The Oddworld games have always carried with them a delightfully balanced atmosphere of the creepy and endearing. The world in which these games take place is macabre and quirky in the most delightful ways. With a sense of humor nestled deeply in the black, they feel tailor-made for someone like me, particularly the original, Abe’s Oddysee, which holds a place in my heart with barbed claws. I was obsessed with it in my youth. It was strikingly original at its inception and still stands as a one of a kind experience today. I guess what I’m trying to say, with all this gushing, is that if you had asked me a few years ago if the original game needed updating I would have had your mouth sewn shut. But, in the now, after having gotten my hands on the “New ‘N’ Tasty” version of a seminal game of my youth, I feel like I should hug everyone at Just Add Water.

The most obvious update on display here is the fully rendered backgrounds, replacing what used to be static pre-rendered images. This takes the camera off its leash and allows for some dramatic camera movements and a more playful use of the 2D playfield in general. While the game is fully rendered in 3D the classic gameplay remains gloriously intact. The result is a game that feels like the original, retains that Oddworld style, and looks gorgeous to boot.

For those not in the know (Shame on you, by the way.) Abe’s Oddysee is, when disassembled to its most basic components, a puzzle game first and foremost, with a dash of some platforming and a pinch of exploration. The player controlled character is Abe, a Mudokon slave whose mouth is sewn shut, albeit very poorly as verbal commands can be issued with the D-pad. His task it is to escape with as many of his enslaved brethren as possible, while avoiding the many, incredibly horrible, ways he and his followers can die.

Navigation is a key component and does require a fair amount of precision. Whether it’s navigating a series of pitfalls, peculiarly placed meat grinders, or roaming creatures and guards, your prowess with Abe’s flailing form will be tested early and often. Thankfully this works well, even, I dare say, smoother then the original. However, the focus is still on the animation, so the controls can feel unwieldy at first until you get used to the weight of Abe’s movements. It can feel downright mechanical at times when the actions require split second timing. But there is a sense of satisfaction in the heaviness of the movements.

On top of managing Abe you also have to manage other Mudokons, as you guide them to the magical portals that send them home. This is where the puzzle element comes out in full force. Being able to juggle them, and the various environmental hazards that will kill them, is nerve wracking and leads to darkly hilarious failures. And the game is quick to point out your mismanaged attempts with billboards declaring how many Mudokons you have saved, how many are left, and how many you have inadvertently murdered.

The game takes a high degree of delight in creating situations where, when not paying attention, the player leads the green, vaguely reptilian, creatures to their death. Newcomers may find themselves openly wincing at the vicious ways this happens. This shock is heightened by how charming the Mudokons are, and because it’s usually the players’ fault. The charm of these characters cannot be overstated. They are cute and clumsy with large expressive eyes that bulge out of their heads. There voices are meek and squeaky and their joints creek when the sneak. If you make Abe fart they will giggle or fart in return. They are adorable, and you will kill them by accident all the time. You will probably feel horrible about it, and the game will rub your face in it.

This update has also changed some of the puzzles around but a majority of the games screens have been lovingly recreated. They added some modern updates, like quick saves and quick loads, which is helpful for some of those more tricky areas, but kept the style in place. The new graphics are wonderful and the backgrounds are lush and active with movement. I must also point out, however, along with the positive updates, some occasional bugs came along for the ride in the form of some erratic camera movement. I didn’t experience anything game breaking but the issues are present.

In the end Just Add Water has faithfully recreated that original experience and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result. This game certainly isn’t for everyone. It has a steep learning curve, can be taxing to your patience, and it’s world and darkly comical tone may be unappealing to some. My impressions are also steeped very heavily in nostalgia, but if you were a fan of the original I think you will find a lot to enjoy here.