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A year after the highly successful first title, the second game in the Oddworld saga sees the light, proving to be a success. But I also discovered it late compared to its release date, exactly four years later, in 2002, before I had only tried it on demo. Too bad the game had already become untraceable, and I had to go around a lot of stores to find it! I contemplated having it gifted to me as a Christmas present in 2001... But the search was really tough: by then no regular store had it, strangely everyone had copies of the first episode, albeit in the English version reprinted under the "The Best Of Infogames" series, but the copies of this second one had really disappeared!!!
And so after going around a couple of stores and shopping centers, I resigned myself and chose to have the first episode gifted to me, and I think it was worth it, as it's better to discover the origin of things first! However, my search continued after those holidays, and I finally managed to find a used copy from a used game retailer around March/April after almost threatening numerous stores to blow them up if they didn't manage to get me a copy (obviously joking!). But it was love at first sight.
As for the story, Abe had just blown up the RuptureFarms and saved the 99 mudokon slaves of the place and was carried in triumph by his own friends. But falling and hitting his head, he faints, and three spirits appear to him: they tell him that the Glukkon are desecrating their remains and urge him to come urgently to Necrum. The Glukkon this time are using the bones of the mudokon to make a drink, the SoulStorm Brew. So he sets off with 5 friends and crosses the surrounding desert to reach this place. This is the beginning.
The game proves to be more engaging, rich, and complete than the already excellent predecessor; indeed, the game presents numerous improvements that make it a masterpiece even more than the previous one. For example, Abe's speech is improved, as it includes new words, and it is now possible to communicate and make way with more than one mudokon at a time. Then, thanks to the "work!" command, it is possible to order them to pull a lever or turn a wheel, thus helping us unlock passages that Abe alone could not unlock maybe because that lever or wheel is placed on a different plane from where he is, or because there are many wheels, and Abe could not turn them all at the same time.
The mudokon therefore take on an active role and prove to be indispensable for overcoming certain points. But even their mood has radically changed. If in the first episode the mudokon all appeared to be in a good mood, insensitive to the situations they live in, and always available to follow Abe, here things change. Indeed, we recognize different types of mudokon: those who are depressed, whom Abe must console and never slap to avoid them committing suicide; those who are angry, whom he must apologize to immediately and avoid fights; those who are excited, having inhaled the laughing gas thus becoming crazy enough to race wildly from side to side, whom Abe must slap to bring back to normal; those who are blind, whom Abe must guide carefully using the correct language promptly to prevent them from falling into a trap; those who are sick, drunk on brew, whom Abe will heal with special spiritual powers.
We also find new creatures, for example, the Fleech (green worms that attack Abe with their tongues), the Slurg (the Fleech excrement which Abe must not step on to avoid waking the Fleech), the Sloggy (the Slog puppies, smaller but still able to maul Abe just like their parents), the Greeters (which electrocute Abe if he passes within their action range). And this time Abe can possess enemies that he could not possess in the first part. If there he could only possess the Slig (now also available in a flying version that throws grenades), here he can possess also other enemies, such as Scrab, Paramites, and even the Glukkon, using them to surpass passages or against other enemies. Significantly improved the saving mode allows saving the game at any point and making a temporary save, allowing Abe not to have to start the level over if he is killed. And additionally, new abilities and new powers for instance the ability to become invisible or the more amusing one to use his own fart against enemies. We are not kidding, Abe can drink a SoulStorm Brew, emit a fart, and possess the fart making it fly around the level to blow up enemies, bombs, and various objects.
There are no significant innovations regarding graphics and music, the film section is richer.
The game is spread over 2 CDs, the first with the first 4 levels, the second with the other 4. Abe's adventure begins in the Necrum Mines, where the bones of the mudokon are buried and where Abe will save 75 of the 300 mudokon. After blowing up the mines, he will venture into the Necrum Desert then visit the Mudanchee Tombs (guarded by the Scrab) and the Mudomo Tombs (guarded by the Paramites) then, after curing the friends who got drunk after the desert journey, the second CD is to be inserted to face the Feeco Depot, a station that leads to various places in Oddworld. From here Abe will venture into the Bonewerkz, where the bones from the Mines are ground, and into the Slig Barracks, where the Slig reside and are always ready to hit Abe.
The two levels conclude with Abe possessing the Glukkon at the head of each to open the final exit (really cool). After finishing the two levels and concluding the Feeco Depot (possessing its boss) Abe will finally see the SoulStorm Brewery, where he will save the remaining 90 mudokon and blow up the place to save his people once again. Here too there is a minimum limit of mudokon to be saved which is set at 150, otherwise, Abe will have to start again from the Feeco Depot.
Another great adventure, another great emotion, even more thrilling than the previous one. I will never tire of praising this title and if I ever do, I'll find a way to bring back the enthusiasm.
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