If there has been one PlayStation game that we’ve cast an envious little eye at, it’s been Oddworld: Soulstorm. But we need worry no longer as Oddworld Inhabitants and Microids have today confirmed that the explosive action adventures of Oddworld: Soulstorm will soon be coming to Xbox – in both digital and physical fashion.
Having previously kicked around on PS4, PS5 and PC, Oddworld: Soulstorm will come to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in the near future, with a full released date all ready to be confirmed.
When it does arrive, you can be sure that we’ll be among the first to get hands-on with it, if only as it was previous Oddworld titles that drew us in to the Xbox eco-system all those years around. And we loved New N Tasty too.
So what can you expect when Soulstorm does drop onto Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S? Well, a 2.9D action adventure platformer is just the start of it, but that will be accompanied by 15 hours of gameplay as the entire fate of the Mudokon species is left in our hands. With more than a 1000 of the little guys ready to be saved, and various endings present, it’s going to be one hell of an ask – but we’ll be here to do it.
With the Oddworld team having enhanced Soulstorm since first release, there’s probably no better time to be playing it either. You see, the Xbox Series X|S version will have all the fixes that have already hit the game included from the get-go, and that will include all of the following (except maybe the PS5 haptic support, but you get our drift!)…
● Ability to remove the HUD: Many existing hardcore Oddworld fans asked us to create the ability to remove the HUD. They didn’t want to be told where every Mud was, relative to Abe, or how much health they had left every frame.
● Comprehensive Slig AI fixes: Sligs no longer get stuck or fixed in a weird state. They now accurately respond to noise, and they feel more deterministic and less random.
● Fine Tuned Abe’s Motion Code: Controlling Abe feels more natural. His movements are immediate to your direction.
● Platforming: Abe’s use of jumping, hanging, and clinging on to monkey bars and ledges has been improved. It allows you to move and advance in a more fluid and natural motion.
● Trophies: Soulstorm’s trophy system, which offers trophy hunters more than 50 hours of gameplay, has been improved.
● Aim: Abe’s aim has been improved which helps to put out or start fires, solve puzzles, and go on the offensive more effectively without wasting valuable resources.
● Abe’s Jump: Fixed issues of Abe jumping out of levels. This was relatively rare, but it did happen and required a reset.
● PS5 Haptic Feedback: We promised an immersive haptic experience on PS5. It took us three months, but now you experience the PS5 controller as it was meant to be experienced. Abe’s heartbeat is felt in moments of high stress, as well as other key haptic opportunities (explosions, foot falls, structures falling, jumping, and landing, etc.). This makes the experience more immersive.
● Sneaking/Stealth: Soulstorm expands on what an Oddworld game is, but our fans asked us to improve the sneaking/stealth experience. We added more risk/reward playoffs which makes levels like Phat Station really shine.
● Progression Blockers: Our players found some progression blockers. We have removed all of them.
● Yards Level Improved: Fans told us that the level Yards was overly difficult, and we have spent time improving the level’s balance.
● The Blimp level: Many players let us know that this level was a big issue in terms of balance. We fixed the section where the mortars originally proved extremely challenging.
● General Key Fixes: We fixed a lot of individually minor annoyances that collectively detracted from the gaming experience like de-activating slap mines, Mudokons jumping in and out of lockers, sawblades getting stuck, and other items.
● Improved Keyboard Mapping (PC): Created an improved keyboard mapping system.
● Missing Cinematics: A few players experienced missing cinematics. We were able to uncover the bug which required a specific set of moves to activate, and we disabled that bug.
We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as the full release date for Oddworld: Soulstorm on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S is known.
We cannot wait.
How about you?
