Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD (Vita) Review

It's time for SuperPhillip Central's first review of 2015. I don't have much knowledge on the Oddworld franchise, so entering Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD was my own kind of odyssey, a journey into the unknown. Here's my review of the PlayStation Vita version of Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD.

Some odd quirks hold back this return to Oddworld.

The Oddworld series was once a PlayStation exclusive-- at least for the first duo of games. However, when Microsoft entered the home console market, they had a dearth of exclusive content available to them initially. Thus, Microsoft did what would be a vintage move for them and paid for multiple exclusives to bolster the launch lineup of the Xbox. One of these such exclusives was Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, a game that added even more variety to the system's library. Now it's more than a dozen years later and Munch's Oddysee returns, this time on the PlayStation Vita in high definition form. Is this "oddysee" one worth going on?

Munch's Oddysee was the third Oddworld game when it released back in 2001. It essentially took what made the 2D games so beloved (puzzle solving, maze exploration, among many other things) and translated them into a 3D format. However, upon doing this there were some issues that have sadly not been fixed with this HD version. Instead, the developer Just Add Water decided to keep the game true to the Xbox original, whether that's a good thing or not. Be certain though that this installment of Oddworld is less of a platforming adventure and more one of the puzzle variety.

First of all, controlling Abe isn't the easiest. The controls aren't as tight as I would have liked them to be, and it's quite apparent when moving him around. For instance, trying to run with great precision is nigh impossible due to the erratic turning of the character. It's hard to dash and collect a line of Spooce-shrubs because just moving the analog stick slightly makes Abe alter his direction. Jumping is also rather clunky, making it very annoying at times to move with any kind of precision and oftentimes resulting in having to make multiple attempts for what is essentially an easy jump.

The main problem with why the controls don't work or feel well is because every action is mapped to one button. Trying to pick up Abe's friends when all Abe wanted to do instead was keep jumping up and down like a total fool added to my frustration with the game.

My issue with controlling Munch is different. While Abe can move fast, Munch moves all too slow, making having to backtrack a pain in the rear end due to how long it takes. Heaven forbid you forget to collect something at the start of an area and have to slowly march your way all the way back!

Regardless, having two main protagonists is a cool concept, obviously done before, but it's put to good use in Munch's Oddysee. At the beginning of the game, Abe and Munch are at different locations and completely separate from one another, but eventually the two meet up and players can switch between the duo on the fly to solve puzzles both big and small.

As being someone whose first experience with Munch's Oddysee is on the Vita, the upgraded visuals to HD look rather nice, but many outdoor areas experience poor draw distance. Sligs aren't your only enemy in Munch's Oddysee HD-- the draw distance that makes many areas look foggy is.

It's also hard to get into the game due to the minimal use of music in levels. Instead of having something to listen to music-wise to make the slow, plodding pace of Munch's Oddysee more exciting, the dullness is accentuated by a lack of engaging music. What's heard instead is ambient noise and the occasional voice clip. Speaking of the voice work, the majority of voices are either garbled intentionally or so high pitched that it sounds more like obnoxious squawking than something that is actually charming.

With erratic movement controls for Abe and gameplay that runs more on the repetitive side than the engaging side, you might think that I didn't enjoy Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD at all. However, that's not entirely true. The puzzle and level design is top notch, the game's world contains plenty of charm, and I found myself continuously wanting to see what new gameplay concepts would be introduced into the fold next. While it's unfortunate that Just Add Water decided to go with a straight-up unaltered version of Munch's Oddysee instead of fixing issues that plagued the original and now this rebirth of the title, too, there's still fun to be had with Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD.

[SPC Says: 6.0/10]

Review copy provided by Oddworld Inhabitants 

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - The Final First Edition of 2015 Edition

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs rides into the new year with a new edition! This first edition of 2015 contains music from games like Final Fantasy XIII-2, Persona 3, and Halo 2. There's also some retro goodness for your ears to enjoy, including music from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the NES and Sonic the Hedgehog on the Genesis (or Mega Drive, for my PAL pals!).

