Outlast

Editor's Notes

PS4 version reviewed. 'Outlast' is also available on the PC.

Introduction

There is no shortage of video game genres. 'Call of Duty' and 'Battlefield' lead the first-person shooter pack, while heavy hitters like 'Uncharted' and ' Tomb Raider' have nearly perfected the third-person action adventure game. And let's not forget RPGs, turn-based strategy games, point-and-click adventures, fighting games, racers (simulated and arcade), puzzlers, and platformers; the list truly goes on and on. No less significant is survival horror, a genre that many associate with the likes of the original 'Resident Evil' and 'Silent Hill' games, where the focus is on resource management, puzzle solving, and flight over fight. Over the years, the horror genre has seen a metamorphosis in gameplay style and mechanics, where running and hiding has been replaced with heavy combat and intense action; a change met with a mixture of praise and frustration from fans and critics alike.

Now though, through indie and other smaller developers communities who have embraced the essence of true survival horror, a steady stream of titles that more appropriately fit the genre's origins have been released, including Frictional Games' 'Amnesia: The Dark Descent' and 'A Machine for Pigs', Parsec Productions' 'Slender: The Eight Pages', and most recently, Red Barrels' 'Outlast.' Originally developed and released for the PC in September 2013, 'Outlast' has now found its way to the PlayStation 4 as one of February's Instant Game Collection titles, but is it a continued step in the right direction for survival horror?

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

'Outlast' drops you into the shoes of ambitious investigative reporter, Miles Upshur. Working from an anonymous tip, you begin this nightmare driving to the closed gates of Mount Massive Asylum, determined to uncover the hideous secrets certain to propel you to fame and notoriety. From a first-person perspective, you are armed with only your handheld camcorder and a pocket full of batteries. The mystery of Mount Massive sets the stage for an adventure into the depths of human depravity, tense action, and untreatable madness generally found in the imaginings of John Carpenter, Stephen King, and Clive Barker.

The facility's dark and disturbing history is unraveled through a variety of case files, bloody wall scrawlings, and the insane ramblings of the asylum's inhabitants. The animals have taken over the zoo – killing all administrators and security guards - and you quickly realize that your ambitions as a reporter may have finally gotten the better of you. What started as an investigation alters course and becomes a desperate struggle for survival.

In true survival horror fashion, encounters with the insane boil down you with a single choice – run, hide, survive; hide in a locker, under a bed, or in the darkest corners. Your camera has a built in night vision mode, giving you a slight advantage over your crazed hunters. They may be physically overpowering - able to end your life with a few hits - but they are unable to see in total darkness. As a result, batteries (and battery life) become essential to your survival. Like finding a health pack in any other game, finding batteries extends your ability to navigate the labyrinthine corridors, sewers, and wards; all of which attempt to confuse and disorient you.

Because 'Outlast' places great emphasis on the hide-and-seek game mechanic, I enjoyed relying on some sensible abilities such as leaping over path-blocking tables, closing doors behind you to slow down your pursuer's progress, and using the quick-look to check over your shoulder to gauge how close or far death may be. It invokes a heightened sense of tension in an already consistently tense and desperate situation. Building and maintaining tension is what 'Outlast' is all about.

Still, as often as my heart would race – whether from jump-out-of-your-seat scares or a brutish mental patient chasing you down – I couldn't help but question the inability to use something (anything) as a meager form of protection. I understand the intent the developers at Red Barrels had when creating 'Outlast', but at some point rationality kicks in. A pipe, lamp, or even a loose floor board, anything that could be used (however ineffective) against your human aggressors would have been appreciated. I'm not suggesting 'Outlast' include a combat mechanic, but when faced with such desperation, my suspension of disbelief, even for a video game, began to wear thin.

While 'Outlast' did a fantastic job of keeping me on the edge, I was disappointed with the inclusion of some rather tired and overused video game tropes. How many times have we had to start up 'X' number of generators, locate keys and/or keycards to unlock doors, and turn on or off a variety of of valves? Thankfully, these directives never took me completely out of the game as there was always the presence of a greater threat. However, I do feel the developers missed out on an opportunity to take 'Outlast' to the next level by displaying more creativity with a better array of puzzle solving.