I loved the incoherency of characters in Abe's Oddysee; I think that is a significant part of their appeal. However, it's something of a relict from earlier iterations of the game's design where no language was comprehensible except from intonation and context. It lends to the alien and forboding atmosphere, but as the Quintoloy moves forward and we need to see and understand the industrial forces more, it's going to get in the way.

We could leave the language hard to understand, but that will in the future raise the question of why Mollock staffed his factory exclusively with hard-to-understand employees when there's no shortage of more well-spoken inhabitants. Making Abe HD we're going to have to figure out how best to balance the unique, unrivalled charm of the original with the tone and canon Oddworld has evolved since then.

I’d love to see the rhyming and coherence of the antagonists be worked into the development of the story.

So, at the beginning we have a simple plot with stereotypically evil one-dimensional guys who mutter incoherently, and a humble protagonist who speaks in rhyme.

Then as the plot develops, we get acquainted with those characters. We learn the backstory, influences and pressures on those bad guys, and as we do they become more coherent, more fleshed-out solid characters. As the protagonist grows as a character, learns about the history and plight of the inhabitants, he loses his naivete and charm and so too his rhyming subdues.

If it could be done seamlessly, then OH has a good idea.

I've just been dreaming about Abe HD lol.. the sligs walk towards Abe after they shoot him, and start kicking him, like the outlaws in stranger's wrath

As evil as that sounds I actually like that. "Did I get him?"

It's definitely better then "BS" and "S'mo BS" over and over again.

Aww, but everyone loved BS, S'Mo'BS XD

Wait a minute!

So.... I only read it briefly.... but.... well....

So, Lorne Lanning didn't do Abe's voice in the Oddworld games!?

He did, just not the GameSpeak in Abe's Oddysee.

I really didn't like Abe's and the Mudokon's voices in Abe's Oddysee. It was improved so much in Abe's Exoddus.

Voices in Abe's Oddysee were the best. Every aspect of the game (comparing to the Exoddus) was better in my opinion.

Abe's Oddysee was dark and weird. As Abe, you felt so lonly in this big odd place. Characters don't speak so "humany". There was nothing which could be compared to our world. Also, I'll always love the atmosphere of the ending credits (with those arts and stockyard music).

I prefered Abe's voice in Exoddus. Just putting that out there. Imagine Abe going through his Exoddus script in his Oddysee voice. It's just daft.

I found Abe's voice in AO to be quite wispy, but in Abe's Exoddus it was more alien and I preferred that. However, a mixture of both could work.

Has anyone considered getting an entirely new voice actor for Abe that embodies bits of both speaking styles? It's not like it's a hard voice to do.

I mean, if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I wonder if those two are up to extensive voice acting gigs at this point.

I thought that's what they went for in Munch.

I for one love Lorne’s VO work and I don’t think Oddworld would be quite the same without his interpretation of the characters; Abe especially.

Nevertheless, you must surely agree that Meijers provided a staple basis that launched the franchise, and with his voice being part of the mechanic that pioneered Oddworld onto a market which, at the time, was losing interest in platformers fast, surely one should recognise that he has to play some sort of role in voice acting this remake if it is possible to hire him? If not for the sake of superior game play, then for remembrance of the past?

Josh Gabriel voiced all of six sound bytes in the entire game. I really don't think you can give him credit for the success of AO.

As for nostalgia, that's not really a good enough reason to drag a successful DJ out of his day career and back in to a sound recording booth. And you'd probably have to pay 'Successful DJ' wages, rather than simply get the voices for free from Lorne.

for the love of god dont give him that hillbilly voice in AO.

It'll be one of those things that none of the fans can agree on. Since it's Lorne Lanning's creation I'd go with whatever he wants to do - Nate brings up some good points as well. (though personally I prefer Abe's voice in AE - It seems to match him as a character a little better as he becomes more experienced)

It's alright guys, I got this. I'll do the voice.

I wasn't crediting him with the the success of the game, but he was a contributing factor, now matter how much you try to diminish the part.

Abe had a hill billy voice in AO? How the hell does Abe sound like a hillbilly? I for one, prefer a mix between the both. AE was awesome, but that is when oddworld started leaving the dark atmosphere of AO and going to towards a more "cartoony" style. I definitively prefer AO over AE any day, just for shear story, environment, and atmosphere. Plus, AO was much more immersive in my opinion. Since ya'll are re-making AO, stick to how AO was! Don't throw AE voice in it. It would completely destroy the immersion and what made AO, AO. The only changes that need to be made is, All'ya, less annoying whistle puzzles, and I guess quicksave, for the newbies...

I didn't say he wasn't a contributing factor. Just that the size of the factor was miniscule.



His music was a much greater contributing factor to its success.

This is true.

i do prefer abes voice in AE, simply because i feel it has more emotion. but i also agree with Kinto
A few people have said that his voice is better in it because he's more experienced now. AE took place directly after the events of AO, his voice wouldn't change in just a few minutes.

Yeah, that's true, but think about it, the mudokons have emotions, and of course Abe has emotions depending on the rescues and casualties.

Abe's Oddysee was more darker than Abe's Exoddus (even necrum was'nt so dark). AO was more deep and weird. Player felt like alien in this strange, dark world. Oddworld was in AO much darker.

Lorne created something really deep (in atmosphere). In AE, his vision changed. I'm seeing this like Kinto (couple of posts up).

Noone said Abe sounds like a hillbilly in Abe's Oddysee. He was saying that he sounds like a hillbilly in Exoddus, and doesn't want him to sound that way in the Oddysee remake.

I gotcha. I read that wrong. Sorry zimfromBM!

I think I may be the only member of this forum that likes Exoddus more than Oddysee. At least from a visual standpoint.

For design and style, Exoddus every time. For atmosphere, lighting 'n' shit, Oddysee.

To me, Abe's Oddysee felt like an epic movie, while Exoddus felt like that movie's made-for-television sequel. Still good though.

I prefer Exoddus from a gameplay, plot and FMV standpoint, but visually I prefer AO. Especially Monsaic Lines and Paramonia.

I prefer Abe's Exoddus. I think the gameplay elements were more refined than AO and they flowed more smoothly. However, Abe's Oddysee was more slowly paced in my opinion, making you appreciate the scenery more.

Exoddus has better and more complex gameplay, lasts longer, has a greater variety of environments and artwork behind it.

Oddysee has a better atmosphere created by the pacing, the music and the more imposing/overwhelming environments.

I don’t think either is better than the other, but each sets a different style and tone and builds on it to create two different experiences. The important thing to recognise is that this ties into Abe’s story progession – in Oddysee, he was just a small slave escaping what he thought was a major corporation and setting out into the world for the first time, thrown into the role of savior. In Exoddus, he’s begun to settle into that role and is more worldly-wise.

Your not alone. I think AE is a much better game then AO, visually and just overall. However AO does have a better atmosphere then AE and some of the locations are just more amazing (Stockyards and Scrabania are my favorites.)

And I think we've just started a "AO VS AE" discussion again, oh good, I haven't one in ages. :tard:

Okay, everyone. I know this is partially my own fault, but this isn't a 'Which game do you prefer?' thread. Let's leave this for discussion of Abe HD.

Now maybe a recap time if I missed this:

1. Is there modding tools in development with HD?

2. Am I going to have the ability to change the Mudokon's colours?

3. Will we be able to create our own Game speak...?

Just for thought and maybe some answers as to if they can be put in the game or something. :)

No, no and no.

We're asking for a map editor, but they aren't making any promises yet.

I'd replace your answers with 'Maybe, depends on #1, and no'.