Oddworld's Gamespeak: A Groundbreaking Feature Ahead of Its Time

Lately I've gotten into the habit of checking out old games on PlayStation Plus. I don't usually plan to finish them or play for long but it's a way for me to remember how much games have evolved and why titles like Armored Core Pursuit Force and Mister Mosquito are important to me.

Abe’s Oddysee and Exoddus are two games released in 1997 and 1998 and they became favorites of many PlayStation fans. The games feature a friendly alien hero who tries to save his people from a factory using special powers like possession and flatulence. They were some of the first games I played and they have always stayed with me as great and important games.

Oddworld’s PlayStation Debut A Timeless Classic

I wasn’t too impressed with the newer Soulstorm. but there’s something unique about Oddysee and Exoddus that’s more than just nostalgia.

Lorne Lanning and his team took advantage of the original PlayStation's limitations by using pre-rendered backgrounds and keeping each action on a single screen. These screens were connected to create the levels you would explore.

This made the pixel elements more noticeable while on modern screens both games look a bit rough. However in the 1990s it added to the mysterious vibe of the world.

You never know what will happen after each screen change. You might bump into some friends or run into a dangerous enemy ready to attack. In Oddysee and Exodus very few places feel safe. Even if you find a moment of peace, eerie sounds always remind you that you can't fully relax.

These days the design has a simple lo-fi style that was needed thirty years ago. It's one of the few games from that time that I can still enjoy and feel comfortable with.

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Gamespeak A Core Element of Oddworld's Lasting Legacy

Oddysee and Exoddus would still be great 2D adventures without the unique gamespeak feature. but it makes them even better something that seemed impossible on the original PlayStation. Abe isn't violent and even though he can throw rocks bombs or use his farts as psychic explosions he doesn't have any other way to defend himself.

If you get caught by an enemy,l you have to start over. To solve each puzzle you need to carefully look at the situation and find the best way to avoid failing. This is where gamespeak helps.

Abe can press a shoulder button and some face buttons to say different phrases and give commands. He can greet another Mudokon tell them to follow him make them work or warn them about danger. These commands may seem simple. but together they help Abe interact with his surroundings and show his leadership as he tries to save his fellow slaves.

Odyssey used simple game language mainly for Abe and the whistles. But in the sequel it expanded to include Paramites, Scrabs, Sligs, Glukkons and more. Abe can possess enemies and their voices are important for tricking enemies or advancing in certain levels.

It builds on a system without changing its basics and it's amazing how smoothly this mechanic worked all those years ago.

Unlike many other classic games on PlayStation Plus. I tend to play Abe’s Oddysee and Exodus for a few minutes and then move on. This is because of a key feature in the game that was way ahead of its time.