Outlast

One of 2013's best games, Outlast deserves success in 2014 as a PlayStation 4 release. Disturbing and macabre, sometimes to the extreme, this is one of the best horror games to grace the world in a long time.

Is Outlast the best looking game for the PS4? Certainly not. But it more than makes up for it in quality and gameplay.

Technically this excellent terror tale is not quite on the same level as the PC version and the constant light show of the controller takes away atmosphere instead of adding to it. But nonetheless this is an intensive survival course in a world reigned by horror and violence.

It's pure horror, as if you were in an IMAX cinema. It will surround you, and terrify you, especially in the very well crafted first hours. Then it gets a bit repetitive, but it's still an adventure you won't easily forget.

Finally a game that puts the horror in horror game.

A memorable and incredibly effective survival/horror quest. There are so many moments that will make you feel legitimate fear, and that’s no easy feat.

It’s not perfect, but Outlast still succeeds at scaring the pants off you. [April 2014, p80]

It's not the sort of horror that'll stay with you long beyond the credits, not a quiet and subtle creep fest, but a blunt force shocker. And as such it's effective because it's just so damn drastic.

Outlast is one of, if not the scariest game I’ve played. It’s creepy, suspenseful and terrifying at times. It does lack variation in terms of the objectives you complete, but the unpredictable jumps and scares should be enough to maintain that nail-biting tension you will find yourself strangely craving for.

Outlast is one of the few recent games that can be proud of being able to truly scare the players.

As a horror game, Outlast is a resounding success, due to an engaging story, a finely tuned sense of graphical detailed and a nuanced soundscape. If anything, it plays its strengths a little too safe.

The PlayStation 4 porting of Outlast has nothing to envy to the PC version: graphics, immersion and controls are the same we’ve already seen last September, and now we can’t wait to play the DLC-prequel coming later this year.

A good horror game, with plenty of chills and a very effective setting.

It’s not perfect, but Outlast is still arguably one of the best survival horror games in recent memory.

Outlast is the pleasant surprise of fall 2013, a true survival-horror game with an olds-chool gameplay and a very scary atmosphere. Fear is what it's all about and that's what you're going to find inside Mount Massive Asylum, and it already makes the game a success. With a very well made storyline in spite of a touchy ending, Outlast is definitely a reference title rivaling with Amnesia or Forbidden SIREN. In spite of some problems which are due to the tight development budget, hence the small retail price of 20€, the game will provide gamers with a deep dive into the most dark horrors, which will make you forget the minors faults that Red Barrels let slip pass. A title that will scare future PS4 owners for sure!

We would have asked Red Barrels for a little innovation instead of sticking to the new hide & run mechanics, but still, Outlast is an outstanding survival horror that will terrify pretty much everyone.

Somewhat limited by its own mechanics this is still a masterclass in videogame horror. The overuse of its core ‘run away and hide gameplay’ lessens the impact overtime but the visual and aural execution are flawless, making for a terrifying opening few hours, an unpleasantly distressing close and a satisfying exercise in fear throughout.

Red Barrels' Outlast is a solid indie title, which provides tension and scares in equal abundance. And while it lacks the sort of story depth a lot of us have become accustomed to, there is still a plethora of terrifying fun to be had. Get it on PlayStation Plus as soon as you can.

Outlast will scare you and make you jump on your chair thanks to an almost perfect direction and sound design. However, the experience doesn't really stand out because of some limits.

For the most part, Outlast lives up to its reputation. Although a little too quick to link gore with horror for my liking, it rests upon wide foundations of creepiness and builds on them with a good amount of tension and urgency.

Outlast is a virtual tour through a hall of terrors. Even playing the game in full daylight makes me uneasy. However, the game's overall level design and gameplay were sacrificed at the altar of fear. If you're looking for an experience that will get your adrenaline pumping, Outlast is hard to beat, but if you’re looking for a meatier horror experience then you might want to run past this one.

Outlast is the first horror experience to make its way into Playstation 4's world. It makes use of lots of sudden shocks and gore to make us feel distressed enough througout the game. However, the hide-and-run mechanics all along the way and the straightforward of it's gameplay make it a short adventure.