[Havoc]

One could also ask why Abe didn't simply use his chanting when he peeked into the boardroom. Knowing what they were doing he could have easily posessed a Glukkon or the slig and done something about it.

I do think that there should be some incline to Abe's powers. It just doesn't make sense that he's fleeing the factory but apparently always had the ability to help his friends out and set them free. Yes the first part before the stockyards are essentially training, but the training could be split up in two parts (controls, shadows, levers, etc & possessing, slig controls, stuff like that). Big Face could teach Abe about chanting (or teach him how to use it to posses creatures, since chanting itself seems to be a common thing among Mudokons).

It would require some level redesigns, but I don't see how that would be a problem. You're not just remaking the textures like you're doing on Munch HD. You're building the game up from scratch, the levels will have to be designed and built anyway. So why not use that opportunity to introduce things that were cut or couldn't be put into the original? Abe only learns about his fate after escaping, it would make sense from a story P.O.V that he would only become serious about rescuing muds and stopping the Glukkons after learning that fate. Before that he's just a scared floor waxer trying to get the hell out.