This game is more than just Hotline Miami mixed with Splinter Cell; as the title suggests. With its highly competent AI that actually thinks, uses tactics and has self preservation, combined with near one shot deaths on normal and fun gunplay that makes either stealth or loud playthroughs a blast. The story is a bit one note, but it's simply a device to drive and explain the gameplay. The soundtrack is also phenomenal (please add on GOG). This is a must buy for any stealth or top down shooter fans.
If you enjoyed the base game, then you will enjoy Whistleblower. It is a rather short add on, but well worth it. It sums up the story of the base game. It goes through the events of how this whole thing started and shows the true ending. The new characters that are added are all interesting additions and it still has the awesome chase and puzzle sequences of the first. All in all I have no real complaints besides that it is kinda short.
This is going down as one of my favorite horror games ever. I usually don't enjoy these "coward simulators" as another reviewer put, but this one speaks to me. As the title says it is a short game. It only took me 3 hours to beat and I can see someone taking at most 6 hours. The story of outlast is mostly left in hidden documents around the asylum that you can collect and the silent protagonist writes down notes when the camcorder sees something of interest. However this in no way affects you experience if you decide not to go for them. You'll just be clued out of some stories. The gameplay is broken down into either exploring, being chased or solving a puzzle to progress. There are parts of the game that allows you to look around your area unimpeded by enemies, allowing you take in the sites and sounds. Then there are chase sequences of you running from the variants and trying to escape them. Finally there are small open-ended areas where you will have to find items or turn valves to proceed through to the next level, usually being chased by a variant during this. Now this game has no combat system, your choices are to run, hide or die. The only tool you have on you is a camera equipped with night vision, allowing you to pier into the darkness. However this drains your battery and there is a limited supply scattered around the asylum., so use it sparingly. The graphics, sound effects and music are top notch. They will seamlessly immerse you into the world of Outlast. Exploring Mount Massive was a total joy to do when the game is as good looking as this, however there is this weird grain effect on the screen. I tried removing, but it didn't work. It doesnt really affect the gameplay, it just looks weird at some points, but by no means something to make you stop playing. This is a must buy game for any fans of Horror. The game goes for $20 normally and $3 on sale. It is well worth buying at that price and is a must snatch when it's on sale.
