Outland Review
Finnish game developers have a reputation for being technical experts in their craft. This combined with a spark of creativity has led to a thriving native industry. Housemarque’s Outland is a game that certainly justifies the reputation of their nationality – it is a smooth and visually stunning game.
As far as 2D platformers go, Outland is by far one of the most stylish and eye catching. Players are treated to a silhouetted presentation that is supported by a background that provides the character to each unique level – from a lush forest to a meteor shower. The foreground adopts more of a minimalist style by combining contrasting colours over the black imagery. The contrast between light and dark is a central theme running throughout Outland and the visual display only helps to illustrate the accompanying plot. If anything the game’s narrative is its weak point as it literally boils down to the traditional good versus evil theme in which you play an incarnation of an ancient warrior, battling to prevent the destruction of the world. Of course this is not so much of an issue when you are served such an elegant blend of gameplay. Unfortunately the game does not bring anything new to the table in terms of core ideas, in fact it borrows the colour switching mechanic from Ikaruga. The feeling of familiarity that runs through the game is a bit of a down side when the game’s presentation feels so fresh. Considering this though, it is not the delivery of innovation from the developers that makes Outland so fun to play, but the mastery in which they have taken previous ideas and combined them to provide a tight and enjoyable experience.
Do not be fooled by its beauty though, Outland is no pushover. It is true that the game eases the player in by tasking them to fight simple creatures and traverse only the most basic of traps and pits at first. Eventually the momentum does pick up a little when the player discovers an ancient power that enables them to switch alignment between blue and red (light and dark). At the this point the environment becomes a lot more tricky to move around in as the player must rely on quick reactions from both their head and their fingers. The challenge is fit for even the most outspoken platforming masters; timing is impeccable and at times even feels impossible. The player must juggle correctly judging jumps along with understanding the patterns of the spirit energy being pumped around the screen. Like the player, this comes in either blue or red and the player must match the colour if they are to pass through it safely. The escalation of difficulty is slow but sure, and in the end the game will show no mercy to those who have braved it thus far. This gives further reason for the player to stop and stare at the screen; firstly to admire the beauty of the game, but to then also figure out how to cross its gauntlets unscathed. Undoubtedly this is a frustrating experience and there will be times when taking damage will seem a fair compromise to progress through the levels. However, the game ultimately rewards the patient and thoughtful and will seek only to punish those who resort to blind luck.
Outland is a smooth and delectable platformer, but it also offers variation by tasking the player with combat. At the most basic the player must only swing their sword to defeat large spiders and armed warriors. Further into the game a vast range of enemies is introduced but the player’s biggest concern will be their spirit colour. While the obstructive balls of spirit energy must be matched in order to absorb them, the player can only deal damage to foes by wearing the opposing colour. As can be imagined, this often becomes a difficult balance and one that will lead to many an untimely death. Yet, when all seems to have reached some form of a peak in difficulty, a boss battle inevitably arrive. Fighting these large titans will test all the skills acquired up to that point and any mistakes are severely punished. Do not expect the game to be forgiving. For a 2D platformer these boss battles prove surprisingly epic in proportion with the music and visuals blending to deliver an experience worthy of the ancient Greek battles between mortal and deity. Admittedly a couple of these battles seem too unfair at times, but worse than this is the dangerously familiar tones emanating from them – with at least two of them directly mimicking moments from Shadow of the Colossus. Whether this is a shameful copy paste job or a tribute, at least a similar quality to the efforts of Team Ico’s masterpiece is realised. Housemarque’s ability to transform previous ideas into a fresh experience is admirable.
When it is all over there is reason to revisit areas due to the new abilities gained throughout the game. Breaking through the ground, shooting across the sky and sliding through tunnels are just some of the abilities drip-fed to the player. Unlike other games, Outland is tailored so that new moves are not dumped on the player at the start, but are instead earned through progression. Time is therefore allowed for the player to master each ability with another plus being that there are surprises throughout the entire length of the game. This also ensures that there are plenty of hidden areas to discover, where money and Marks of the Gods can be found and collected, that were not accessible earlier in the game. These abilities seem to be a gift at first as they provide new ways of defeating enemies and make combat richer than simply slashing a sword. It soon becomes clear that reward comes at a price as the game now has a new obstruction to match the newly gained ability. The requirement to be precise, quick thinking and to become a master of timing is but an understatement when considering Outland. Why limit the frustration to just yourself though? Online co-op is available, but unfortunately the whole game does not cater to this mode. Designated co-op levels are provided for a duo to take their frustrations out on each other. Expect no let up from the game, but only even more complex challenges that will require patience and teamwork. It is perhaps for fear of the fights that may ensue, that a local co-op is not available. Players will have to suffice with shouting at each other through their headsets – probably for the best really.
After all is said and done it is clear that Outland is a superb game. Attracting newcomers with such a fantastic presentation acts as the façade of seductive beauty. Beneath the surface however, lies a demonically challenging game that seeks to condition its players to the delights of torture. You will not have to sell your soul to conquer the challenges within, but Outland will ensure that the taste of blood resides in your mouth.
Review summary Pros:
Seductively beautiful, challenging, epic bosses
Cons:
Low replayability
Rating: 87%
