In fact, the present day sections in rural Arizona are filled with a lot more enemies for Blake to deal with, and trying to evade these enemies is how the game gets some of its biggest thrills. That's not to say that the present day sections of Outlast 2 aren't scary. Better yet, these school sequences also have the most interesting story developments and the smartest scares in the game. These school sequences tend to feature more compelling gameplay than just walking from one point to the next, often challenging players with environmental puzzles that need to be solved before they can continue. The second half of the game also has more school sequences, which are flashbacks sprinkled throughout that allow players to explore a Catholic school. Some new enemies are introduced that make surviving much more difficult, and by extension, Blake's efforts to save his wife from cultists become a lot more interesting. It's like walking through a really long hallway in a haunted house, with players really just walking forward while things jump out and try to scare them.Ībout halfway through the game, Outlast 2 cranks up the intensity quite a bit.
It doesn't help that this first half of the game seems to go on forever and lacks challenge or danger. Needless to say, Blake isn't a very compelling character from a gameplay perspective, and this makes the first half of the game rather dull.īlake's lack of combat prowess isn't a big deal, but since his repertoire isn't very impressive, learning all his "skills" is boring. The first half of the game serves the purpose of introducing players to protagonist Blake's limited abilities, like crawling under things, climbing over things, running away from enemies, and hiding in lockers. However, anyone that quits before getting through the first half may not think so, as the first couple of hours is a slog. But is it able to execute its new ideas effectively?įor the most part, Outlast 2 is a step up from the original game. The long-awaited followup to the 2013 horror hit, Outlast 2 boasts a new setting, some new gameplay features, and brand new ways to scare anyone brave enough to give it a try. Ever since its disturbing reveal trailer, which featured a burning, inverted cross and a legion of glowing eyes staring from the dark, Outlast 2 has been one of the most anticipated horror games in recent memory.