Oddworld: Soulstorm

The narrative of Oddworld: Soulstorm receives widespread praise for its thematic depth, moral complexity, and engaging storytelling. Critics highlight its focus on Abe’s journey to liberate Mudokons from Glukkon oppression, emphasizing choices that shape multiple endings based on player actions—such as the Quarma system introduced by GameGrin or the “moral choices” noted by BaziCenter. The story is lauded for its mature tone, blending dark themes with social commentary on capitalism and inequality (Games.cz, SpazioGames), while also retaining the series’ signature humor (GameMAG, JeuxActu). GameCritics and GameGrin commend the cinematic quality of cutscenes and character development, with GameCritics noting Abe’s emotional arc as “heartfelt” and Games.cz praising the “relatable flaws” of the protagonist. The narrative’s expansion on previous entries, such as the anti-capitalist message in Metro GameCentral or the “political examination of labor practices” by TheGamer, underscores its ambition to evolve the franchise while maintaining its core identity. However, several critics point to flaws that detract from the experience. Issues like outdated mechanics (Game Informer), repetitive plot elements (Gamer Escape), and uneven pacing (Gamer.no) are frequently mentioned. The story’s reliance on prior knowledge of the series is criticized by Metro GameCentral, which notes the weak opening, while IGN France points to missing subtitles for radio flashes. Some reviewers feel the narrative struggles with tone inconsistencies—TheGamer calls it “fractured and overly ambitious,” and GameSkinny criticizes a lack of depth in favor of mechanics. Additionally, Malditos Nerds and God is a Geek note that the dark, dramatic shifts may confuse newcomers, and GameSpot suggests the story is “charming but not deeply explored.” These critiques highlight a tension between the game’s ambitious themes and its execution. Overall, the critics agree that Oddworld: Soulstorm’s story is a compelling, mature evolution of the franchise, balancing social commentary with emotional stakes. While some praise its narrative depth (GameCritics, Games.cz) and thematic relevance (SpazioGames, TheGamer), others acknowledge its technical and structural shortcomings (Game Informer, TheGamer). The consensus leans toward appreciation for its bold storytelling and moral complexity, even as it faces criticism for pacing, repetition, and reliance on older design philosophies. For fans of the series, the story is seen as a worthwhile return to Abe’s world, though not without its flaws (GameGrin, Gamer Escape).

The gameplay of Oddworld: Soulstorm receives praise for its creative mechanics and nostalgic appeal, blending stealth, puzzle-solving, and action elements in a way that feels both familiar and innovative. Critics like Cubed3 highlight the enhanced moveset, including Abe’s double jump and throwable tools like flammable brews, which add depth to exploration and strategy. GameGrin notes the well-balanced puzzles and improved platforming, while GameMAG and Gamer Escape commend the variety of mechanics, such as crafting systems and enemy possession, which offer creative problem-solving opportunities. The game’s 2.9D design and precise level architecture, praised by IGN France, also stand out, with some reviewers appreciating the retro-modern mix of classic Oddworld elements and modernized features like the Quarma system. These positives suggest a game that successfully expands on its predecessors while maintaining the series’ signature charm. However, the gameplay is frequently criticized for technical flaws and design choices that undermine its potential. GameCritics and Games.cz point to clunky controls and outdated mechanics, such as poor collision detection and unresponsive movement, which lead to frustrating trial-and-error scenarios. Everyeye.it and Game Revolution highlight the game’s punishing difficulty and repetitive challenges, with some sections feeling unnecessarily tedious. The crafting system, while praised by GameMAG, is criticized by IGN Portugal and TheGamer as underdeveloped or unnecessary, slowing pacing and disrupting flow. Additionally, issues like inconsistent enemy AI, poor checkpoint placement, and bugs (noted by GameSpot and Wccftech) further detract from the experience, creating a disconnect between the game’s ambition and its execution. Overall, critics agree that Oddworld: Soulstorm is a polarizing title with strong creative ideas but significant technical and design shortcomings. While it retains the series’ core identity and offers engaging puzzles and stealth elements, its flaws—particularly in controls, difficulty pacing, and repetitive mechanics—prevent it from fully realizing its potential. Cubed3 and GameGrin acknowledge improvements over earlier entries, but many, like GameInform and SpazioGames, feel the game struggles to evolve beyond its formulaic roots. Despite mixed reactions, the game’s dedication to its unique vision and nostalgic appeal ensures it resonates with fans, even as its shortcomings remain a point of contention among reviewers.

