Gaming Target - Game Boy: Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee

Written by Jeff Milligan on September 04, 2003

First Impressions: Great, Abe can pass gas on the GBA now tooЕ

Beginning it's now long-lived life on the Playstation, Oddworld quickly grew to be one of my favorite games on the system. It wasn't necessarily because of its stellar graphics or entangling storyline (although the game did encompass both), but more or less because the game was just plain fun. Having Abe fart on things, controlling other beings with a Jedi mind-trick type of deal, and shooting other enemies with machine guns for some reason really kept my attention, as well as a vast number of other gamers worldwide, for quite a long time. Since that time, the Oddworld series has seen 1 more game on the Playstation in Abe's Exodus before moving on to Microsoft'sаXbox with Munch's Oddysee. Now the time has finally come for Oddworld to move onto the Game Boy Advance.

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee for the Game Boy Advance is being published as a result of a recent deal between THQ and Microsoft. Basically, the deal allows THQ to publish Microsoft games on the Game Boy Advance, with Oddworld being one of the first to be released. There are a few other high-profile games included in the deal as well, but this is a preview for Oddworld, so let's try and keep on track shall we?

For all of you out there that have played the originalаXbox version of Munch's Oddysee, you'll know what the GBA version is all about. Abe and his Gabbit friend Munch are on a quest to save their sacred homeland from destruction by the abominable Glukkons. Using their mind-control technique, as well as other a few other useful items and power-ups, Abe and Munch plan to take down the Glukkons by any means necessary, even if it means farting on them.

Although the duo's main weaponry is their ability to control enemies via mind-control, they will have a few other tricks available for use. Power-ups such as Expresso can be gained throughout the game to aide you on your quest. Also, additional weapons can be attained as well, such as the wacky yet powerful Zap attack.

Munch's Oddysee for theаXbox was a stunning game when it was released way back when, featuring amazing 3D worlds and characters. Of course, the GBA can't handle anywhere near that level of graphics, so instead of being 3D, Munch's Oddysee will be an overhead side-scroller. How this change will affect the gameplay style of Munch's Oddysee is yet to be accounted for, but as long as Abe still lightly chuckles after killing an enemy, we're happy.