This is my first Outlast game, and I really, really like the game, to the point where the other Outlast games are high up on my backlog now. I have done a good mix of solo and multiplayer gameplay, as well as having A+ in both the Program Genesis and Program X and dipped my toes into Program Ultra (though I will probably go for the A+ in that too).
The gameplay mechanics are intuitive, well-crafted and fun. I personally love stealth games, and I do like how the enemies have a somewhat unpredictable patrol pattern. The level design and mission structure is incredible, barring Vindicate The Guilty (wtf were they thinking). The MK-challenges are diverse enough to the point where I do not notice I am
playing on the same map. This, combined with the multiple variators including weekly variators, stretches the measly five maps' content thin.
While I love this game, this game is a $40 live service game made by a small team. Genuinely new content that will assist in bringing in new and old players will be at a snail's pace, only for casual fans to consume said content in ~5 hours. In addition, with the current structure of the game, there is nothing to keep playing for unless you're a hardcore fan getting 1000+ reborns.
Speaking of reborns, let's talk about progression: It sucks. There is no incentive to do Program Ultra or even Program X because I can simply gain reborn tickets from doing Program Genesis. There are no exclusive cosmetic rewards in any of the programs, only the additional money and XP gain, which I will not need because I will just do the "Sabotage the Lockdown" MK-challenge in 3 minutes and gain a rebirth ticket with some additional XP and cash. I don't like to backseat gamedev in reviews, but I would just make it so you can only gain rebirth tickets on first completion in Program Genesis, and replace the "Sabotage the Lockdown" MK-challenge in both Program X and Ultra. In addition, add exclusive rewards only obtainable in those Programs.
I was going to give this game a lower star rating, but many of my complaints are addressed in the roadmap: New events, new MK-challenges, new trials, a new prime asset (thank god), new rigs and amps, as well as other things that incentives people to come back: daily/weekly quests, an infinite mode, and even a new game mode. Like I said, the developers are a small team of people so I had doubts on if they will deliver the content. Judging by everyone's love for the team and how good they are, I think I have faith that they will actually deliver on their promises.
The gameplay mechanics are intuitive, well-crafted and fun. I personally love stealth games, and I do like how the enemies have a somewhat unpredictable patrol pattern. The level design and mission structure is incredible, barring Vindicate The Guilty (wtf were they thinking). The MK-challenges are diverse enough to the point where I do not notice I am
playing on the same map. This, combined with the multiple variators including weekly variators, stretches the measly five maps' content thin.
While I love this game, this game is a $40 live service game made by a small team. Genuinely new content that will assist in bringing in new and old players will be at a snail's pace, only for casual fans to consume said content in ~5 hours. In addition, with the current structure of the game, there is nothing to keep playing for unless you're a hardcore fan getting 1000+ reborns.
Speaking of reborns, let's talk about progression: It sucks. There is no incentive to do Program Ultra or even Program X because I can simply gain reborn tickets from doing Program Genesis. There are no exclusive cosmetic rewards in any of the programs, only the additional money and XP gain, which I will not need because I will just do the "Sabotage the Lockdown" MK-challenge in 3 minutes and gain a rebirth ticket with some additional XP and cash. I don't like to backseat gamedev in reviews, but I would just make it so you can only gain rebirth tickets on first completion in Program Genesis, and replace the "Sabotage the Lockdown" MK-challenge in both Program X and Ultra. In addition, add exclusive rewards only obtainable in those Programs.
I was going to give this game a lower star rating, but many of my complaints are addressed in the roadmap: New events, new MK-challenges, new trials, a new prime asset (thank god), new rigs and amps, as well as other things that incentives people to come back: daily/weekly quests, an infinite mode, and even a new game mode. Like I said, the developers are a small team of people so I had doubts on if they will deliver the content. Judging by everyone's love for the team and how good they are, I think I have faith that they will actually deliver on their promises.