The graphics and visual design of Oddworld: Soulstorm received widespread praise for their creative art direction, immersive environments, and technical execution. Critics like Cubed3 highlighted the "gorgeous" cutscenes, detailed character redesigns, and layered backgrounds that emphasize depth and atmosphere, while GameGrin commended smoother animations and ambitious level designs that enhance immersion. GameCritics noted the game’s 1440p resolution at 60FPS, dynamic camera work, and revitalized "vibrant, stylized world," with IGN France praising the 2.9D visuals and "Oddcam" system for adding depth to environments like factories and ruins. TheGamer and Checkpoint Gaming lauded the game’s stunning art direction, imaginative environments, and cinematic cutscenes, which effectively convey the series’ unique tone and scale. The blend of steampunk industrial aesthetics with natural landscapes, as noted by SpazioGames, further underscored the game’s visual ambition, while GameGrin and TheSixthAxis emphasized the evolving art style that balances nostalgia with modern polish. However, several critics pointed out technical and aesthetic shortcomings that detracted from the experience. BaziCenter criticized frame rate drops and a "dark, oppressive" color palette that caused player fatigue, while GameMAG and Games.cz highlighted monotonous brown/grey tones, blurry textures, and inconsistent polish on PS5. PlayStation Universe noted low texture fidelity and jagged edges, and JeuxActu mentioned technical flaws like subpar explosions and textures. IGN Portugal and GameRevolution pointed to repetitive level structures and outdated camera positioning in some sections, while God is a Geek noted perspective issues that hindered gameplay. Additionally, MGG and PC Games cited minor bugs and inconsistent details, such as floating objects or unpredictable explosion logic, which occasionally disrupted immersion despite the game’s visual strengths. Overall, critics generally agreed that Oddworld: Soulstorm succeeds in delivering a visually distinctive and atmospheric experience rooted in its signature surreal aesthetic, even if technical limitations and repetitive elements marred its polish. While Cubed3, GameCritics, and TheGamer celebrated the game’s artistic vision and improvements over previous entries, others like BaziCenter and GameMAG emphasized that performance issues and visual inconsistencies prevented it from fully realizing its potential. The consensus leaned toward appreciation for the game’s creative direction and environmental storytelling, with many acknowledging that its graphical flaws were outweighed by its ambition and charm. As Wccftech noted, the PS5-level graphics and cinematic cutscenes represent a significant step forward, even if minor technical hiccups remained. Ultimately, Soulstorm is seen as a visually bold entry in the series, balancing innovation with the challenges of maintaining consistency across its expansive world.

