The Outlast Trials: A Heart-Wrenching Cooperative Nightmare
Dive into the darkness with or without friends and prepare for a terror that'll test your sanity. The Outlast Trials blends chilling suspense with a cooperative twist that will leave you breathless - quite literally.
Early Access Review
last updated Nov 18, 2023
Buckle up, buttercup; this ride's so good it should come with a side of therapy.
Gameplay - A Symphony of Screams
Let's start at the heart of the horror: gameplay. The Outlast Trials, true to its namesake, subjects players to sadistic scenarios ripe with tension and enough jump scares to keep your heart rate monitor concerned. Playing solo is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded in a haunted house; while terrorizingly fun, this masochistic test of sanity isn't for the faint of heart. The cooperative play, however, is where this nightmare truly shines, transforming it into a symphony of screams where strategic team play and quick reflexes are your best bets for survival. From chess matches to arm wrestling, unexpected mini-games pop up like creepy jack-in-the-boxes, keeping you on your toes or off them entirely.
Audio - Eerie Acoustics
Imagine a world where the slightest whisper sounds like a scream and each scream could be your last – welcome to the auditory landscape of The Outlast Trials. The creaking of doors, the discordant melodies that underscore your trepidation, and the guttural threats of ever-lurking foes create an atmosphere so dense you could carve it with a knife. Furthermore, the blood-curdling soundtrack is equal parts haunting and masterful, elevating each harrowing moment to new heights of terror. Red Barrels have composed an opera of eerie acoustics that'll make even the most seasoned horror buffs check under their beds.
Graphics - The Gory Details
Visuals in The Outlast Trials are like a work of art, if that art was painted by a maniac using a palette of terror and despair. The game's graphics are gruesomely gorgeous, crafting a world that's both beautiful and macabre. Each agonizing environment is rendered with finesse, the detailing crisp enough to make every gruesome scene uncomfortably realistic. While the game is still in early access, and some have noted performance issues, the fidelity of spatter and shadow is designed to immerse and unsettle with unflinching resolve. Sure, you may need to upgrade your gear to keep up with the technical demands, but the dance of darkness is worth the admission - if your rig can handle the nightmare fuel, that is.
Spooky Innovations
Every good horror flick has its unique spin, and The Outlast Trials doesn't skimp on that. We've got customizability that's deeper than a grave, letting you add personal flairs to your character and your fright-filled play space. Sure, a few players think we're shy on enemy variety, calling for a deeper rogues' gallery of horrors, but the clever positioning and diversity in each terrifying trial keep the gameplay from turning stale like last Halloween's Jack-o'-lantern. Oh, and did I mention the multiplayer experience? It's what you'd get if you slammed a funhouse mirror into an online match - splendidly distorted and strangely addictive.
EARLY ACCESS RATING
Developer & Publisher
Red Barrels
Early Accesss Release Date
May 18, 2023
Verdict
The Outlast Trials has etched its name onto the twisted tree of great horror games with bloodied claws. While still in its spine-chilling infancy, it redefines terror with its sweat-inducing tension and multiplayer mayhem. It's a game that's as dark as it is delightful, whether you're braving it solo or with a squad screaming in unison. Buckle up, buttercup; this ride's so good it should come with a side of therapy. If Red Barrels continues their ghoulishly good work, what we're seeing is only the chilling beginning of an evolution in cooperative survival horror.