Outcast: A New Beginning – Nostalgic Fun with Flaws
Outcast A Fresh Start may evoke nostalgia for the open-world genre, but it could be difficult for some players to overlook the game's numerous flaws.
Outcast A New Beginning Review
Back in 1999, Appeal Studios surprised everyone when it released the acclaimed sci-fi open-world game Outcast. Players were sucked in by its beautiful landscape and stuck around for the exhilarating gameplay it offered. However, while the studio tried to make a sequel, it would unfortunately never come to fruition, and Appeal was forced to close its doors. But fear not, 20 years later, Outcast: A New Beginning is finally here, and it mostly delivers on that original promise.
The Nostalgia Factor
Outcast: A New Beginning feels like a blast from the past, which will surely excite those looking for a bit of nostalgia or who want to cause some chaos in a sci-fi world. The landscapes are beautiful, its unique mechanics are fun to engage with, and the core gameplay is not half-bad either. While that can offer hours of entertainment, some players may be put off by Outcast’s many shortcomings. And ultimately, that makes for a fun but deeply flawed experience overall.
Living the Adventure as Cutter Slade
The best part of Outcast: A New Beginning is its simple and engaging gameplay loop. Players take on the role of Cutter Slade, a man destined to protect the alien planet of Adelpha from invaders. To accomplish this, he must help the people of the planet with everything they need, and in return, he will hopefully earn their favor. But this will not be an easy feat, as enemies lurk around every corner hoping to take him down. So, in typical open-world game fashion, players must prepare themselves for a lot of destruction.
Players will spend much of their time shooting through all sorts of different enemies on their journey to liberate Adelpha from the invaders. They will take down hordes of rampaging robots, destroy massive bases, beat back alien creatures, and engage in numerous explosive shenanigans. While the world may not be as destructible as the likes of Just Cause, this gameplay loop feels heavily reminiscent of it. And that really helps make Outcast: A New Beginning stand out from many other modern open-world titles.
A World to Explore
Because players need to liberate the entire planet, exploration and traversal play a big role in Outcast: A New Beginning. To make that aspect a bit more fun, Cutter Slade is given a jetpack pretty early on that allows him to dodge, high jump, and glide through the world. As players progress further, they will also unlock even more ways to utilize this tool. Even though it may not let players outright fly through the skies, it does make traversing this planet a bit more fun.
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Along with that, the developer has also packed Adelpha with various classic open-world side activities to mess around with. There are parkour challenges, hives to take out, bases to destroy, chests to uncover, and some gliding mini-games to complete. These help give players a reason to keep exploring and often result in useful upgrades like more HP. However, some of the tasks can quickly feel a bit monotonous, as there is just not a ton of variety in how they work. So, once players have seen one, they have practically seen them all.
Progression and Weapon Modules
As players fight their way through Adelpha, they will grow in power, much like any open-world title. Not only does Outcast: A New Beginning have the classic skill trees, but it also has a system known as weapon modules. Players will discover these upgradable modules in bases strewn about the game’s world or hidden in random locations. Once they find one, they can equip it on their weapons to sGameTopicificantly change how they work. The pistol can become a machine gun, they can earn health upon kills, they can launch powerful charged shots, and they can even attach sticky bombs to every round. And with each upgrade, these modules become even more exciting.
These modules are one of Outcast: A New Beginning’s main forms of progression, with some feeling truly game-changing. However, players do not have free rein to create whatever type of weapon they want. Instead, they are limited to only putting on a certain number of modules per weapon, unlocking more slots over time. Luckily, if they do not like what they chose, they can easily swap them out.
Shortcomings of the Journey
While the modules can be a lot of fun to mix-and-match, the weapon system is also one of Outcast: A New Beginning’s shortcomings. Unlike some open-world games which give players countless weapons to utilize, this game only gives them a two-gun arsenal. Additionally, they are given a shield and can do a simple melee attack. This means that there isn’t a ton of variation in the combat outside those modules, and even though those help shake things up a bit, once players find ones they like, they will likely seldom swap them out.
Additionally, as players gain the favor of villages, they will unlock special Talan Powers. These powers give them all sorts of fun abilities, including Anti-Gravity, bombing raids, devastating vines, and even a massive mountable flying whale-like creature. Each power is themed after the village’s story that unlocks it, with some taking a bit more time than others. And each can be extremely fun to mess around with, which helps make up for Outcast: A New Beginning’s lack of weapons.
However, players may also discover some weird enemy AI behavior during their journey. There are often times where enemies will simply stand there as players unload into them or enemies whose strategy is to simply walk towards the player menacingly. Even if Cutter Slade is supposed to be this powerful sci-fi hero, it would have been nice if his enemies were a bit smarter.
That issue is not reserved for just standard enemies either, as the game’s boss fights can be bland. For example, early on in Outcast: A New Beginning, players will take on a mining drill in what could have been a fun encounter. But instead of forcing players to desperately fight for their lives, they can simply run circles around the drill as they shoot its center point. Occasionally, they will have to dodge AOE attacks, but those are extremely easy to avoid. And while other bosses may work slightly differently, none of them are particularly challenging or memorable.
A Lackluster Story
But perhaps, one of Outcast: A New Beginning’s biggest flaws is its lackluster story. The focus of the experience may be on Cutter Slade shooting his way through the beautiful planet of Adelpha, yet the tale that connects those fun-filled moments is hardly interesting. Players are dropped into this world with little explanation as to why. Then, they must follow a pretty standard sci-fi story filled with classic snarky comments from the protagonist, not very many memorable characters, and way too many fetch quests. While that type of adventure may be what some players are looking for, those hoping to get something a bit more will not find it here.
