Outlast is not such a popular game as its sequel. Nevertheless, she deserves attention. Of course, lovers of horror and mystical things can fall in love. In the first part of a series of games, a gamer goes to a psychiatric hospital. A large number of gloomy and unfriendly creatures await him there.
About the game
The name of the game is translated from English as "survive", and in general it fully reflects what the player expects. This project was developed in the genre of Survival Horror. Even greater popularity is associated with the fact that the game is presented in the first person, so immersing yourself in a horror atmosphere is not so difficult.
Red Barrels worked on the project. In 2013, a version on Windows was released. Later, owners of consoles and devices based on macOS were able to test the horror.
The peculiarity of this Survival is that the player cannot use weapons throughout the game. To escape from enemies, you must run away from them and hide. Probably due to this choice of developers Outlast received positive reviews.
Hero story
How does each game begin? Of course, from the story. It should be interesting and exciting, otherwise no gameplay will save the situation.
The plot tells about the post-war operation, which took place in 1945. At that time, scientists from Nazi Germany were sent to the United States, to the Mount Massiv Clinic. After 22 years, three scientists are killed in this place. Five years later, it was decided to destroy all the information related to the clinic.
The gamer is in 2013. He will play as a journalist who receives information about illegal experiments in the clinic. Miles must now visit this place to find the truth.
Beginning of the game
Outlast received good reviews. Many players were delighted with this plot plot. At the beginning, Miles drives up to the clinic by car, but already at the entrance, his radio stops talking. Then he takes with him papers, a night vision camera and batteries. This is all that is available to the gamer, but it didn’t scare many, but, on the contrary, only aroused interest.
Horror fans also liked what the journalist saw when he entered the clinic. In this regard, you can find many reviews about Outlast. The developers managed to convey the atmosphere of horror. The clinic scattered corpses, and distraught patients continue to roam around corridors and wards.
Miles will meet with a dying soldier, who advises him to escape from this place faster. Of course, we do not obey the poor fellow and continue to explore the hospital.
Horror ahead
The players left a lot of positive reviews about the game Outlast and about the whole of what awaits every gamer who decides to go through. For example, many were glad that the developers created a kind of antagonist - Chris Walker, who used to work as a security guard here, and now has become a mutant.
This character thoroughly shakes your nerves. Be prepared for the fact that he will haunt you throughout the game. But the worst begins during the meeting of the hero with the doctor Richard Trager. He turns out to be a sadist who is experimenting with patients. On them, he conducts his terrible surgical techniques.
Miles will have to experience the real torment that Trager prepared for him. He chained the journalist to a chair and cut off two fingers. After the conditional “victory” over the crazy doctor, Miles will meet a huge number of villains, which is exactly what the players like.
Game process
Particularly pleased with the players gameplay. As a rule, the more complex the gameplay, the more interesting it is to complete the game. Here, the developers were pleased with the absence of any weapons. If you fight - then with your fists, if you defend - then with a quick run.
Although, speaking of fists, in truth the hero cannot fight. In part, he can push the enemy away or slip away from him. But if he’s already caught, he won’t be able to escape. In this regard, Outlast reviews have been mixed. Many gamers still wanted to get at least some kind of stick or metal rod.
As a result, the gameplay consists in the fact that the hero receives a notebook, where he writes down his observations, and a video camera. The latter is needed in order to use night vision. But if you turn it on often, the camera will quickly drain and you will have to look for batteries.
The whole gameplay is based on the fact that Miles runs away, overcomes obstacles, solves puzzles and often hides in dark places. At the same time, the player does not have any assistants: unless Father Martin and one of the patients.
The main character
We should also talk about the main character Outlast. Reviews and opinions about Miles are different. Players noted that the journalist seems too brave and sometimes unflappable. He is not afraid at all of what he meets in the clinic. He is not afraid of the dark, and at the sight of a mountain of corpses he does not lose consciousness.
Many were even surprised at how Miles reacts to unexpected events. For example, a fall from a three-meter height did not bother the hero at all, despite the fact that he fell into a bunch of rotting corpses. Each time he surprises with his sober thinking and prudence.
Not all gamers believed that this would be the way a person would react if he were in such a situation. At least there are doubts that some of the events in the game do not instill fear in Miles's body at all.
Fortunately, the developers did not disappoint the players at all. Over time, you still begin to notice the strange behavior of the hero. From a boring type, he begins to turn into a mad seeker. Of course, it becomes clear that it is difficult for him to fully realize the horror of everything that happens, but the atmosphere of the occult affects him.
If at the beginning after each incident a journalist left only brief, concise notes, then over time you notice that they are overgrown with emotions. Sometimes Miles feels a surge of rage, sometimes fear. All this is reflected in his behavior and thinking.
Game characters
Of course, Miles is not the only character in the game. The player also encounters very bright expressive individuals, but there are just ordinary monsters, of which there are many in other horror games.
The game Outlast received positive customer reviews. The project did not fail, since much here was special, despite the similarities with other horror. For example, hypertrophic killings and a huge amount of violence here take place for a reason. Later, the gamer learns that everything has a scientific meaning, and even philosophical implication.
