Buy Outlast

Sir Faulty's Scorecard

Personal Rating: "Worth purchasing"
Traditional Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Genre: Survival Horror

Things that go bump in the night

Outlast arrived on wave of hype after watching IGN's clip of the game scaring the crap out of many of its contributors. Personally, I love being terrified while gaming but alas very few horror games have been able to chill my blood to the bone and leave a path of sweat trickling down my back. Games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill had the market sown up in the early days but for this gamer they were nothing more than a snooze fest than an actual scare fest. Thanks to the buoyant indie scene horror seems to be coming into its own and particularly on the PC.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=195609400
A lot can be said how the original Amnesia: The Dark Descent changed the name of the game. By simply placing an ordinary and often troubled main protagonist into a world with no way of defending themselves but instead running and hiding from the terrors of the night; developers where finally able to allow pure horror to emerge from the shackles of weaponry.

Outlast takes place in a mental asylum on a dark and stormy night (what doesn't get scarier than that?) as you take control of a journalist, Miles Upsher, who acting on a tip-off that things are not well at all at the Mount Massive Mental Institute decides to take poke around to see if there is a valid story worth printing. Armed with nothing more than a hand held cam-corder his investigations will uncover a dark and deeply disturbing secret housed within its walls. It's better the player enter this sick and twisted world with as little information as possible so avoid youtube playthroughs and other detailed reviews until you have played it yourself.

Gameplay wise Outlast employs the same mechanics set about by Amnesia with the exception that the main character can now vault over obstacles in his course whilst fleeing from some of the most disturbing characters ever created for gaming. In between filming what you see you will be doing a lot of frantic running and hiding lest you forfeit your life.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=226065665
On a scariness level - Outlast succeeds admirably even outdoing Amnesia at its own game. This is truly a terrifying experience (up the ante by turning all the lights off and playing with headphones on) and with fantastic AAA style graphics truly immerses you in a world of horror that is coupled with a sparse but very tense soundtrack. The audio for Outlast and the various sound effects it employs to scare it players is top notch.

If I have one complaint about the game, it's that it gets bogged down by its length. For a horror game to be truly terrifying it needs to be able to sustain that tension and usually tension of this sort can only be sustained for a short period before it becomes rather rote and unfortunately Outlast does become rote somewhere in the middle. It seems the developers (Red Barrels) were far too in love with the idea of scaring gamers that they missed the number one rule - brevity! By the time Outlast reaches the final stages of its story it picks up a bit again (the story it tells is quite a good one for a game of this nature) although it does rely yet again on what's been told countless times before in the movies/print media so you probably won't be particularly surprised or shocked at its outcome.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=195609761
The DLC - called Whistleblower - that can be purchased to supplement Outlast is a truly harrowing afffair and I would say up's the scariness level by 10. Playing Whistleblower in the dark with the headphones on I could only sustain minutes rather than hours before actually developing a tension headache and on more than one occasion I was literally screaming out aloud in absolute terror and in the process frightening the rest of my household. The main villain in the asylum for this piece - a cannibalistic psycho with an electric chainsaw - is literally the stuff nightmares are made of and had my skin crawling for the majority of the DLC's length. The DLC also succeeds admirably when it comes to the tension because its literally over in 4hrs. I would love to see more additions to the main game like this campaign because I really enjoyed the DLC.


As it stands - Outlast is now my favorite horror game on the PC. It does frustrate me a little that developers, and that includes the Amnesia Developers, still haven't gotten the pattern down perfectly yet (there is no need to artificially inflate your game when it's a horror game) but for a start this is a game headed in the right direction. Lets hope they get hold of a good editor should there be a sequel.

The hours on record represent the time it took me to attempt to play the game. Basically, I paid full price for a game I'm too afraid to play.

Having 42 hours on record and 100% achievements on this game, I think I can provide a useful review. This is a great game and excels at what it was made for. That said, it is not for everybody. Thus, I shall be listing what to and what not to expect from it.

What to expect:
- Survival horror: there is no fighting (on your part), running and hiding is the aim of the game.
- Jump scares: yes, it's a survival HORROR for a reason. Keep a spare pair of underwear available when you are playing this game.
- Explicit and dark: violence, gore, vulgar language, some nudity and sexually related incidents all play a part in creating the dark, horrifying atmosphere of Outlast.
- Interesting storyline and background information: The storyline has a bit of a twist in the tale, things aren't exactly as you expected them to be. Also, with all the notes and documents one collects in this game, one gets a decent amount of background information which helps with the atmosphere of the game, develops the plot (and player understanding thereof) and gives the player insight as to the nature of the silent protagonist, as well as some of the antagonists you'll be facing.

