Oh, and by the way – The Whistleblower really turns the horror up to eleven!
At around the same length (5-6 hours), The Whistleblower is a worthwhile experience in its own right, but it also serves to fill out the fantastic plot of the original game, including more than just a few nods as the two stories intersect. The Whistleblower is a bundled DLC pack which is centered around the man who provides Upshur with the tip off, and acts as a prequel to the main campaign. The Whistleblower – Outlast features a story about Miles Upshur, a journalist responding to an anonymous tip which suggests that questionable practices are taking place at Mount Massive Mental Asylum.
The graphics, lighting, sound and control inputs all work just as they should to enhance the experience in a way which ensures that Outlast competes with benchmark scarefests like Amnesia without any trouble. Even though Upshur has no weapons, the game is forgiving enough to be playable, but never so easy that fear becomes irrelevant. Outlast may be dark and foreboding, but the plot and desire to escape will keep players moving forwards.
The game is full of systems which enhance this – Upshur’s hands appear on corners to signify that leaning out with one of the triggers is an option, whilst the same buttons can also be used during sprinting to glance behind you (something which is more disorientating than it is useful, but it’s also irresistible on occasion).Ĭinematic appeal – Unlike a lot of supposedly scary games, Outlast has been put together by a team that clearly understands how to control and harmonize the pace, plot and systems required to create a unique and terrifying experience. The result is a game which is dark and brooding, with an oppressive atmosphere that never leaves the player feeling entirely comfortable. That’s right folks, although you’ll meet some of the most twisted bad guys we’ve ever seen in a game before, you’ll have absolutely no option to go on the offensive. Outlast literally uses everything (including the kitchen sink) to maintain a heightened state of tension throughout – in fact, the game is played from a first person perspective, in the style of a ‘found footage’ movie, and the player is armed only with a handheld video camera (with night vision mode). Set in the Mount Massive Mental Asylum, Outlast locks the player into a 5 to 6 hour long campaign which maintains a generally high level of intensity, with downtime offered only occasionally (and fleetingly) as main character Miles Upshur desperately navigates his way towards an ever more elusive escape.Ī change of trousers – So, you don’t think a videogame can be scary? Think again! As far as terrifying experiences go, Outlast is right up there with the very best horror movies, and we would challenge even those with the sturdiest of constitutions to play through this game without feeling at least a few twinges of fear. Red Barrels is one such developer, and with the excellent Outlast, they have succeeded in creating a game which is not only genuinely frightening, but which also benefits from an interesting story, and a level of engagement which really enhances the overall experience. Throughout the history of video games, there have always been developers who set out to scare, shock, terrify and otherwise freak out an audience of gamers that is increasingly more resilient to zombies, vampires, blood, gore and all of the usual tactics. It was released Jon Xbox One for $19.99/£16.99 and includes The Whistleblower DLC. Outlast was developed and published by Red Barrels.