If you're unfamiliar with what this segment is all about, SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is where I share my favorite video game music from a myriad of titles, systems, eras, and generations. Catch up on past editions with my VGM Database! Just be forewarned that there's a lot of VGMs on that database to sift through! With that out of the way, let's get to the new additions to my list of favorite VGMs!

v786. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3, 360) - Heart of Chaos

Heart of Chaos is a tense theme punctuated by a glorious choir. Final Fantasy XIII-2 saw Lightning take the backseat in the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy and saw Serah take the starring role. The game itself featured more varied environments and design (i.e. corridor dungeons were out and expansive areas were in). While I prefer the original Final Fantasy XIII's soundtrack, XIII-2's isn't weak by any stretch of the imagination.

v787. Persona 3 (PS2) - The Battle for Everyone's Soul

The Persona series is one I'm very unfamiliar with, as I've never played an entry in the series. Persona 4 Golden seems like a great entry point, but I've yet to pick up the game for my Vita. The Battle for Everyone's Soul is the final boss theme to Persona 3, and it is suitable for a final encounter, don't you think?

v788. Halo 2 (XBX) - Earth City

Where are you in the Halo vs. Halo 2 camp? I'm a big fan of Halo: Combat Evolved over Halo 2, but at the same time, I realize how instrumental both games were in putting Microsoft's Xbox on the map. Halo: Combat Evolved was a runaway success that gave the Xbox a fighting chance in the console market while Halo 2 cemented the system's status as a contender.

v789. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) - Boss Theme

Sure, you can cheese your way through the Rocksteady fight by being Donatello and using the wimpy bo trick, or you can be a real turtle and kick that rhinoceros' butt through legitimate means. Just kidding. I wasn't good enough to beat Rocksteady the real way either. The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the NES is a very hard game, and any means to help the player cheat their way through is fair game in my book!

v790. Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN) - Star Light Zone

After the claustrophobic and aquatic nightmare that was the Labyrinth Zone (I'm one of the few who actually enjoyed that zone), it was liberating for Sonic the Hedgehog and players to embark on the much faster paced and multiple pathway-possessing Star Light Zone. The open setting and lovely platforming challenges in addition to this catchy theme make for a zone that is one of my favorites from the Genesis trilogy.

Review Round-Up - December 2014

Captain Toad was ready for adventure
and so was I in December.

The final month of 2014 brought with it seven unique reviews. SuperPhillip Central started this month of reviews with the infamous heroes in a half-shell in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze. This game booyakasha'd its way to a competent 6.0. The highest score of December was Killzone: Mercenary, a game that far exceeded my expectations and has become one of my favorite FPS games ever. The score it received was a 9.25. Some mediocre games then followed with my reviews of Mario Pinball Land (4.75) and Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (4.5). Then, a great surprise in the form of Super Mega Baseball scored in some runs for an 8.25. Next up was a retro review with Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (7.25). Lastly, SuperPhillip Central's featured game of the month, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, warmed my heart to earn a 9.0. Its clever design might have also helped, too.

The first month of 2015 will see SuperPhillip Central's 550th review, reviews of games like Fantasy Life and LittleBigPlanet 3, and lots more fun surprises for games you otherwise wouldn't expect.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze (PS3, 360, 3DS) - 6.0
Killzone: Mercenary (Vita) - 9.25
Mario Pinball Land (GBA) - 4.75
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U) - 4.5
Super Mega Baseball (PS4, PS3) - 8.25
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA) - 7.25
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Wii U) - 9.0

"Whee!" That simple exclamation exemplifies
everything about Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

Thanks for making the SuperPhillip Central Best of 2014 Awards a pleasant success!

First of all, Happy New Year! Secondly, thank you for sticking with SuperPhillip Central and reading the content I provide. I didn't know how well the SuperPhillip Central Best of 2014 Awards would work out with an entirely new top five-centric format. However, it managed to turn out rather great. It was a lot more fun this time around to work on instead of feeling like a chore.