What not to expect:
- Hours of replay value: your first playthrough will probably be about 5-6 hours and the DLC about 1-2 hours. As the game progression is always the same, there is little reason to play it again (with the exception of wanting to get achievements).
- Competitiveness: There is no form of multiplayer or leaderboards of any kind.
- Something suitable for children (you should have picked that up by now)
- Sunshine and roses
- Clean underwear
- Being able to sleep at night (slightly exaggerated)

I absolutely loved this game and highly recommend it to anyone that is a fan of the horror genre, whether it be movies or games. I hope the information listed will help you in your decision of whether or not to purchase this game.

Happy Gaming!

Let's get one thing straight: I am not a fan of horror. I'm a giant wuss, a man baby that screams at every jump scare and closes his eyes when things get too gruesome. It's a genre that is quite frankly too much for me and one I tend to avoid for the betterment of my own sanity.

All the same horror fascinates me. I'm intrigued by why anyone would voluntarily choose to experience something designed to terrify them, compelled by the different ways horror can be effective, and find myself continuously drawn to horror games especially it's the most difficult to do well and as a result the most interesting and impressive when it's done right.

Outlast might not be the absolute pinnacle of interactive horror, but it's certainly close and an impressive bar for other developers to shoot for. It knows how to not only startle you, but to petrify you in fear from the force of the terrors within it. It's vile and grotesque beyond question, perhaps the most disturbing game I've ever witnessed that is still making me cringe as I recall some of its most horrific moments. It does all this however in a way that's oddly, even scarily compelling, almost as if some dark part of you wants to see how far the developers are willing to take it or if there is ever any light at the end of a perpetually dark tunnel.

Outlast achieves much of this through an incredibly dense and oppressive atmosphere, and a deep understanding of its own mechanics. Your helpless in Outlast, forced to sneak and hide from enemies that can often see and hear you much better than you can them, but the game never becomes frustrating or tedious do to an almost constant supply of hiding places, or the ability to outrun your pursuers should you be spotted. This doesn't mean it's an easy game, or one you can casually run through without worrying over enemies, but it places you into situations you can't handle and never feels punishing the way too many horror games have a tendency to when they rely so heavily on trial and error.

This is thanks in part also to how well Outlast cements you into its world. There's never a moment where you feel like anything more than a helpless journalist with a camera, and this vulnerability and immersion is one of the most important factors in why this is such a terrifying game. Every stumble, heavy breathe, cut and bruise, and nervous peek of your character is presented in a way that makes you really feel as if you're inhabiting your character. He might be a blank slate in every other respect, but when you step into his shoes the real world seems to melt away as you traverse an almost literal hell on earth.

Everything in Outlast becomes secondary to scaring the living daylights out of you almost the second you grab your camera and step out of your car unprepared for what awaits you inside Mount Massive Asylum, and it's because it's so effective at this goal that it's easier to forgive some of its less polished aspects. A general lack of direction and inability to recall your objectives means it's easy to get lost running in circles, even more so with the nearly impenetrable darkness around you that often hides doors and pathways, and without any map to speak of even just retracing your own steps to try and rule out where you haven't been becomes a challenge that at times removed me from the experience as I was forced to resort to a guide just to progress.

The narrative as well, for as interesting is it is when you can see it cohesively laid out on paper, is told in such a way as to be all to often jumbled and convoluted past the point of anything intelligible if you aren't paying incredibly close attention to every line of dialogue and document picked up. Even then, it switches gears often enough as to seem almost intentionally written in such a way as to keep you constantly in the dark, guessing at the few threads that are thrown at you what it all might mean. There's a reluctance to commit traced throughout the entirety of Outlast, as if it's concerned about spending too much time on one character of story moment lest you begin to assume it's the main focus of the game. The end result is something that's consistently intriguing but rarely satisfying.

The most disappointing part of the experience though is the final chapter, which jumps the shark not only in terms of narrative, but also its setting which loses almost all of the terror of the areas that preceded it and closes the game out on a rather odd note. I didn't dislike it because of the ending, so much as I did what it did to the game as a whole, which up until that point had been nothing but consistently excellent.