The sound design and music of Oddworld: Soulstorm received mixed but generally positive remarks, with several critics highlighting its atmospheric and immersive qualities. Everyeye.it praised the English voice acting as successful, while Impulsegamer noted that cutscene music was intense and emotionally resonant, even if in-game ambient soundscapes were sparse. MGG acknowledged the ambient soundtrack’s ability to complement the game’s mood, and PC Games appreciated the suitable melodies and effective voice acting, despite technical limitations like the absence of a German voice track. WellPlayed also commended the “superb and subdued” soundtrack, emphasizing its role in enhancing the game’s atmosphere, even if it lacked overt prominence. However, several critics found the sound design and music underwhelming or technically flawed. Games.cz heavily criticized the implementation, citing muffled dialogue and unclear audio that detracted from immersion, while IGN France called the soundtrack “assez décevante” (somewhat disappointing), noting its failure to evoke the intended oppressive tone. Gamer Escape observed that the music was overly subtle and ambient, often serving as background noise rather than a focal point, and Impulsegamer pointed out the absence of in-game music beyond percussion during deaths or level reveals, which diminished immersion. Additionally, issues with subtitles—such as typos (Everyeye.it) and incomplete formatting (MGG)—further undermined the audio experience for some players. Overall, while there was consensus that the voice acting and ambient soundscapes contributed to the game’s atmosphere, the lack of a strong musical identity and technical shortcomings in audio implementation were significant drawbacks. Critics like Games.cz and IGN France emphasized the underwhelming nature of the soundtrack, whereas Impulsegamer and WellPlayed acknowledged isolated strengths in cutscene music and emotional delivery. The mixed reception suggests that while Oddworld: Soulstorm succeeded in creating a distinct auditory tone, its sound design and music fell short of expectations, particularly in terms of immersion and technical polish.

The voice acting in Oddworld: Soulstorm receives generally positive acclaim, with several critics highlighting its effectiveness in enhancing the game’s tone and narrative. Everyeye.it praises the English voice acting for its contribution to the game’s dark humor and emotional beats, while Gamer Escape notes that Mudokons have distinct, "mush-mouthed" voices that are tolerable, and Lorne Lanning’s performances as Abe and others are strong, adding immersion. PlaySense and The Games Machine emphasize how voice acting brings character distinctiveness and emotional depth, particularly for Abe and the Mudokons. Impulsegamer and Games.cz also commend the "compelling," emotionally resonant lines delivered by characters like Mullock and the Slig pilot, with Games.cz specifically praising well-written dialogues that add narrative depth despite other technical flaws. These reviews collectively underscore the voice acting as a standout element that bolsters the game’s storytelling. However, some criticisms point to uneven or problematic aspects of the voice work. Gamer.no describes the voice acting as "slapstick and tullete stemmeskuespill" (silly voice acting), suggesting it is inconsistent in quality. Gamer Escape criticizes Sligs for being irritating and Mollucks for over-the-top delivery, while GameSkinny notes that Mudokons’ dialogue has a "thick American accent" and repetitive lines. Additionally, localization issues surface as drawbacks: Everyeye.it mentions minor errors in Italian subtitles, MGG highlights poor French subtitles with missing text, and PC Games points out the absence of a German voice track, limiting accessibility. These critiques reveal that while the voice acting is generally strong, certain character performances and regional language support fall short of expectations. Overall, the consensus among critics leans positive, with most acknowledging the voice acting as a key strength that enhances immersion and character engagement. While there are specific complaints about certain vocal performances (e.g., Sligs’ irritability, Mollucks’ overacting) and subtitle quality in non-English languages, these issues do not overshadow the broader praise for the voice work’s charm, emotional resonance, and contribution to the game’s identity. Critics like Everyeye.it, Games.cz, and Impulsegamer emphasize that the voice acting effectively complements the narrative and maintains the series’ nostalgic appeal, even if it isn’t flawless. The mixed feedback reflects a balanced view where the positives outweigh the negatives, positioning the voice acting as a notable highlight of Soulstorm.

