Outlast 2

Similar to its predecessor, Outlast II casts you as an investigative journalist with a night vision-powered camera in hand, and no means to fight off foes. While the setup feels familiar, the terrors that lurk in the darkness are terrifyingly foreign.

At the beginning of the demo, I’m staring at a burning cross. Soon, despite a crippling injury, I wander into an eerie small town in the dead of night, but it’s not as deserted as it first seems. Shadowy figures stare me down in distant bushes, and I find appalling scenes like a blood-soaked manger and a pit filled with hundreds of corpses.

However, Outlast II’s biggest threats aren’t necessarily human. A supernatural chill fills the air, and I’m dragged into a well headfirst by what looks like a giant tongue. I become disoriented, confused, and horrified. The inside of the well transforms into the air vents inside a school, and soon I’m walking down a hallway, looking over my shoulder to make sure I’m not followed. But even with this extra caution, a ghoul with long hair, similar to the monster in The Grudge, jumps out at me without warning and I scream.

While Outlast II plays much like the original, Red Barrels notes that some changes are coming to the series, including a microphone mechanic. “We want to give the player a new perspective with the microphone,” says David Chateauneuf, co-founder and game designer at Red Barrels. “Like you can see in the demo, there are left and right [audio channels], so we’re trying to give some tools to the player to know if his opponent is close or far.”

This microphone addition gives players a better idea of the proximity of foes, and whether they should run and hide or continue forward. Chateauneuf also mentions the team is working on a segment that takes place on a lake, where players must swim through a dark body of water whilst fearing something below the waves could drag them down.

“We have a new environment at a lake, so you can expect to have some exotic gameplay there,” Chateauneuf says.

There are lots of horror games out there, but there aren't many that are as terrifying and controversial as Outlast 2. This first-person horror adventure was created by Red Barrels, an indie developer who has been scaring our socks off with gruesome games for several years. Outlast 2 puts players in the midst of a waking nightmare, left defenseless to fend off crazed lunatics and other supernatural horrors. Like the first game, Outlast 2 pushes boundaries and will likely leave your jaw on the floor. For horror game enthusiasts, this is one game you won't want to miss.

Main Game Features

• Terrifying first-person gameplay
• Navigate the dark with only your handheld camera
• Controversial storytelling

Story

Although Outlast 2 is a sequel to the first game, Outlast, the story is a beast of its own. With minimal connections to the original game, Outlast 2 focuses on a new character who must endure a brutal trip through an unforgiving wilderness, all while being hunted by horrendous humans. In the game, you control Blake Langermann, a cameraman who travels to Arizona to help his wife film a news story about a recent murder. When their helicopter crash lands in the nearby desert and Blake's wife is kidnapped by a crazed cult, he must venture into unknown territory to rescue her and escape with his life.

First and foremost, Outlast 2 is an extremely graphic game that pushes your buttons and does its best to evoke a response. If you're bothered by sexual violence or extreme gore, this probably isn't the game for you. However, if you're a horror fan who loves it when things get exceptionally disgusting, you'll find Outlast 2 to be more than satisfactory. While the main plot becomes a bit disjointed toward the end of the game, it does a good job propelling the player from one terrifying moment to the next.

Gameplay

Outlast 2 is a game that's more about survival than anything else, as you won't have any weapons to help you beat back the bloodthirsty killers that lurk in the nearby wilderness. The only tool you have is a handheld camera, equipped with handy night vision, which helps you weave through the shadows without tripping over your feet. Similar to games like Fatal Frame, the focus is on recording the brutal things you encounter while dodging any monsters or enemies that appear along the way. Basically, your only options are to run and hide or die trying to escape.

Outlast 2 does a good job highlighting various phobias, with segments designed to heighten fears like claustrophobia, fear of open water, and many others. Even if you're a seasoned horror gamer who's seen a fair share of blood, Outlast 2 has plenty of surprises up its sleeve. The gameplay is thoroughly exciting and nerve-racking, although it lacks some action from time to time. While you won't be blasting past bad guys with a shotgun or pistol, Outlast 2 still creates a memorable experience with its simple mechanics and wonderfully realistic graphics.

Conclusion

Without spoiling too much of the story, Outlast 2 takes players to some unbelievably dark places and you should prepare yourself for what's to come. If you've got a strong stomach and don't scare easily, Outlast 2 is a wild horror adventure that's memorable in multiple ways.

Pros

• Excellent graphics and atmosphere
• Truly disturbing horror
• Nice variety of scares

Cons

• Gameplay is very simple
• Some scenes feel exploitative
• More gore than suspense