Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee - Xbox

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is primarily a puzzle game, with some action and adventure thrown in. The puzzles are great brainteasers that require players to use the special abilities of the two characters, know when to switch between them, and know when to guzzle performance-enhancing SoBe beverages. Several of the game's best puzzles get the player so caught up in their conventions that they overlook much simpler solutions.

This curious world seems totally believable through the power of Xbox. The mountains, water, caves, and factories in this foreign world are extremely detailed and lifelike. The in-game cutscenes are comparable to Pixar movies. Although the Oddworld games for the PlayStation had spot-on personality and gameplay, the Xbox has truly brought the developers' visions to life.

Oddworld Inhabitants has crafted a captivating experience that's imaginative, clever, and beautiful. Simply put, this is a must-have Xbox title. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros: Unmatched uniqueness and personality Awe-striking cutscenes Addictive brainteasers Cons: Might not have enough action for impatient gamers Quite possibly, too strange for some

Amazon.com Product Description
The power-packing Xbox hardware delivers the third Oddworld title in one of the most brilliantly realized settings to grace any gaming system. Blending unique gameplay, humorous characters and interactions, and the aforementioned graphics, Munch's Oddysee simply feels unlike any other game in the 2001 console gaming lineup. Players control two characters in the game: Munch, a wheelchair-bound hero, and Abe, a character some gamers will recognize from previous Oddworld games. Their goal is to find and free the Mudokon queen, keeper of the remaining eggs of an endangered species.

Both characters feature unique talents that, via a tag-team style of play, propel the player through the game. For instance, Abe can climb and jump to reach new areas, as well as temporarily possess an enemy's soul via a chant. The web-footed Munch can swim to new areas and, when on the roll in his wheelchair, use his sonar plug to control machinery remotely. Saving an entire race also requires a coordinated effort on everyone's part. To get the job done quickly, players can deliver verbal commands to kinsmen. They'll gladly greet you (in a witty manner), then gang up on a mean-spirited enemy or accomplish difficult tasks for you. As with the rest of the game world, the finely detailed characters and environments, as well as a refreshing charm, draw you into an experience with the quality of a Pixar film. Prepare for gaming to get very odd indeed.