Oddworld is a series of games in a variety of genres, all united by the core element of… well, oddness. If you played Stranger’s Wrath, the last Oddworld port to reach Android about a year ago, you know what I mean: that game was a third-person action title in which you shot tiny adorably creatures out of a double-barrel crossbow. Munch’s Oddysee is an even older game, originally released on the Xbox (the one that isn’t the One) back in 2001. It’s a sequel to Abe’s Oddysee and Abe’s Exodus, it’s the first in the series to offer true 3D gameplay, and now it’s on Android.
In Munch’s Odysee, you control Abe, a… person-like thing, and also Munch, a… kinda-sorta fish. With a leg. Look, it’s best not to try and dive into Oddworld’s strange universe or character designs looking for any kind of sanity or coherence, as both are in short supply. The player can swap between the two main characters at will, using Abe’s ability to control other creatures and Munch’s swimming and grabbing powers. There is some light action to the gameplay (think Crash Bandicoot-style combat, with some interesting power-ups) and quite a few puzzles where you’ll have to use Abe and Munch in conjunction to pass through.
The Android version of Munch’s Oddysee has been upgraded with some HD graphical touches, plus cloud saves, achievements, and both on-screen and physical control options. SHIELD owners get a few extra graphical goodies, and the game is also available on Android TV. It’s going for $5 with no ads or in-app purchases, which is more than reasonable.