Outlast 2

Outlast is a cross-platform computer game in the survival horror genre developed and released by the Red Barrels company. Its second part continues the storyline we already know and for sure isn’t less horrible and still will test your faith but with some new characters and places that appear. As the developers say about Outlast 2 is that the only sane thing to do in this game is to become insane. Let’s see why.

Graphics 5/5

Outlast 2 comes with much prettier graphics and visuals. Characters and animation are at the peak. The lighting is realized superbly, and in combination with the game’s textures, you might sometimes wonder why the picture is so realistic. Also, the locations like a hospital or a slaughterhouse as well as landscapes in the second part are more detailed and diverse.

Progressing through the game, you will see such terrible things that it will be hard not to turn off the monitor and run away from your PC. Everything looks so realistic that this game is definitely not for a coward people.

Gameplay 4.5/5

The developers do not hide the fact that the game’s storyline is based on the real history about one American cult - Peoples Temple founded by Jim Jones. In 1978, in Johnstown where members of this sect settled, 909 people committed suicide at the same time. The actual reasons of this horrific tragedy are still unknown and cause a lot of disputes among specialists. But there are a lot of common between the histories of Outlast 2 and Peoples Temple and this makes the gameplay even more realistic and scary.

You play as Blake Langermann - a journalist and an operator who works together with his wife, Lynn. You two are ready to take risks and investigate a case that no one would have dared to get to know closer.

You start the researching after a pregnant woman was murdered. But just before you arrive there your helicopter crashes and some religious fanatics kidnap your wife Lynn, so you have to start looking for her. The search leads you into the dark depths of the Arizona desert and you need to make a lot of efforts not to go crazy there.

The interesting thing about the game is that your hero Blake can’t confront his enemies, so all he has to do is to flee and hide. Some new movements appear in the second part such as sliding and crawling and will help you to run away from the pursuers. But if you didn’t run away on time there is an opportunity to heal wounds was added. You’ll also have a scale of endurance and, if you’re exhausted, the chance to be caught by the pursuers tends to 100%.

Even though you have a great variety of enemies among religious cultists and heathens, not all of them are deadly dangerous. Sometimes you can get just a few knocks from them and walk away or not get attacked at all if you keep a right distance. There are also numerous documents and notes in the game that might be clues for you and can also provide answers to many questions that you’ll likely have while playing this game.

Controls 4/5

Outlast 2 has quite unusual mechanics. Your hero is just a journalist and he can not fight or shoot. Therefore, you’re armed with a camera that has a night shooting mode and should try to escape from your enemies hiding under the beds, in the empty lockers, barrels, climbing through the ventilation tunnels, blocking doors behind you, etc. Just remember that the battery in the camera that helps you see in the darkness is not infinite. So you need to change it periodically. Otherwise, you won’t have any chances to survive.

The camera of your hero in addition to the night shooting mode has the ability to hear sounds and dialogues through walls and obstacles. Thus, you can track the movements of opponents, without leaving your hiding place. You can also save records from the camera and review them later.

Replay Value 4/5

Outlast 2 is a nice simulator for adults with a fascinating storyline and endless attempts to slip away from the undead monsters. The game will scare you seriously from time to time, but only in the beginning and then you’re getting used to all of these scary moments quickly. So this game won’t make you busy for a long time simply because it will stop being frightening for you after awhile.

Conclusion

Outlast 2 has beautiful and deadly scaring visuals, interesting controls, unusual mechanics and in overall is so frightening that you’ll be afraid to go back to it. But while you are playing, it will be hard to tear yourself away from the screen.

• Graphics 5
• Gameplay 4.5
• Controls 4
• Replay Value 4

Pros

great mystic storyline with unexpected twists;
improved graphics;
amazing characters' animation;

Cons

the camera needs to be charged too often;
high level of the game’s complexity;