But it should be taken as rather large praise that despite Outlast's very present issues, they rarely become more than a minor disappointment or anything you have time to think about with how intense and stressful just surviving in this asylum is. Developer Red Barrel doesn't know how to craft a narrative or direct the player particularly well, but they understand acutely how to do first person survival horror to a degree that deserves commendation. If you have any interest in horror of the most unsettling and macabre nature, Outlast deserves your time. As someone that appreciates horror for what it is more than what it does to me, Outlast succeeded in ways that truly surprised me, and now has me hesitantly interested in discovering more of the genre I've tried so hard to stay away from.

I played this for barely even 11 minutes 3 months ago and have been too afraid to play anymore since.

10/10

As soon as I get out of here I am going to write a poor review for this hospital on Yelp.

*starts new game*

*gets out of car and looks at asylum*

*quits game and erases my hard drive*

10/10 would erase my hard drive again

Developer: Red Barrels
Genre: Survival horror
Mode: Single-player
Release year: 2013

☺Very atmospheric, dark soundtrack
☺Intense and thrilling chase moments
☺Interesting story of the crazy asylum
☺Well designed levels that are fun to explore
☺Graphically a nice looking game

☹Relies too much on jumpscares
☹Hiding in same lockers and under same beds gets repetitive

• The game contains nudity. If you don't mind seeing a few whistles from time to time, it shouldn't be a huge issue. No but seriously, I wouldn't recommend this game for younger audience.

Personal Rating: "Worth playing"
Traditional Rating: 8/10

"A sick ride, but in a good way. Definitely one of my favorite horror games on PC."

I told my gf horror games don't scare me. I screamed like a little girl.

10/10 won't play again.

heart attack simulator 2013

PROS:
- Scary

CONS:
- Scary

New Pants needed

I found a guy fapping

I do not scare easily, for my heart is filled with darkness and I probably have no soul. I marathon horror films in the middle of the night, solo. I went to Great America's Halloween Haunt and annoyed the employees by trying to scare them instead. I also jumped off a building one time. I'm kind of like Will Smith in that crappy After Earth movie, but without the scientology and a bad actor known as Jaden Smith.

This game, however, changed things for me. It put fear back into my heart. Its tendrils, so tenderly burrowed its way into my amygdala, from the very bottom of my bunghole.

I started out in a car. When I got out, there was a building. I realized I was very tall. This pleased me, because in reality, I am not that tall. I got through a gate door and fiddled around with the controls to learn the game. Walking to the building, I discovered the door was locked, so I had to find another path. To the left, there was a small opening that I had to crawl through like a dog. Dog is the preferred meat source of my people. Getting through that hole, I saw an open window a few stories up. I had to climb like Assassin's Creed.

Once I got inside, the lights turned off. I got scared and jumped back out the window. Then I decided to kill myself because I did not want to go any further, so I jumped over the edge. I plummeted to my death, only to be ressurected by the stupid game.

I knew I had to continue, so I walked around. I went into another room across a hallway. The TV turns on, but that doesn't scare me. I keep moving. I see vending machines and a vent. I don't want to go into the vent, but I guess I have to. Going through the vent, I see some guy running around. I'm scared so I stay there for a while.

After a while, I decide to jump down. There is a door, I open it. Something jumps out at me. I scream at the top of my lungs. I hide back in the vent for a while. I finally am brave enough to leave the vent and continue through the dark room filled with corpses. I come across a guy dying. He tells me random things. I don't really care. I'm scared.

I find batteries in a bathroom. There is a hand sticking out of the toilet. I wonder if It will wipe me.

I leave the bathroom and continue on. There is no way to go except for this tiny passageway I have to squeeze through. I decide to squeeze through. Out of nowhere, some giant fat dude with no skin grabs me and says something. I scream at the top of my lungs as he throws me through the tinted window. I continue screaming for a while at the top of my lungs. I see some guy going through my things.

I can't do this anymore. This game is too scary. Save and Exit.

http://youtu.be/DxKLkRQ7QWw

Outlast is a true horror game. This game scared me more often than many horror films to date. If you want to experience the fear and adrenaline of running through dark hallways with an injured leg while being chased by men that can only be described as nightmares incarnate, then you must play this game. There are plenty of horrific characters you meet along the way and a false sense of hope around every corner and at each door. Please, do yourself a favor and play this EXPERIENCE. As a sidenote i just finished the dlc Whistleblower and it was well executed too. I give this game a 10/10.

