By Steel Shark

Well my initial impressions of the game: Munch's Odyssey has wound up on Microsoft’s Xbox, thanks in part to Microsoft’s sweet talking and in part to Sony’s blunders. The new Odyssey looks to bring all the fun of the first two games and much much more by expanding the environments, adding new characters, improving control features, and increasing the genre spectrum.

Munch's Oddysee stays true to the roots with lots of dark humor and style of the series while increasing the visual quality many times over. Do you recall that great little game Lost Vikings, well in a way Munch feels a bit along those lines. But with 10 times the size and depth. And I have just played a half hour. You will be able to conquer obstacles and solve puzzles just like the old Oddworld games but on a MUCH bigger scale. I will not give away any secrets, just trust me they are very fun and intricate in a early stage already.

There is however an interesting, analog speech feature. You can give commands, make requests and other comments to non playable characters in the game but Abe or Munch will actually say more or less depending on how hard you press the analog button. If you tap it over and over again, it's likely you'll hear the same bits over and over again. But if you hold the speech button when you talk, you'll end up with some different comments, real cool you shall see. I won't give anything away, so soon enough you shall see.

So far the game is bug free, a very tight ship. Nice job Oddworld.

Don't forget that you now control two characters at once. No longer just one. You will feel this difference right away. More involving and deep with this as well. Also Munch and Abe will control other characters or non-organic ones as well, so a lot of work and thought is involved here. Almost like a spider web of assignments that must be conquered. I cannot wait to see the later portions of this game when they become even more involving and deep.

The new camera that has a full range of motion and is completely controlled by the computer rather then the traditional camera, which is typically controlled by the player, and regularly move's about, while still keeping the player completely in focus. Very nice camera usage, something that could be a problem in 3D games these days, but Oddworld has passed that test beautifully.

The Oddworld team has now implemented a new control scheme that will help out with this problem by steering Abe and Munch clear of any walls automatically, if the player is running along and is unable to change course the computer will turn the player so as not to be detained by the wall, excellent function. Another new control feature is aimed to decrease the frustration of the player while searching for a switch or button while in the game. Instead of having to physically touch the button or switch, all you will have to do is approach it and it will automatically perform its function. Brilliant ideas Oddworld.

Mystical Oddworld. You know that feel we all know and love within Oddworld's great world. Well I wondered if they could retain it, you know what, "they did", to my great relief. I am soooo very relieved, it is a big part of the overall experience for me, and they have not strayed from it or failed me, a personal favorite thing for me within Oddworld and it's games is it's mystical feel, and thank the Gods above, they have stayed in focus of what Oddworld is.

I have been a bit concerned with the collecting of "spooce" spores. I was a bit worried that the game might take a turn towards that arcade feel with just a lot of collecting. But you are not forced to do it, thankfully. You need them for those special abilities, however they are everywhere, so hunting for them is not the main object, just a second option. You can also achieve goals without "spooce" powers. Very important and gives the game even more depth to it's freedom.

Munch has pasted the first test. It is everything I hoped. I was a bit worried at times, but now I am very relieved, it is brilliant. All you loved of the first two games is here, the mystical feel, the quirkiness, the odd fun, the originality, the puzzles, stealth( Very important to me), the action, all that you fell in love with in the first two games 10 times over. The XBOX is one strong machine with the Geforce 3 backing it up, and Munch shows this. Effects are bright and robust, alive, and sparkle with brilliance. The animation is spot on. The textures are done with a high level of clarity. The character designs are both done with a good level poly count and very nice in-depth care to textures. The environments are also expansive and really give out a good feel of size. The game is already all I would have wanted and I just played some 30 minutes. I cannot wait to really dig in. The gamespeak is brilliant, and I have just hit the tip of the iceberg with it, it is already far more in-depth than the previous versions. Everyone do yourself a favor, and get an XBOX for this game, and all the other Oddworld games coming, just those games alone will be worth it.

I also wanted to mention the Fuzzles, they are your private hit-man team, real cool, you shall see.

Well I'll talk more of the game with everyone else next week, It is very difficult to wait, but in the end it will pay off.

Oddworld have stuck to there roots even in 3D, and not gone the way of the casual gamer type game. Bravo Oddworld. And Congratulations on a true masterpiece. And in closing I just want to say it is as fun a game as one could ever want, and that's what is the bottomline.