Twice the Discs, Half the Time—Abe’s Exoddus Proves Crunch Can Still Cook
Abe’s Exoddus was a sleeper hit back in the ’90s, and Sony wanted to cash in on that success. Nothing too much to ask for, right? WRONG. Crunch time was the name of this game. The devs had no more than 10 months to make some magic happen—essentially half the time to create something bigger, badder, and better. With good attitudes and even better eating habits (junk food was strictly forbidden during development), they pulled off what no one thought possible: a game that was twice the size, twice the discs, twice the flavor.
Exoddus picks up immediately after Oddysee. Abe has just saved all his buds from the slaughterhouse that was RuptureFarms. But his journey isn’t over. Three weirdos visit Abe in a dream and inform him that the Glukkons are digging up Necrum, the most sacred Mudokon burial site. Abe and his posse set out on a mission to save the spirits of the bones and stop the evil Glukkon corporatists once again. Exoddus plays virtually identical to the first game but features massive improvements. You still lead your friends to portals, chant, and save them—but now, you can talk to every Mudokon on screen at once, eliminating the excessive backtracking that bogged down Oddysee.
The biggest and most welcome addition? Quicksave. The first game’s checkpoint system was grueling and unforgiving. Here, you’re thrown a bone—Quicksave lets you create your own checkpoints, making the experience way more forgiving and much less rage-inducing. The level design is top-tier and worthy of the Oddworld name. Necrum Mines, SoulStorm Brewery, FeeCo Depot—they’re all masterfully created. The hand-painted watercolors for natural settings contrast beautifully with the gritty, mechanical environments like Slig Barracks and the mines. It’s stunning. That said, the crunch does peek through. There are only two new enemies:
- Fleeches – nightmarish green worms that’ll swallow you whole
- Greeters – creepy robots with terrifying grins and a love for zapping you to dust
With more time and resources, who knows what else they could’ve created? In short, Exoddus is a masterclass in sequels. Developed in less than a year, it’s a miracle it turned out this good. It’s hotly debated, but many – including myself – consider it the best entry in the series. Seeing Abe go from unlikely hero to the savior of his entire species is tier-one character development and a stellar way to push the Oddworld mythos forward. This was the last Oddworld game on the PS1 – and it went out with a bang! In the end, Abe didn’t just save his people – he quicksaved his place in gaming history. Explore the mines. Save your friends. And for the love of all that is Mudokon… use Quicksave!
Work sucks, Abe knows,
Fil
Verdict: 10/10