journalist difficulty | Outlast

Channel:

andynomical

Subscribers:

207

Published on May 31, 2023 8:12:44 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFvPm4HHbNY

Game:

Outlast (2013)

Duration: 3:34:50

55 views

2

the things you'll do for clicks

SOCIALS
_________
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/andynomical
Discord: https://discord.gg/YE6gKSnhZy

REVIEW
_______________________________

It is no surprise that as we grow older, time's touch leaves its mark on all things. However, for enthusiasts of video games, it will only entice their existence as classical tales of enjoyment and wonder. One gem that I hope will stand the test of time is Outlast, showcasing an approach to horror that will leave game enjoyers of all walks of life satisfied.

The storyline is built on disturbing captivation and engagement of sinister events. Motivated by a source claiming injustices done in Mount Massive Asylum, Miles Upshur travels to unearth the truth of what lies behind the façade of the Murkoff Corporation. The game does not pull any punches as the player learns of abuse, manipulation, sexual assault and other suggestive adult themes that highlight how far man's depravity will go for knowledge and greed.

Gameplay and player interaction of this game is one of many things that makes this game shine. Throughout many sections of the asylum, the player traverses throughout a nightmarish world filled with darkness, blood/gore soaked environments and hints leading to the reality of what has happened. Threats loom around every corner as the player must make use of their surroundings to hide or evade from patients victimized by Murkoff's mental torture that seek to harm you. Simple concepts but alongside foundations of dread and madness, does an excellent job of horror entertainment.

I do like the mechanic of maintaining Miles' night-vision on his camcorder but I feel this element of thoughtfulness and maintenance is required more on Nightmare/Insane as they both limit the player to 2 batteries (and I imagine less to pick up). Otherwise, as I've shown on Hard, they were quite abundant. I digress though as not everyone will handle it the same way so the original thought remains.

The level design in Outlast is superb. For a static location that is an asylum building, there is quite a lot to explore in many different areas, offering unique horrors and challenges. The developers have succeeded in creating terror with a diverse environment that maintains fear and ambiguity of success. Apart from a few scripted sequences, I also appreciate the sense of linearity as there are no interruptions that take away from the flow of the campaign. No one wants to waste time on a loading screen unless it's starting up the game.

A small note to mention is that despite my warm feelings of the game, it does seem easy to metagame a fair bit but I suppose that's just my years of experience talking (as well as understanding how "basic" the npcs can be at times). I do wish that Red Barrels covered a few more bases to challenge players and not make it too easy for those that might want to cheese scenarios like the door breaking animation and "kiting" to name a few. Perhaps people that aren't familiar with horror and are more vulnerable to its effects or just not having enough gametime in Outlast would not concern themselves with this too much.

I'm a strong believer that this game excels with dark tones not often seen in other titles. As mentioned before, the game focuses upon sensitive themes, creating more of an impact with unnerving yet immersive ambiance and uncertainty in progression. Many games of this genre that I've played, only a few get to such a level reached that Outlast has in impactful presentation. Job well done, Red Barrels.

Other Statistics