Ok let me start of by saying that i have loved the "survival horror" genre of games for some time and i must admit that i walked into this ones with my eyes open expecting it to neither A- frighten me or B- SHOCK me and to be honest it did both at some point in this game but their was one scene in particular (wont say what as it will really spoil that moment for you) that i still havent forgotten about now.
Now when you start the game you will notice that you have no weapon just a camera and an urge to discover the truth behind the information you have been sent and for this sort of game that pays dividends as you really do need to play the game and observe and listen and eventually it all makes sense.
The graphics in this game do their job perfectly and the sound also plays a heavy factor (and does its job perfectly too) in creating a very forboding and oppresive attmosphere.Let me say that a lot of people have been saying that there are a lot of games at the moment that leave you defenceless and you are allways having to hide (dare i mention a classic here AMNESIA) but for this sort of game it makes complete sense,honestly in the real world is there a gun and ammunition lying around on every street corner "NO",so in this game it makes sense and makes an allready scary game (my opinion) even more of an edge of your seat experienece.
Like i say its better not to explain to much on story details as it would ruin the whole thing lets just say this when you see the first guy and he speaks to you,you know where the game is headed and what sort of experience you will have (a solitary one and one you wont forget that easily) OH AND THE HEADS EERRGGHH,and lets just hope we get a sequel as the ending just begs explanation and also i am eager to get back to "MOUNT MASSIVE ASYLUM" myself and take my MEDICINE again.

(NEW DLC "WHISTLE BLOWER" OUT SO WILL BE ADDING THIS TO THE REVIEW WHEN I GET AROUND TO PLAYING IT)

"What are you going to play next?"
"Umm. Outlast I guess. It's been in my backlog since summer. Supposed to be scary or something."

And there I went. Oblivious to what I was getting into. Honestly, I had only watched 2 minutes of vids online
and a Conan O Brian review. Then came the game; immediately creepy. And it quickly moved on to scary and terrifying.
The world seemed a bit Portal 2-ish, but the actual gameplay...was amazing. Pacing, story, real HORROR, and tension
like I had not really felt in a horror game. Not that I have played a ton of horror titles, but I would put it on par with early Silent Hill games.

I won't go into the details. Really, it would spoil it for you. Honestly, very basic. You are a reporter checking out the weird stuff
happening at the aslyum. And then you walk in into an evil Wonderland complete with menacing large evil killers and a nutso with
no pants.

Speaking of that, tweedle-nude and tweedle-nuder didn't get me once. I was kinda proud of that.

You can't fire a gun or use a weapon. The only defense is running, hiding, ducking, and having your heart up in your throat
as Chris Walrider walks by you...aw! He found me! AwHHHHHH!! RUNNNN!!!

Of all the games I have played this year, this has to be one of the best made in totality. The length is just right. Cues and
progression move at an exact rhythm that does not allow you to slow your scare down. The jumpscares are there, but are by no means
the meat of the game. There are no useless time wasting missions. Everything has a reason and the most annoying mission in the game
is perhaps one of the most terrifying when you do not know what will happen next at all. Normal difficulty is not impossible and not once
did I get stuck on geometry. A few things are not apparent - that much is true. Granted, if they were the game would not be hard enough.
It's just right. Really. It's absolutely just right. Kudos to the dev team.

At one point I told my buddy I was really wasn't super scared anymore by about the middle of the game. BUT. I could not play for more than
an hour or so or my heart would not slow down enough for me to sleep well. Too much tension. Then he said "Isn't that what terrifying means?"
He was right. Even when the horrific graphics no longer phased me, it was the sheer tension of the game that kept me in it's grip.
That is amazing, and impressed me more than many AAA titles I've played in the past.

Locker hiding simulator 2013.

10/10

The first time I played this game, I decided that leaning back in my chair was a good idea.
It wasnt a good idea.

Constipated? Have a seat on the toilet while playing this game and watch all of your problems "go right down the crapper".

10/10 would ♥♥♥♥ myself and fall backwards in my chair again.

I did my first play-through of Outlast on Nightmare difficulty, where you get a max of 2 batteries and get insta-killed by certain enemies. It lasted about 10 hours and rates as THE top horror gaming experience in my 20 years of gaming. I walked away feeling very satisfied.

Pros:
-Not just about the cheap jump scares
-Very strong, dark atmosphere
-Interesting story and ending
-Tons of gore and creepy stuff
-Great music and sound effects
-Effective use of light and shadow
-Constant tension from being hunted and almost running out of batteries
-No weapons

Cons:
-Would have liked more unique inmates and variety in inmate animations


Whoever finishes this game in 2 hours is completely ignoring the story, the dialogue, the documents, the atmosphere, and probably just playing on normal difficulty. Turn off the lights, ramp up the difficulty, let yourself be immersed and take your time. That's how Outlast is meant to be played.