As the fuzzy denizens of earth pivot to non-existence, we will soon be left with an unclear memory of the animal kingdom’s bizarre court. The elephant, for instance, what even is it? I cannot help with that question, I’m not a marine biologist. But what I can offer is a tour of endangered videogame wildlife. Otherworldly creatures you can’t find beneath the rocks of reality or swimming in the ponds of tangibility. It is the least I can do. So, here you go. A safari of the 9 weirdest animals in PC games.

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Brendy might have made an excellent case for Abe’s Exoddus being the better of the two original Oddworld games, but for me Abe’s Oddysee will always be the greatest. It was dirty but gorgeous, unpolished but refined, and filled with dark humour and brilliant ideas. But the main thing is that Abe’s Oddysee had those diabolical temple runs.

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Even in these days when we have so very many wonderful free games to play, it’s still a little exciting to be offered for free a game that usually costs money. Today, it’s Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee going free for keepsies. Free! No pennies at all! And only twenty years after the puzzle-platformer first came out and I missed it because I bought Blade Runner instead. Well well well, looks like I was savvier than I knew. Gotta take the long view, yeah? I bet anyone who bought Oddworld in 1997 feels a right mug. (more…)

Have You Played? is an endless stream of game retrospectives. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.>

While recently playing the wondrous but flawed Rain World, I was reminded of poor Abe. The original Oddysee was a belter, yes, but with Exoddus I feel the developers at Oddworld Inhabitants really perfected their art. They were able to keep all the usual stuff (running, jumping, possessing the baddies and saving your mates) while introducing a bunch of weird new ideas. It expanded the gamespeak , granted Mudokons different emotional states, and allowed you to possess your own farts. You can t ask much more from a game released in 1998. … [visit site to read more]

Excuse the rapidly-written post, but I only just noticed this and, at the time of writing, there are only thirty Earth minutes until the offer expires. 1997 platformer, and first game in the ongoing Oddworld series, Abe’s Oddysee is currently free on Steam. But not just in a free weekend sort of way – add it before 6pm UK time / 10am Pacific today and you get to keep it forever. … [visit site to read more]