Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD

Sometimes game franchises need to take a slight turn from the norm to keep things fresh and exciting. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD is a remaster of the game that did just that to its respective series. It's always a risk doing this because of the impact it could have on an already esteemed collection of games, so did this original work?

In more respects than not, yes. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD was a good game, while not as acclaimed as others in the series. It was palatable enough to warrant a remaster, which became available on various consoles. Arguably you could say that the HD edition helped keep the beacon burning for the franchise. But are there any fundamental differences to the original?

A Brighter, Wilder West

Let's briefly recap what defines Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD is a game that stands out from the franchise. The title veered away from the platform-puzzle mechanics that made up the bulk of the gameplay in the predecessors. That notion is in favor of a third-person action-adventure game. The core premise was a drifter entering the wild west with a soul collecting mission.

But those reading about the remaster would be more interested in knowing what makes the HD edition different from the original. Are there any improvements? Possibly additional content? Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD has all the earmarks of a standard HD remake. They're all there with better graphics, improved dialogue, fine-tuning, and trophies.

Yes, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath looks better and feels smooth. However, nothing much has changed outside those facts. There is a little bit of extra content to mull through, but all the additional pieces are trivial and mundane. The reason becomes apparent that this game was remastered just for accessibility reasons.

It feels like the game was remastered purely because all the others have had some remastering. However, there's not a massive problem with this. After all, Oddworld is a game franchise that's touched millions of hearts and minds across the globe. Making a real effort to keep the games alive across next-gen consoles would have the support of most of us!

High Definition Oddities

So is Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD playing, you ask? Let's not forget that this was a good game, albeit different from the other franchise entries. All considered, yes, the game is worth playing. The significant points are that the gameplay feels more immersive than ever and drags players into the rich world, giving players a new connection to this beautiful game.

Round-Up - Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Beautifully reworked graphics
• Dialogue has significantly improved.
• New achievements to make the game more competitive

Cons:

• The additional content won't bring any thrills.
• A pretty standard remasters in common sense