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‘Outlast 2’ Review: Run Hide Or Die

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It has been 4 years since Red Barrels released the first Outlast to disturb the masses, and kick off a horror renaissance in gaming today.  Now Red Barrels returns to the world of insanity and murderous intent with none other than Outlast 2.  But first let’s take a moment to refresh ourselves on the story of the outlast series.

The original Outlast has you take on the role as an investigative journalist who receives a tip about some shady activities going on at an isolated mental health facility.  Upon arriving with only his camera and wits the horror begins.  Bodies are everywhere, patients walk freely and constant references are made to an unknown entity simply called, The Walrider.

Fast forward a year and we received the Whistleblower expansion for Outlast, serving as a prequel to the events of Outlast allowing the player a behind the scenes look at the experiments going on. All while still remaining powerless and being forced into utilizing stealth mechanics in order to survive your time in the asylum.

With Blake Langermann being the protagonist this time around, your only goal is to find your wife Lynn before it’s to late.  As to be expected with any horror game nothing is quite that simple and things very quickly get out of hand.  Have a look at the official launch trailer for the game, to get an idea as to what to expect.

The opening hour seemed very reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, just as a straight survival horror game and not so action oriented.  I couldn’t help myself but to imagine Leon running through the opening village mowing down the cultists while desperately searching for Ashley, but being reminded of Resident Evil 4 is never a bad thing.

Outlast 2 attempts to refine the game play of the first by adding a few new mechanics, but the majority of it stays the same from the first two entries.  You are still a helpless protagonist armed with only a camera, and your wits.  Patience is the game at hand here, as rushing ahead will get you killed without a doubt.

One such change is the addition of an audio microphone to be used in conjunction with the night vision functionality on your camera.  Now you are able to point your camera towards a closed door or building and play your microphone to record footsteps of unseen enemies.  This was a welcome addition and made the stealth more approachable.

Being able to tell if an enemy is lying in wait inside of a closed off room did alleviate some of the tension that the first two Outlast experiences had to offer, but it helps to create a less frustrating experience.  The downside to using the microphone to create a plan of action is that it will drain your camera’s battery rapidly.  Best to only use it sparingly, to get out any sticky situation.

Another refinement to the game play, albeit a strange one, is a small tweak to how recording special events works.  In the first game simply having your camera out at the right moment and aiming at the right event, would create a recording and a note from the player character detailing what is happening around him, as well as his thoughts on the situation.

That same mechanic returns, however it is no longer instantaneous.  Now when Blake has his camera out if you pan over a special event, a REC sign will appear above your HUD and a small circle will begin to form.  Once it is complete you can watch what is you just recorded with a voice over from Blake detailing his thoughts on the horrors before him.

Be prepared to see this recording screen multiple times throughout the game.

The addition of a voice acted protagonist is a nice one over the simple notebook scrawls that would appear in the first game, however Blake does seem like he loves the sound of his own voice with the amount of dialogue he delivers.  Simply looking at your inventory to check your battery supply in the early game constantly has him muttering ” Find Lynn, Nothing else matters”.

A small gripe yes, but after a while it does get annoying to be counting out my batteries to keep my camera alive and hearing the same repetitive thought over and over again.  And yes, the inventory system has been overhauled as well for the sequel, thankfully it is seamless and doesn’t require going into a separate menu or anything too extreme.

With the push of a button you can look down at your jacket to view the number of batteries you have collected, how many life saving bandages you have, or  review footage and notes you have collected with your camera all in real time.

The addition of healing items is also a welcome change, as it allows room for error in case a poor route is chosen or an unseen enemy gets the jump on you.  The bandages are there solely to keep you alive after escaping from a rough encounter, or failing to sneak past a threat.

Unfortunately the time has come to talk about the negatives that come with Outlast 2.  For starters all the areas that you visit within the game are horror movie cliches by now, and feels kind of disappointing.  Scary village, check.  Spooky haunted school. Double check.  Abandoned mine, you get the drill.

Screenshot from an early school segment, to drive the cliche home.

With Outlast the insane asylum cliche was forgivable because it was a first attempt at a large scale horror project by Red Barrels, and a damn fine one at that.  It’s just unfortunate that all the locales are standard horror tropes, though they are all interesting none the less, and offer unique challenges as you progress the story.

Another issue i came across during my play through is that the stealth feels… less than spectacular, let’s put it that way.  The stealth mechanics work as they should, they just feel jerky at times.

For instance when attempting to crawl under a bed to hide I would have issues getting Blake to fully conceal himself and would simply be caught by whatever was chasing me.  It finally got to the point of me constantly adjusting myself until I felt as though I was properly hidden, and then it became much more manageable.

Screencap of an early stealth encounter, easy to manage but the later ones can be tricky to get to cooperate at times.

Other than that minor annoyance the game itself feels great to play, and with my time with it I have not encountered a single bug which is remarkable, good job with that one Red Barrels.  As someone who played the demo for Outlast 2 i’m glad to see the bugs that were present in the beta build be ironed out for the full release.

Red Barrels has done it again with the release of Outlast 2 taking us back into a twisted and dark world with danger around every corner.  Once again demonstrating their knowledge and skill with the horror genre and crafting a labor of love, that truly must be experienced for yourself to really grasp the attention to detail that is throughout this series of games.

‘Outlast 2’ and it’s idea of a trigger warning.

And now is as good a time as any with Red Barrels releasing the ‘Trilogy of Terror’ bundle for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.  The bundle contains Outlast, it’s Whistleblower, expansion as well as Outlast 2.  Making it convenient and easy to get into the Outlast universe and see for yourself what evil lurks beyond the edges of sanity.

Outlast 2 is a fine addition to the series, with several fixes and new mechanics that allow for a new terrifying experience, in the insane universe crafted by the developers.  Always keep in mind that you are not a fighter, and the only thing keeping you from a grisly fate is your ability to think on your feet and hide when the need arises.

Be prepared for disturbing content and imagery, as you progress and tread every corner with caution.  After all you never know when you will be ambushed and forced to flee for your life.  Run, Hide, or die facing your fears will only end you in this grisly sequel to a much beloved survival horror game.

 

 

 

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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