The technical performance of Oddworld: Soulstorm across platforms shows mixed results, with some positives noted for both PS5 and PC. On the PS5, several critics highlighted improvements post-launch, such as Cubed3 praising an update that tightened controls, fixed bugs, and enhanced overall polish. Gamer Escape emphasized smooth performance with consistent frame rates, while GameCritics acknowledged stable 60FPS despite minor control issues. For PC, PC Games noted stable 60fps on both PS5 and PC, and WellPlayed mentioned post-patch improvements addressing early glitches. The PS5 version also received praise for its visual fidelity in cutscenes and gameplay, as noted by Gamer Escape, while some PC critics like Malditos Nerds acknowledged generous checkpoints despite minor physics bugs. However, the technical issues across both platforms were widespread and impactful. On PS5, critics like BaziCenter and GameRevolution cited frame rate drops during explosions, severe bugs (e.g., respawns failing, invisible walls), and inconsistent mechanics like poor collision detection (Everyeye.it). The checkpoint system was frequently criticized for being poorly placed, as highlighted by Games.cz and PlayStation Universe, while Noisy Pixel noted persistent control inconsistencies. On PC, the problems were more pronounced: Checkpoint Gaming and GameSpot described frequent crashes, glitchy AI, and a flawed checkpoint system that forced resets. Impulsegamer mentioned input lag and stuttering on high settings, while God is a Geek criticized unresponsive checkpoints and perspective mechanics. These issues collectively undermined immersion and gameplay flow for many players. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Oddworld: Soulstorm suffered from significant technical flaws at launch, with both PS5 and PC versions plagued by bugs, inconsistent performance, and design issues. While post-patch updates addressed some problems—such as Cubed3’s mention of improved polish and Gamer Escape’s note on smooth PS5 performance—the core experience remained marred by persistent glitches, like those described by GameRevolution and GameSpot. The PS5 version generally fared better in terms of stability, but even it faced criticism for dated execution (Everyeye.it) and unresolved issues like the Slig Mama boss encounter (Noisy Pixel). On PC, technical shortcomings were more severe, with critics like GameSpot and Checkpoint Gaming emphasizing that bugs significantly hindered progression. Despite efforts to refine the game, the technical instability left many reviewers frustrated, suggesting that Soulstorm’s potential was overshadowed by its implementation challenges.

The reviewers generally agree that Oddworld: Soulstorm offers a robust foundation for replayability through its multiple endings, hidden content, and systems like the Quarma mechanic and ranking challenges. Critics highlight the game’s emphasis on player choice, such as saving Mudokons or completing side objectives, which directly influence outcomes and encourage repeated playthroughs. For instance, BaziCenter notes that the game’s varied strategies and hidden areas enhance replayability, while Cubed3 praises its ranking systems and completionist goals, urging players to explore levels thoroughly for higher Platinum rankings. Everyeye.it and IGN France also commend the Quarma system, which ties player performance to unlockable content and true endings, creating a strong incentive for improvement. Additionally, JeuxActu emphasizes the game’s “lasting engagement” through secret areas and high-completion-based levels, suggesting that its complexity and narrative depth provide substantial replay value for dedicated players. However, several critics point to significant drawbacks that temper the game’s replayability. Repetitive stealth mechanics, frustrating controls, and technical issues are frequently cited as major obstacles. Game Informer and Gamer.no argue that the lack of quicksave features, tedious repetition, and long, unvaried levels diminish the experience, while GameRevolution criticizes the game’s “frustrating controls” and “tedious repetition.” TheSixthAxis and God is a Geek note that bugs and design flaws, such as high difficulty and time-intensive challenges, may deter players from revisiting content. Malditos Nerds and MGG also mention that the game’s repetitive mechanics and reliance on nostalgia could limit its appeal for some, despite its structured systems like medals and secret collecting. These criticisms suggest that while the game’s design encourages exploration, its execution often frustrates rather than rewards persistence. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Oddworld: Soulstorm has moderate to high replayability, driven by its multiple endings, hidden content, and challenge-oriented mechanics, but this potential is tempered by repetitive gameplay and technical shortcomings. GameCritics and Wccftech acknowledge the game’s nostalgic appeal and story depth as motivators for multiple playthroughs, while PlayStation Universe and Video Chums highlight its unique mechanics and completionist incentives. However, the majority of reviewers, including Game Informer, Gamer.no, and WellPlayed, agree that the game’s flaws—such as repetitive level design, lack of post-game content, and technical issues—reduce its long-term appeal. While the core systems provide enough incentive for dedicated players to revisit, the overall experience remains a mixed bag, with replayability hinging on individual tolerance for its challenges.