In 2013 developer Red Barrels introduced us to the disconcerting world of Outlast.
Set in the confines of a claustrophobic mental institution,
the only option for survival is to run or hide.
Now, they look to frighten you once again in the long anticipated sequel,
but does Outlast 2 rely on the same old tricks or trigger new nightmares?
The plot follows a different set of characters in an entirely new location.
Investigative journalists Blake Langermann and his wife Lynn
are following the murder of a young woman
when their plane mysteriously crashes in the Arizona desert.
Lynn goes missing, and it’s up to you to navigate the extreme conditions to find her.
Soon you encounter a deranged cult preparing for the Apocalypse
and things quickly get out of hand.
There is an underlying mystery that helps drive the plot forward,
but the core motivation is to save Lynn.
The game does an impressive job of building its world,
but the voice acting for Blake is inconsistent
and the convoluted climax fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
As in the first game, going on the offensive isn’t an option.
You have to evade enemies or look for hiding spots,
and you can only sustain a handful of injuries.
Resource management and efficient movement
are key to surviving the perilous encounters.
Closets, barrels and beds are viable places to escape would-be attackers.
On normal difficulty, it can be easy to exploit their weaknesses,
and sometimes simply sprinting around enemies is the best approach,
but that’s also what makes Outlast 2’s encounters so great.
Being chased through a corn field or a farm house is exhilarating,
and these frantic moments offer a nice balance
between slowly navigating the more claustrophobic sections of the compound.
Each situation is a matter of life or death, creating a constant sense of vulnerability.
There are rare occurrences when not knowing where to run can be frustrating,
and those trial and error moments can diminish the tension.
While the original Outlast relied heavily on jump scares,
the sequel emphasizes psychological mind games.
The jumps are still prevalent, but they feel far less contrived this time around
in favor of a more tightly crafted adventure.
There is a concentrated effort to absorb you in the world
with long stretches of traversal in the open wilderness
and quiet moments in decaying buildings or structures.
Outlast 2’s greatest strength is its atmosphere.
There is clear inspiration from films like The Hills Have Eyes,
The Sacrament and The Descent
but Red Barrels have still managed to create a unique world.
Murky woods, mutilated corpses and dilapidated cottages
contribute to a constant feeling of trepidation.
The attention to detail in each environment is enveloping,
hindered only by the fact that it’s hard to stop and take in the sights
while being constantly hunted.
Deranged lunatics prowl the surroundings hell-bent on killing you,
and the sinister soundtrack ramps up at all the right moments.
The vast Arizona desert feels isolated from the rest of the world,
emphasizing vulnerability and loneliness.
There is also a mysterious alternate reality that constantly absorbs Blake,
and the clean classrooms and hallways are a stark contrast to the grimy villages.
Technically the game runs smoothly
but it freezes momentarily during auto saves.
This isn’t really an issue throughout most of the six hour journey,
but sometimes the brief pauses disrupt the tension
and momentum of climatic moments.
As before, your only tool is a camcorder
which now comes with a directional microphone
that can be used to locate enemies through walls and other objects.
There are a few moments when the microphone is helpful,
but it’s mostly unnecessary.
Another new addition is the way recording events ties into storytelling.
Important elements can be recorded by aiming the camera towards them,
but it takes time to fully document the proceedings.
This can be especially unnerving
when trying to record vital information during hostile situations.
The most important function of the camera is night vision,
which drains the batteries considerably.
There are times when Blake is engulfed in darkness,
and the only way to see is with the night vision,
emphasizing the value of each precious battery.
Outlast 2 is relentless in its assault on your senses
with palpable feelings of tension, danger, and anxiety.
You’re always on the run, constantly at risk,
and lost in the Arizona wilderness, surrounded by menacing nightmares.
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