrating moments for some players. Still, with each character’s varied skillset, the clever puzzle design, and the charming and quirky world, there’s also plenty to love about Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee. It might not necessarily hit the heights of its 2D predecessors, but it still manages to offer a neat adventure that’s more than worthy of the Oddworld name.
All in all, I do have to say that Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee was a nice nostalgic experience, but its quirkiness isn’t quite enough to make up for its frustrating controls and terrible early 3D platforming camera problems. It’s a shame that the recent ports have only given it a facelift and not some desperately needed quality of life improvements.