I always imagined the mudflubs to be little more than aquatic Slurgs.
I think we're still currently using the "Stranger has two forms" Idea. One, the disguise we see him in usually, and the other the four legged creature of concept art fame.
And what's the evidence for pollution? I realize its been a mainstay of the Oddworld universe, but I haven't seen that much evidence for it in the traditional sense. If that is a factor to the "Slamanders" (Salamanders?) unhappiness, then I can only think of the following things: Those boats (Or Wolvarks, or whatever) put out streams of gasoline and oil; Riverside facilities of one kind or another dump waste into the river, or possibly there will be dynamiting in order to create the dam: flooding the water with silt and asphyxiating the fish.
As opposed to pollution I would suggest this game is more concerned with the effects of habitat loss. The Dam, the growing city; Stranger's dependence upon live ammo means he requires the kind of extensive habitat needed to keep his arsenal healthy.
But whatever. It also doesn't really seem to matter if there are Mudokons in the game, as whatever role they play will be confined most likely to bit pieces during fmvs. That's just my opinion.
|