Outcast - Second Contact

I had the original long time ago but never finished it, I remember vaguely having problems running it. This version is loyal to the original but moving around is smoother and easier. The good: the various locations are interesting and perfectly sized. So you don't get too fed up running around despite some back-and-forth quests. Also, no handholding, just a logbook that saves the important things from discussions. I wish all games had this instead of quest logs written for simple people. The story is interesting and gives motivation to play. Writing is very good with an occasional joke and varied NPC's. The game ends before stretching the plot unnecessarily. Also, you can manually save which is a big plus for me in every game. Dead enemies stay dead without respawning, another big plus. The bad: few bugs like alt-tabbing made spacebar not work anymore in the game. It's possible but rare to get stuck in environment. Also, looking for quest items on the ground may be a bit difficult. And lack of manual or tooltips in inventory is bad because you don't know how to use (or why use) some items that are already part of the starting kit. But you don't need them all. Only 3 manual save slots. Overall, this is a good example of a remake done well, and the epic plot kept me interested through the journey.

I have not played the original game, and looking at videos of its gameplay I wouldn't want to suffer playing it. In contrast, this remake is quite playable. It has better controls, graphics, and other small quality of life improvements, but they are better only somewhat. I think this remake was too faithful to the original game. The game is still very clunky and buggy. The animations are simplistic and often broken or downright silly, especially in the later part of the game. Combat is terrible, bullet-sponge enemies gang on you in large groups spamming their one attack. AI sometimes shows brilliance, like when NPCs communicate to others about you attacking, but then then get stuck between buildings or run in circles. Killing them is not particularly difficult, it is just a chore. Don't even attempt stealth - it is useless. The environmental design might have been excellent at the time of the original, but it is clear how much modern games are better in this regard. The interface is OK, but halfway through the game I found out that there is a hidden help screen with some much needed explanations, especially regarding some objects in your inventory. The story is passable with lots of voiced dialogues, but the audio quality is terrible. Performance-wise I had no problems after I disabled vsync, which caused heavy stuttering. Overall, it is a game for enthusiasts. If you can play only one game in the series, I recommend choosing Outcast A New Beginning - a much better game in the same setting.

Outcast is my favourite game since i played the original classic back in 2000. Second contact is it's remake with stunning visuals! I can only recommend it!

Got a fun throwback with this one

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