Platform: PlayStation Vita

Developer: Just Add Water

Publisher: Oddworld Inhabitants

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: A

Even if you’ve already bought and played the PS3 version back in 2011 or still own the original 2005 Xbox release, it’s absolutely worth picking up Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD on the Vita just to see how well the game was tweaked for the system. As with the console version, the reworked HD visuals from the Xbox game, smooth animation, newly recorded voice acting and other features translate quite nicely to Sony’s portable. It also holds up incredibly well as a stellar single-player game thanks to a great story with an excellent plot twist or two, some fine and witty dialog and a great Oddworld vibe that’s still fresh today as it was back in 2005. There are some issues with the touchpad and game camera being a wee bit too touchy, but otherwise, the game is a solid effort that’s long and often challenging if you’re trying for the least violent means of playing through the game.

The story revolves around the titular bounty hunter, Stranger (who’s visually reminiscent of a few classic Western heroes all rolled into one) as he sets out to claim a number of bounties in order to earn enough to pay for an urgent operation he needs. Where the three previous Oddworld games revolved around the puzzle-solving antics of Abe and later, wheelchair-bound Munch, Stranger’s Wrath was (and is) an action game that mixes third and first person perspectives, stealth, shooting and even a bit of fist to face action when required. Despite the more action-oriented gameplay, this IS an Oddworld game through and through, so expect some of those same thematic elements from previous games to be a major part of things as the well-written story progresses.

Although he’s a bounty hunter, Stranger’s not going for any guns when going after his bounties. He relies on organic ammo he scavenges in his travels and it’s here where the game’s first of many excellent touches appears. You’ll be able to gather up and combine ammo types that Stranger can fire from his cool dual crossbow, making a one-two combo that’s effective and efficient when dealing with the bulk of the baddies you’ll encounter. The live ammo gathering here is a big part of the experience, as you’ll need to actually catch what you shoot at enemies to incapacitate or dispatch them. The game walks you through the basics early on and by the end of the first boss encounter, you’ll have had an excellent lesson in most of the game mechanics. New hideout encounters expand how you tackle missions, but expect some repetition to creep in if you always play one way and never change up your tactics.

Much of the game’s general flow is the same as the Stranger heads into a town being plagued or pestered by that area’s selection of bounties. After picking up news around the town and choosing a bounty, it’s off to the mission. Thanks to his two-legged gait changing to a quadrupedal gallop when running, Stranger becomes his own speedy horse when the need arises. There’s a bit of platforming in indoor as well as outdoor locations and it works extremely well provided you remember that Stranger needs a bit of room before he comes to a complete stop from a full run. Combat with the crossbow is also solid, but if you’re used to the “sticky” targeting of most console FPS, it may take a little time before the more organic feeling of that’s here starts to flow. You’ll absolutely want to have experimented with as many ammo combos as possible as well as unarmed up close combat, as the game relies on you knowing what to do and when to do it (usually very quickly when things get tricky).

The sole caveat with the control scheme on the Vita is the handheld has less button functions than a PS3 or original Xbox controller, so certain controls are mapped to the touchscreen. You may accidentally throw a punch while switching viewpoints or talking to someone in a town and during one particularly intense boss battle where timing is key, one or two wrong motions can mean a trip back to your last auto save point. You can do a bit of adjustment in the options but be prepared to get used to trying not to hold the Vita so that your fingers are on the back screen. That’s going to be hard if you’ve got big fingers, but it doesn’t stop the game from being a total blast to play.

Compared to some of today’s adrenaline-soaked shooters and action games where you’ve little time to catch a breath. the more languid pacing on the way to some enemy camps may seem “dull” to certain types of gamers. Sure, you’ll come across a number of pesky enemies trying to put holes in Stranger’s head in some sweeping vistas with flat out gorgeous lighting effects that make the game world seem all to real. But these portions that combine platforming, solving navigation puzzles and combat also do double duty as you collect new (or restock old) ammo types and practice on the baddies as you work your way to the next bounty site. While the game camera is a bit more slippery than in the PS3 version, the ability to tap between first and third-person views is not only fast, it adds an extra layer of depth to the gameplay.The FPS view is of course, best for shooting stuff and enemies, but third person is best (and necessary) for platform jumping and sneaking about when required.

Sure, you can go into a protracted firefight with a few bad guys in the field from time to time, but up against a whole hideout’s worth of bounties, taking the front door or getting noisy can get you killed faster than a fly in a swatter factory. Sneaking around and looking for a new entry point or taking out patrolling guards one by one while looking for a back door is satisfying and fun, but it’s even better when you can capture some enemies alive without killing them. Live bounties mean more Moolah (the in-game currency) and while it’s not impossible to take bosses down alive, it presents a few new challenges, as these guys don’t go down without an epic battle (and a bunch of hilarious dialog at times). These fights range from slightly challenging to downright brutal and unlike too many modern generation games that lead you by the nose through tough situations, here it’s all about paying attention to your surroundings, using your ammo wisely and taking down these bigger bounties as quickly as possible.

As noted above, Stranger’s Wrath looks and sounds amazing. The original was a standout game on the Xbox for the most part, but suffered from a bit of choppiness in later levels. Showing off some impressive skills, developer Just Add Water has done a very excellent job of bringing the game to the Vita. From the expansive vistas to the little details in and around the varied environments, there’s a lot to love here. Sure, the super pretty, dense and detailed foliage isn’t swaying in the breeze and if you’re too jaded, you may find other elements to nitpick over if you compare this to other games too closely. But this is a case where the game design and overall power of the narrative suck you in and leave a nice feeling of truly being in a different world than your own.

As for the negatives, just like the original and first HD remake, there aren’t really many to speak of. While I had a near total blast with the game,  I can see some players griping about the occasional leap in challenge that occurs in a few areas as well as a few platforming sections that aren’t perfect. Nevertheless, the game isn’t being cheap as much as it’s forcing you to apply what you’ve learned in order to survive. There are some timed portions that might take some getting used to (particularly if you hate timed sections in other games), but none of them are frustrating enough to make you want to kill your expensive Vita by tossing it at a wall. Besides, only rich people and fools with rage issues throw their tech around before realizing they’ve done something not so clever and there’s a family pet or personal shopper with a Vita-sized dent in their forehead. Ouch.

I griped about the PS3 version being a PSN-only download and as an avid game collector/historian type I still have issues with that. Nevertheless, the Vita game will be far easier for most owners of the handheld to get as long as they have a PSN account and are near a wi-fi connection. You can’t lug your PS3 and HDTV to a Starbucks or the local library, but yes indeed, that Vita of yours will fit through the front door in your pocket or bag. In any event, absolutely BUY this game if you’re looking for a fresh, funny and touching masterwork that’s also a tight and often tricky bit of business. Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD is a more than fitting way to end one of the best and busiest years in gaming, so don’t pass this one up at all… or there just may be a Stranger at your door who’s come to bag you up for a bounty. Oddworld Inhabitants and JAW aren’t done yet, by the way – expect more blasts form the past as more classics escape from the vaults…