Maybe they only explode because they are being shot so fast...
Oh well, I guess I'm getting my live ammo confused.
I definitely agree that Oddworld's character design seems to be more earth like, but I think that if the game is good nobody will care. That's what it boils down to, because most people don't care as much about Oddworld's realism as they do about playing a good game. If talking chipmonks will help make Stranger fun, so be it.