I remember when I got Oddworld, which was probably when I was about 3-6. I was at my uncle's house, my uncle being a great fan of the whole gaming thing, who always happened to have the best games that I would otherwise never have heard of. It was late in the evening, and as usual I was playing on his computer, which I loved to bits, because of a mouse game of some kind, which I cannot for the life of me remember at all, and because of Moorhuhn, which also holds a special place in my heart.
I cannot quite recall how I was introduced to Oddworld, but I do remember two things. The glow of the slig's red eyes as I hid in the shadows for the first time and my uncle's awesome surround sound system, which really made every sound feel that much more real. It feels so unreal now, because I did not understand what was happening, but it was scary, and yet it was compelling and amazing. And fun. Tantalizing sligs by hanging on a ledge, then hoisting up at the last moment remains my biggest joy in the game, which was what I spent a good deal of time experimenting with.
My uncle would pop tips in about how to play the game more expertly, and that I was supposed to save the mudokons. I managed to get past Rupture Farms and make it to the stockyards. This was where the game really fastened itself into my persona. The greens, the yellows, they seemed so real, and yet not at all. Something about them invokes a feeling of wonder and amazement in me, even now.
Then I met a scrab. For me, a scrab was the ultimate thing to fear. If there was something hiding in your closet, it had better not be a scrab. That part where you had to jump into a scrab cage and run across? It took me ages to get past, simply because I did not think to jump up on the ledge. When I finally managed it, the colors shifted even further, into a deep purple which speaks to me of unnatainability, because that screen was always so difficult for me to reach.
The free fire zone. This area is memorable because all throughout my childhood, I would go outside, gaze up at the stars, always before I went to bed. If I did not get to do this, I would not fall asleep, according to my loving parents, both of whom were fascinated with Oddworld, particularily my mother, who helped me with the game, and probably finished a better part of it than I did. But I digress. The free fire zone was so beautiful and yet so creepy. The shadows of impaled mudokons, wildy twisted branches, barbed wire, and sligs always ready to shoot you, and scare you right out of your wits. Not to mention the very ambient music, howling wind, and crickets.
And slogs. This is probably where my fear of barking dogs of any kind stems from, as slogs would do it constantly, and would proceed to eat you. Then considering you had to make them chase you most of the time, proved to be possibly even scarier than the scrab, which I had just learned about.
And of course, Abe's moon. Without a doubt, the most nostalgia awakening cutscene I will ever witness. What can really be said about it? It looked so real to me, almost as if Oddworld was a reality. This is actually where I stopped playing, as I believe it was New Year's Eve, and as a result, we were going to watch the fireworks.
Anyway, after this, I think I tried out Abe's Exoddus, which was almost creepier for me. Especially since the first place I tried out was actually Necrum. Not the mines, but the jungle. With it's red tinged background, small platforms, abundance of birds, and... Fleeches. Oh good lord, fleeches. I don't even have to explain anything when it comes to fleeches. But anyway, I did not play the sequel all the long at the time. But my uncle sent me a copy some time later, after I had gone home.
I think Oddworld has helped to shape who I am, but I am not sure how. I just felt like writing a detailed way of how I discovered Oddworld.
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Congratulations, Oddey, on winning FC's fanfiction competition two years running! You are clearly the man to beat!
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