Each minor character does not have a special character, and it’s also difficult to talk about his personality, since all medical experiments completely destroyed their essence. Now their main goal is to kill for pleasure.
As already mentioned, it is quite common to encounter different characters. But it’s worthwhile to understand that you won’t be able to enter into a fight with them, because here you will have a fiasco. Therefore, it remains to run and hide.
The players said that over time you get used to this kind of attack. Therefore, the characters no longer seem so creepy. You begin to perceive the logic of their actions, and everything falls into place.
Things are more complicated with mutilated characters. They often behave very strangely, bang their heads against the wall, cry and hurt themselves. These heroes really cause horror, especially if you immerse yourself in their story completely.
It is worthwhile to be prepared for screamers that will be found often, but it is unlikely for horror fans this will come as a surprise. In addition, many gamers claim that screamers are the least worth fearing. The whole atmosphere looks much worse. Especially if you put on your headphones tightly and start the game late in the evening.
About fear
Reviews and opinions on the game Outlast are different. Here, as in any business, it is very difficult to find a common opinion, since each is very individual. If you give this game to an impressionable girl, most likely you can bring it to hysteria, and then to delete the game.
Brave guys who know firsthand what horror and stealth modes are, of course, will easily react to such a project. Someone may be scared by screamers alone, but someone is more impressed with the story and atmosphere.
Therefore, to say for sure whether the game turned out to be scary or not very difficult. Say one thing, there are about a dozen other gamers who will recall the more scary and gloomy projects, in their opinion.
We can definitely say that everything is sustained in the genre of horror. Unfortunately, the developers did not take care to get rid of the dies. Well, how many times have we seen in the horror of a hospital, with cold corridors and dark wards. The dismemberment and violence will not be a surprise for many, therefore, it remains to rely on the storyline and a bit more interesting denouement.
Addition
Few people know, but with the release of the sequel of the game, information appeared about the publication of Outlast Trinity (PS4). The similar collection collected reviews a little, as, in particular, appeared only on consoles.
The first and second parts, as well as the Whistleblower add-on, got into the publication. He is considered an interquel, as he complements and develops the story told in the first game.
The addition became known in 2014. It was available on a computer and console from Sony and Microsoft. The story tells of Waylon Park. It was he who sent the letter to Miles, directing him to the clinic. The players liked the idea of the plot itself: the actions carry the gamer one day before the events in Outlast began. And then Waylon’s story intersects with Miles.
Since we have an interquel, we do not have to expect drastic changes. In fact, this is just a new story, with the same graphics and gameplay. The developers only offer to look at the history of the hospital from a different perspective.
Sequel
In 2017, the sequel Outlast 2 became known. He collected positive reviews. Even those who just watched the walkthrough on the stream or in the recording were pleasantly surprised. What does continuation offer us?
We are again waiting for the adventures of a journalist. One gets the impression that developers do not like this profession, otherwise how to explain why they always try to kill them in their games. This time the main character is trying to find his wife Lynn.
Innovations
But not everything is so good in Outlast 2. Although the reviews were mostly positive, it is easy to find shortcomings in the sequel. Firstly, the gameplay has not changed. The player will have to run again, hide again. To this only excessive haste was added.
In fact, the game can be played very quickly, as the developer himself contributed to this. It turns out that the game is constantly in a hurry to make choices and escape from the clutches of the Satanists.
Secondly, despite the extended location, you can constantly come across invisible walls. That is, there seems to be freedom of action, but the invisible hospital corridors seem to be pursuing in an absolutely different location. There are certain exit and entry points, as well as a conditional path that you can’t get off.
Thirdly, in fact there were not so many terrible moments. Although again it’s worth saying that the reviews about the game Outlast 2 may indicate otherwise. Nevertheless, everyone understands that each player has a different fear. In any case, if you are a lover of horror, be prepared that you will be scared for 8 hours of passing about 8 times. There is no hope for more.
What did you like?
Since this is a sequel, he had to at least be somewhat different from the game that was released 4 years ago. In principle, it happened.
Of course, the first thing the graphics were revised. And she looks very cool here. The characters are really awesome, and the little things complement and escalate the atmosphere. Fans of virtual dismemberment will have something to enjoy here.
Players praised and recycled sound. Now he really is scary, especially the voices and sounds of his pursuers. Someone was delighted with the presence of a stealth and a research topic.
The plot turned out to be controversial. More precisely, he himself seems understandable, but the ending seemed to almost all the players crumpled and blurry. One has to guess and think a lot. Although, perhaps this is the intention of the developers.
conclusions
A series of Outlast games (PS4) reviews generally gathered good. These are solid horror, albeit with stamped tricks that will surprise only beginners. Nevertheless, everything was done in good faith. It can be seen that the developers tried to make a solid Survival, so at least it’s worth praising them.
For some, the game has become the best in its genre, someone in reviews has always set other projects as an example. You can understand the true essence of the project only yourself, and reviews in this case will only indicate obvious shortcomings and advantages.