Leh-ver * Lee-ver
Lever
Right now, someone, somewhere, for some reason, is reading a page which explains what a lever is.
- Unknown
A lever is a machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or fulcrum. A lever is a rigid body capable of rotating on a point on itself. On the basis of the location of fulcrum, load and effort, the lever is divided into three types. It is one of the six simple machines identified by Renaissance scientists. A lever amplifies an input force to provide a greater output force, which is said to provide leverage. The ratio of the output force to the input force is the mechanical advantage of the lever.
- Wikipedia
The lever is a device which plays an integral role in almost every game in the Oddworld series. It officially debuted on the 6th screen of the first level of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, however it can be discovered prior to this in a number of secret areas. The lever's primary use is to activate machinery, however in some cases it can also be used to deactivate it. The true purpose of a lever can range from the opening and closing of doors, trapdoors and wells, to the control of meat saws and electrified gates, depending on the situation at hand. The native Mudokons also have a primitive version of the lever, known simply as the 'lever'.
Following the success and popularity of the lever, the device was later included in Oddworld Inhabitants' second title, Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus, and subsequently returned in Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee and Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty. It is rumoured that the lever will also appear in Oddworld Inhabitants' upcoming title, Oddworld: Soulstorm, although this has not yet been confirmed.
For similar devices, see: Wheel, Pressure Plate, Spooce Lock.
Above - The lever as it appears in
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (left),
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (centre), and
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty (right). Also pictured is a real lever for comparison.