If you missed an award category, look no further than these links!

Top Five Best Box Arts
Top Five Best Download Only Game
Top Five Best Original Soundtracks
Top Five Best Platformers
Top Five Biggest Surprises
Top Five Local Multiplayer Games
Top Five Most Overlooked Games
Top Five Most Pleasing Visuals
Top Five Worst Disappointments
Top Ten Games of 2014

I hope you'll stick with SuperPhillip Central for the new year. Of course, it helps if you're a fan of Nintendo, as I currently only own one non-Nintendo current gen system, and that is the PlayStation Vita.

SuperPhillip Central Best of 2014 Awards - Top Ten Games of 2014

Welcome to the final list of SuperPhillip Central's Best of 2014 Awards! This is the list where I talk about my favorite games of 2014, so it's an extended top ten list this time around. Game-wise, 2014 was a year that I will look back on fondly, due to its staggering amount of gameplay-centric releases. Without further ado, here's my Top Ten Games of 2014!

10) Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Wii U)

Nintendo is great at putting out games that I didn't even know I wanted until they're released and I play them. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is one of these games-- a puzzle adventure game with levels that are more akin to interactive dioramas than anything else I've ever seen. With an abundant array of adorable characters and worlds, clever puzzles, and plenty of replay value, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was a big surprise to cap off a great year of games that was 2014. Each level introduces a new component to the level design that delights, shows off the impressive knowledge of game design that Nintendo EAD possesses, and wows players with its brilliance.

9) Shovel Knight (Wii U)

Indies continue to astound me with their quality. When a studio devised up of a dozen or less can create an experience that rivals what big developers can do, my jaw drops to dangerously low levels. Yacht Club Games' Shovel Knight is a NES-era retro game inspired by action platformers like Mega Man and DuckTales. The end result is a two hour tale that offers immense value, tight platforming, unparalleled action, and terrific level design. The entire package of Shovel Knight is polished so incredibly well that it makes games made by some bigger developers look like student projects in comparison. Since the game is on sale for 33% off at both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops at the time of this top ten list, there's no better time to see what the hubbub around Shovel Knight is all about.

8) Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (3DS)

The rhythm game genre is one I absolutely adore-- even as someone without much actual rhythm (d'oh!). The original Theatrhythm Final Fantasy made its mark on me greatly, making it my favorite music game of all time. Curtain Call, its sequel, adds so much to the formula-- over 200 songs from both mainline and spin-off Final Fantasy games, a wealth of Final Fantasy characters to choose from, and multiple new modes like Quest and online battling to create a fantastic rhythm game. Throw in the simple yet tough to master gameplay of tapping and touching the screen to make Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call a fantastic musical journey.

7) Fantasy Life (3DS)

Many people throughout my gaming career have told me to get a life. Well, with Fantasy Life I outperformed their meager expectations of me and got twelve different lives! Har-har... In all seriousness, while the campaign of Fantasy Life is short compared to the rest of what the title offers, the real meat of the game happens when you try to take your life (i.e. job type) and become better at it. There are a wide amount of objectives to complete for each job as you make your way from fledgling to master, massive numbers of lands and areas to explore, creatures to defeat, and a wondrous world to journey through, making Fantasy Life one of my favorite original handheld games of 2014.

6) LittleBigPlanet 3 (PS3)

Next to Ratchet & Clank, the LittleBigPlanet series is my favorite that SCEA publishes. Although released with many issues (welcome to next gen, baby!), by the time I picked up the game and played it, these problems were taken care of. LittleBigPlanet 3 is a game that features 16 layers of depth to play and create levels in, allowing for levels that look and play absolutely awesomely. The way tutorials are implemented into actual levels rather than having you sit through the dry humor of Stephen Fry makes LittleBigPlanet 3 a much better game in teaching the player to create than past entries. Throw in different characters in how they look and how they play, a bustling community that is as creative as any I've seen on a console, and you have a fantastic game and tool kit to work with.

5) Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

The last Musou styled game I played while Dynasty Warriors Gundam, and that wasn't the most varied gaming experience around. However, Nintendo and Tecmo-Koei managed to mix two series that originally seemed like the gaming equivalent of oil and water, The Legend of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors series, to create one of my favorite games of 2014. It's certainly one of my most played. Hyrule Warriors is fan service comes to life for Zelda fans like me, and it definitely doesn't hurt that the actual game is a blast to play, teeming with a massive amount of content and modes. Even without DLC, Hyrule Warriors is packed to the gills with content, co-op play, and fan service that oozes out of every orifice of the title. The game is without question a fantastic love letter to both Zelda and Dynasty Warriors fans, doubly so if you're a fan of both!

4) Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS)

I am a definite sucker for a good arcade golfing game. For the longest time, the Nintendo 64's Mario Golf was my personal choice when I wanted to hit the links with Mario and friends. That is until Mario Golf: World Tour for the Nintendo 3DS came out. This game is absolutely packed with cool characters, well designed courses, deep golfing gameplay, a solo mode that while not an exact RPG mode like the GBC and GBA Mario Golf games offers longevity and entertainment, online play, tournaments, and so much unlockable content. The DLC which is essentially the N64 Mario Golf courses and four different characters is the icing on the cake, solidifying Mario Golf: World Tour as my favorite golf game of all time. I just didn't know I'd love it as much as I did and do.

3) Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

I haven't been this enamored with a Mario Kart game in quite some time. Perhaps the long-missing inclusion of being able to play Grand Prix mode with a buddy added to my love of the game. Perhaps also the 32 expertly-designed tracks, terrifically tight controls, and gorgeous graphics makes for a Mario Kart that is as much a treat to look at as it is to play. The all-new anti-gravity sections of tracks makes for a Mario Kart that is heavily reminiscent of F-Zero, and since that series is in hiatus until who knows when, that's definitely not a bad thing! Add in excellent online and offline multiplayer, one of the best soundtracks the series has ever witnessed, and some of the best valued downloadable content around, and you can see why Mario Kart 8 is on a lot of folks' game of the year lists this year.

2) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

When Retro Studios was revealed to be working on a sequel to Donkey Kong Country Returns and not something new like Metroid, gamers collectively turned up their noses. However, when the actual game, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, released to the public, many of these critics quickly aimed their noses back downward and enjoyed what I absolutely consider one of the best 2D platformers ever created. Each level is a new adventure. Each of the four Kongs is a dream to control. The return of David Wise to the series' soundtrack adds a gigantic exclamation mark to what is otherwise an immense treat to experience. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is gaming nirvana, particularly if you're a big fan of the platformer like I am.

1) Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Wii U)

After the relative disappointment that fans experienced with Super Smash Bros' showing on the Wii with Brawl, many felt that they were owed a better game from the ever-hardworking Masahiro Sakurai and his team. Well, while I wasn't one of these people, I definitely am of the opinion that Sakurai and friends achieved practical perfection with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, a game which not only plays well for both casual and competitive players (and everyone in between), but it is an absolute love letter to any fan of Nintendo history. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is jam-packed with content-- so much so that even after nearly a hundred hours of playing the game I have yet to see all that there is to see. Most importantly, though, this new console version of Smash Bros. is just an amazing pleasure to play. It feels responsive, it plays great, and it looks extraordinary, making it my favorite game of 2014.

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As you can see, Nintendo dominated this year for my SuperPhillip Central end of year awards ceremony. I think it's more to do with the fact that the majority of Western gaming continues to move in a direction that has pretty much alienated me. The only main platforms for big Japanese-style gaming, the style that I really appreciate and meshes with my tastes, are on Nintendo systems. That isn't to say that the PS3 and Vita have let me down. That's not the case at all.

Regardless, I hope your 2015 is a joyous year full of fun games and gaming experiences! I will be here on SuperPhillip Central for another great year. I hope you are with me, too!