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Outlast
PC (Steam)
It's a Mad House! A Maaaaaadhouse!
4/5 stars
And to think I thought the only good things coming out of Canada were maple syrup and curling teams. But Red Barrels, based out of Montreal, has come out of the gate with guns blazing. Survival horror has left me in a bit of slump lately, but Outlast takes something familiar and, much like Amnesia, presents it in a way that seems fresh and, in the right conditions, will definitely scare you. And though it may not have the psychological horrors of Silent Hill, it still manages to be plenty creepy while delivering plenty of the classic "jump" scares that certainly deliver.
Presentation: Horror games are all about atmosphere - and Outlast gets it right. Granted, setting a horror game in an insane asylum sound about as cliche as things get - but it gives a nice mix of current technology with the crumbling decay of what I would term your more trope-tastic asylum settings. Amidst computers and HD TVs displaying static (and annoying phones beeping) there is plenty of rusted doors, creaky elevators and unkempt rooms (many of which are covered in gore). The juxtoposition of going from a security room filled with monitors to a dank ward that looks like it was built in the 60s (the place was opened in '67 according to in-game documents) - Outlast does a good job of mixing in the new with the old.
The other thing about atmosphere is all about the sound - both music and the ambient effects play a big part in making Outlast a success. Though it might not have the most memorable soundtrack, Outlast does provide the necessary mood - when things are quiet, the music is just there - subtle but always there - and when things get hairy, the music amps up - and it gets the heart pumping. But alongside the music, it's the effects that really set stage - your character starts to breathe heavy - panic even, when there is a (dangerous enemy) nearby. Lightning and thunder are common - and the moans and screams - just unnerving, If there is one place the game excels, it's in the sound.
The design of the enemies is good as well - almost everyone in the asylum apparently suffers from something terrible - flesh is peeling off, scarring, mutilations and, in the case of the twins - complete nudity! (really - probably the most disturbing enemies in the game). While most of the regular "Varients" follow a similar design, there are a few unique individuals - the big guy (patient Chris Walker) is huge and dogs you the entire game, the demented doctor Richard Trager (and his scissors) are in one very memorable sequence and the good "Father" Martin Archimbaud - who styles himself a priest, is both a help and hindrance throughout the game (and, surprisingly, looks very normal). But nothing beats a gibbering madman leaping out of the darkness - especially with the lights turned off and the headphones turned up.
Story: Mount Massive Asylum, located in Colorado, was shut down due to numerous issues in the late 60s. But the Murkoff Corporation, in the guise of a charitable organization, re-opened the facility in 2009. But, big surprise, the actual operation of the facility was far less than "charitable" as the corporation used the cover to experiment on the patients. The general staff was cut off from family and friends, as the secretive nature of the experiments were tantamount to everything else. Then things took a turn for the worse - but investigative journalist Miles Upshur - willing to take risks most other reporters wouldn't - is brought to the asylum after receiving a tip from a whistleblower. Shortly after arriving and finding a way inside, he sees the result of the experiments - bodies, lots and lots of bodies - after a run-in with the monstrous Walker, and meeting the enigmatic "Father" Archimbaud - he has no choice but to go deeper into the asylum in order to facilitate his own escape - and survival. Documenting the entire experience with his camera, he hopes to show the world the truth, provided the asylum doesn't add yet another victim to its tally. As you dig deeper, you find references to Nazi experimentation, an entity dubbed the "Walrider" and the cruel nature of the Murkoff Corporation.
Gameplay: Much like the recent Amnesia, Outlast is a first-person experience. You experience the game through the eyes of Upshur, often through the lens of his camera. Certain events you record unlock observations, and you find documents throughout the asylum as well that provide both history and the nature of the experiments going on. You cannot fight - Miles doesn't have a gun, a knife, not even a big pipe - his only defense is his ability to run and hide. Not all the patients are dangerous, but those who are will chase you. You can hide in lockers, bathroom stalls and under beds (and hope those chasing you don't pick out where you are). You can close doors and even block some entrances - though these serve to slow down, but not stop, your enemies. If you are quiet, you can even hide in he dark - and your camera comes equipped with a night vision function that can help you avoid your adversaries. Of course, the camera does run on batteries - luckily there are plenty of discarded ones to be found throughout the asylum.
Most enemies will not immediately kill you. You can usually survive at least one blow, even from the most dangerous enemies - and luckily, most aren't exactly the smartest tool in the shed - so avoiding them is not too bad. If you do die, the game starts you back pretty much where you left off - and you will die - but you only have to repeat a small portion each time. The game is also pretty straight-forward - there is little in the way of exploration ( a few rooms here and there, most of which might contain a battery or document for your efforts). The game is best experiences with the lights off and headphones on - believe me, it does a great job of scaring you - though I found most of the scares to be in the "jump" variety - but it still managed to make me jump at least a few times.
Replayability: Not much - this is the kind of game you learn the first time around. The only real reason to go back (other than to scare other people) is to collect all the notes and documents you may have missed. There has been a DLC announced (the game is coming to PS4 soon) and I assume it will be released for Steam as well. It might be worth picking up if it's not too much.
Overall: It's a horror game done right. Though I was expecting mostly tropes and banality - it actually delivered the goods. As long as you're not expecting to fight anything, you should come away happy (for a horror fan). The game may move too slow for some people, but for me it was pretty much spot on. It may not replace my all-time favorite horror games, but for this generation, it does the job and is worth seeking out.
Presentation: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Replayability: 3/5
Overall (not an average): 4/5
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