When the Playstation2 was first unveiled players got a glimpse of the last Oddworld game and it was a sight to behold. Shortly after the Xbox was unveiled, the Oddworld developers decided that their next game would not come to the Playstation2, but be an Xbox exclusive. That caused many people to be highly disappointed. When the game was finally released, it turned out to be slightly disappointing. Now there is another game in the Oddworld series, and it seems to be the cream of the crop. Read on to find out about their latest game and why you should rush out and purchase it.

The focus of Oddworld Strangers Wrath centers around trying to obtain “moolah” (money) to get an operation for the main character. In order not to spoil the game I will let you find out what the operation is and why he wants it. In order to obtain the money, players will have to collect bounties on many different outlaws that are terrorizing the land. In typical Wild West fashion, the criminals are wanted dead or alive. While it might seem tempting to bring the bounties in dead, players are given a much bigger reward by making sure they are alive. So this gives players a choice to either that the easy way and kill the outlaw, or be stealthy and capture him alive for more money. It is all up to the players, but in order to get better upgrades, which require more money, you might want to look into capturing the enemies alive.

Look at the ammo!

The game’s flow goes something like this: you will enter a town and go to the Bounty Store to see who has a price on their head. You will accept a mission and go and try to find them, defeating enemies and collecting the small bounty that is on their heads. Finally, you will get to the boss fight, and each of them implores you to try different strategies to defeat the boss. Once you defeat a boss an alternate and shorter path to the town is opened, so that alleviates any repetition of backtracking. Even though this might sound slightly tedious, it is far from it.

The boss fights are very hard as they are not like anything that you will expect from a game like this. Players will have to use different strategies and use different types of ammo in order to find the weakness so you can take them in alive and get more money for them. The only thing is that you might get a bit frustrated because at times the boss fights are seemly impossible. For instance, in one boss battle they will constantly call out for additional support. So if you wait too long and continually pick off all of the small thugs you will never get an opportunity to get to the boss. You will have to go in quickly, taking out the couple of thugs in the way and hurry up and get to her, or else you will find yourself surrounded with seemingly impossible odds.

They look confused.

It is hard to categorize what type of game Oddworld Strangers Wrath is at first, because it has first-person shooter elements as well as third-person action elements. The transition between first person to third, and vice versa, is seamless and easy because you will be able to do this with just a touch of a button, and never gives the player any disorientation. This also gives the player a couple more choices on how to go though each mission for if you are in the third-person view your only weapon is your fists, yet in first person you can use the crossbow.

One of the most unique and drawing features in this game is that instead of using bullets, arrows, or other commonly used items for ammo, Stranger uses a crossbows that uses “live ammo.” This means that you will be using skunks, beetles, fireflies, and other creatures as your main means of offense against the gun-carrying enemies. You will also have to factor in that by default you can only carry up to 10 or 15 of each type of ammo at any give time. While this might seem very restrictive, it is in fact the opposite. It allows the players to be strategic about their moves.

Check out the graphics

Players will have to combine this with the fact that in order to get any ammo they must first catch it. Players are given an unlimited supply of Zappflies, which becomes the ammo to use to catch the other animals. It is a very unique and highly appreciative change from the normal first-person shooter games out there, as it gives players more of a choice on what to use, and places a mindset that you can defeat the levels by just going in shooting everything in sight.

Oddworld Strangers Wrath has some of the best graphics that you will see on the Xbox. Everything in this game is highly detailed from the character models to the world that the players will transverse. The developers, Oddworld Inhabitants, have created a picture perfect Wild West setting from the dusty run-down towns to the lush forests that players will go through. Combine this with the animation for all of the inhabitants, and you have greatness. The way that the different characters run or walk looks very nice and there is never a hitch in any of the animation, which creates a better gameplay experience.

Who says bounty hunters can't jump?

The voice acting for this game is top notch. All of the voices and the characters that they are associated with fit this game atmosphere perfectly. From the voice of Stranger to the many people he will encounter, it all sounds extremely professional and really well done. The music and sound effects also really compliment the game. If you have a Dolby Digital setup then you will want to hook up your Xbox to it so you will be able to hear the great music selection that this game has to offer. You will not regret it.

On a bit of a downside, Oddworld Strangers Wrath does not contain any multiplayer elements. This game yearns to be played in a Deathmatch setting or capture the flag with your friends or over Xbox Live. On the plus side there is always room for a sequel.

Oddworld Strangers Wrath is rated T for Teen.

Gameplay: 9.0
This game plays like a dream, the transition between first- and third-player modes is seamless. The camera control is great as well. The FPS and Action segments of the game really compliment each other, which makes this game a “blast” to play.

Graphics: 9.2
Oddworld Strangers Wrath is a gorgeous game! The whole game gives a surreal vibe that players the feeling that they are really in the Wild West, from the deserted battered towns to the environments that Stranger will collect his bounties on. The CGI work is also top notch and something that gamers have come to expect from the Oddworld development team.

Sound: 9.1
Everything in this category sounds superb. The voice acting and musical score really fits every avenue in this game.

Difficulty: Medium
This game can be difficult during some of the boss fights and yet easy while you are transversing through the vast world that Stranger inhabits.

Concept: 9.5
I loved the idea of having “live” ammo, to make it even better you had to go and catch the ammo before you could use it. This is a welcomed spin to this genre of games and makes it more fun and challenging. It also makes you conserve your ammo as well, since you can hold only so many of one type of critter.

Overall: 9.1
Oddworld Strangers Wrath is a great game that no Xbox gamer should be without. It is a great first-person shooter and third-player action game that really tones down the violence, unlike many other first-person shooter games, thanks to the use of the “live ammo” that Stranger prefers to use. There are a few twists in the storyline that will make players want to continue to play until they see the ending credits.