Outlast delivers a true horror experience (almost to the core) , as Red Barrel spared no effort in creating the most disturbing images that will stick with me for years.
The morbid soundtrack certainly amplified all appearances of jump scares, mutilated humanoid abominations, and excessive rivers of pure gore. Especially when I 'literally' asked myself to "Be brave" for my first encounter with patients staring in silence at a bloody screen displaying only static – the effect of the prisoners ignoring me as I passed by, I imagine is far more tormenting than attacking me – thanks to the soul sucking music.
First person also forces the player’s hand to brutalize their own experience further by lurking in pitch black denying ourselves light (to save battery) trapped in most awkward camera angels. Turning on the light was no solace either, for it unleashed a world of Ultraviolet horrors and piercing beastly green pairs of doom, shattering my soul into pieces.
The perpetual chase was so skillfully designed with such care for detail, the protagonist running out of breath as if his heart is giving out, slamming doors desperately trying to delay the inevitable demise, and frantically looking for the faintest beam of light for a way out – all design to break you!
Constant Swearing in the game made my experience feel so real, especially being called ‘Slippery Whore’ (despite playing with a male protagonist) after escaping their clutches as if they saw right though me – I was left frozen at the terrifying thought, staring into a sea of blackness holding onto my melting heart.
Losing two fingers was befitting the evasive journey, always on the defense – starring so closely at my own bones sticking out every time I hid was very well timed as the character gradually deteriorates…becoming one with the decaying Mount Massive Asylum.
I think the game played a bit on the psychological strings, not only by the room it leaves for the brain to play all the visual tricks triggered by the persistent dark but also makes the player wonder if this will end up seeing Miles Upshur disfigured & rotting among fellow patients. “How do you know you’re not a patient?”
I was drawn closer towards this deception as soon as I saw Billy Blue’s phantom cutting into thin air – it’s when I knew I was like the rest, trapped into a criminally insane mind, lost forever in darkness….this only prepared me for a full shock as I reached the end.
I believe this game has earned a place amongst the best timeless horror experiences - fit for any age.