OutCore is a meta adventure game about a girl named Lumi who visits you inside your computer. She asks you to recover her memories, which takes you through various minigames and even your own files and folders hidden around your operating system. It's a neat illusion that used its tools really well to create something I've never seen before, even amongst fourth-wall breaking titles like Pony Island or Doki Doki Literature Club. Similar to those games, OutCore borrows light psychological thriller/horror elements which almost felt out of place here. The game works more in its comedic and parody moments, and finds interesting ways to play with expectations. The actual gameplay varies from moment to moment, but a solid third of the experience is a set of imprecise sequences of action-platforming, which felt floaty and not stable. It was servicable to get through the story but some bigger setpieces were made slightly frustrating due to the less than airtight controls. All that said, OutCore is a title that is worth giving a shot. It's free on Steam and it's worth booting up just to see a browser buddy pop up within your screen. Whether you stay to finish the story, your mileage may vary.

Reviewed on Nov 01, 2022


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