Outward

A peculiar story is what Outward offers us. The title becomes a possible cult RPG.

Outward is an interesting title. It takes a lot of things other games have done and mixes it pretty well together to make a difficult but rewarding RPG. Some may find it pretty difficult, but taking one’s time with it and knowing when to fight and when to run will make all the difference, and if you’re having some issues, you can always get someone else to help out via co-op. Players looking for a mix of RPG and survival will have a great time even with its technical hiccups here and there.

It’s sad that the combat is dreadful, and visually it’s a poor experience, but away from that, Outward is an in-depth and fulfilling adventure that will force you to think about your actions, as you plan ahead and walk a weary path as you slowly traverse the land.

Outward is an RPG with bold new ideas that it executes really well, but it's lacking when it comes to fundamental things like combat feel and open-world design — two things that are important to do well. Overall, the game is good, but it could stand to be a lot better.

Outward is an extraordinary RPG with its difficulty and deep RPG system. You can fight with another player, but the AI is not quite good and the controls are a bit clonky. It is a shame the graphics are also outdated.

If you can look past what's skin-deep and come to terms with Outward's combat for what it is, you'll find the foraging, crafting, striving survival sim you're looking for.

A tense and immersive adventure – but with one too many rough edges. [Issue#177, p.85]

Though filled with interesting ideas and mechanics, Outward is let down by poor combat, dated visuals, and performance issues.

Outward’s harsh difficulty, its hands off structure, and its constant stat management wont be for everyone. This is one hell of a demanding RPG, and as such, it can feel less like an adventure and more like a full-time job. Still, the game deserves a lot of praise for its ambition, its depth, and for its choice-driven structure, but in the face of its poor design choices, its awkward combat, and its lack of visual polish, it’s hard to wholly recommend.

If any time at all is spent on polishing up combat and the introductory segments of the game, then Outward could find itself in a much more favorable situation, but unless numerous patches or a sequel are in our future, then we may just have to accept this game for what it is: not great. That isn't to say that there isn't at all an audience for a game such as this. If you get off on diving into the unknown in a truly old-school way, only this time without an instruction manual, then you might consider giving Outward a try. Just don't say I didn't warn you.