Technical Issues and Conclusion
There are a couple of technical issues throughout Outcast: A New Beginning as well, with some areas having sGameTopicificant lag spikes, enemies often getting trapped within objects, or Cutter Slade’s jetpack causing the player to get stuck. Additionally, the console graphics modes do not work as intended, with the quality mode slowing the game down considerably.
Outcast: A New Beginning does offer a good amount of fun for those looking to mess around in an open-world sci-fi game that hearkens back to earlier entries in the genre. The world that Appeal created is fun to explore, the core gameplay loop feels like a blast from the past, and overall, it makes for a decent sci-fi experience. The story may not be the most interesting, and the content isn’t that varied, but some players may still be able to find something to enjoy here. And fans of the original should at least enjoy this trip down memory lane, even if it could have been done better.
Q&A
Q: Are there any multiplayer features in Outcast: A New Beginning?
A: No, Outcast: A New Beginning is a single-player game with no multiplayer features. It focuses solely on the solo adventure of Cutter Slade.
Q: Can I play Outcast: A New Beginning on older consoles or PC hardware?
A: Outcast: A New Beginning is available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. It requires the latest hardware specifications to run smoothly. Older consoles or PC hardware may struggle to run the game properly.
Q: Is Outcast: A New Beginning worth playing for someone who didn’t play the original Outcast?
A: While Outcast: A New Beginning can be enjoyed as a standalone game, players who have played the original Outcast may find more appreciation for the sequel’s nostalgic elements and references to the first game. However, newcomers can still enjoy the open-world sci-fi experience it offers.
Q: Will there be DLC or additional content released for Outcast: A New Beginning?
A: There is no information available regarding DLC or additional content for Outcast: A New Beginning at this time. Players will have to wait for official announcements from the developers or publishers for any updates on future content.
Q: How long is the gameplay experience in Outcast: A New Beginning?
A: The length of the gameplay experience in Outcast: A New Beginning can vary depending on the player’s playstyle and exploration. On average, it can take around 20-30 hours to complete the main story and engage in various side activities.
References
- Outcast: A New Beginning
- Outcast’s many shortcomings
- Just Cause
- Various classic open-world side activities
- Outcast: A New Beginning’s lack of weapons
Hey gamers! Have you missed the good old days of sci-fi open-world games? Well, get ready for a blast from the past because Outcast: A New Beginning is here to satisfy your nostalgic cravings! 🚀💥
But hold on, before you dive headfirst into this exciting adventure, let’s take a closer look at what Outcast: A New Beginning has to offer. Get ready for some beautiful landscapes, intense gameplay, and a few flaws along the way. So, buckle up and let’s embark on this nostalgic journey together! ✨✨
Cutter Slade – the Hero with a Purpose
In Outcast: A New Beginning, you’ll step into the shoes of Cutter Slade, a man on a mission to protect the alien planet of Adelpha from invaders. It’s your job to help the planet’s inhabitants and earn their favor in return. But beware, enemies lurk around every corner, and chaos is the name of the game. So, get ready to unleash your destructive powers and fight for the liberation of Adelpha! 💪💥
Exploration and Traversal Galore
To achieve your goals, you’ll need to explore every nook and cranny of Adelpha. Luckily, Cutter Slade is equipped with a jetpack early on, allowing you to defy gravity, jump to new heights, and glide through the world. The joy of traversing this sci-fi planet is enhanced by classic open-world side activities, such as parkour challenges, hives to take out, bases to destroy, and chests to uncover. While some tasks may feel repetitive, the overall experience is still a lot of fun! 🌍🚀
Upgrades and Weapon Modules
As you progress through Outcast: A New Beginning, you’ll grow more powerful, just like in any open-world game worth its salt. The game offers the classic skill trees to enhance your abilities, but what sets it apart is the weapon module system. Discover upgradable modules scattered across the game world, and equip them on your weapons to transform their functionality. Turn your pistol into a machine gun, gain health upon kills, unleash powerful charged shots, or attach sticky bombs to every round. The possibilities are (almost) endless! 💥🔧
Flaws and Shortcomings
While Outcast: A New Beginning brings a lot of nostalgic fun, it’s not without its flaws. The combat lacks variety with only two weapons available, a shield, and a simple melee attack. However, the weapon modules help spice things up. Additionally, enemy AI behavior can be a bit odd at times, and the boss fights could use some more excitement. But don’t let these shortcomings ruin your experience, as the overall journey is still worth embarking on! ⚠️🤔
A Lackluster Tale
Unfortunately, the story in Outcast: A New Beginning fails to live up to expectations. It’s a pretty standard sci-fi narrative with little explanation or intriguing characters. Instead, you’ll find yourself on a quest filled with snarky comments, fetch quests, and a lack of memorable moments. However, if you’re in it for the action and exploration, the story might not be a dealbreaker for you. 📜🔍
Tech Troubles and Concluding Thoughts
On the technical side, Outcast: A New Beginning has some issues, including lag spikes, enemy glitches, and misplaced jetpacks. The console graphics modes are also a bit wonky, so be prepared for a few bumps along the way. Nevertheless, the game offers a fun and nostalgic experience for open-world sci-fi enthusiasts. It’s not perfect, but it’s a decent addition to the genre, especially for fans of the original Outcast. So, suit up and get ready for an adventure! 🎮🚀
Outcast: A New Beginning releases on March 15, 2024, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Remember, this review copy was based on the PS5 version, and your experience may vary depending on the platform you choose. Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below! And don’t forget to spread the word on your favorite social media platforms. Happy gaming! 🌟🎉
