Outbreak: The New Nightmare
- January 5, 2018
- Dead Drop Studios LLC
There are some games out there that are "so-bad-its-good," like most of Swery's games. Outbreak: The New Nightmare is one of those "so-bad-it-gave-me-depression" ones. The developer likely is inexperienced, and working with almost no budget, but not everyone should make a game. The saying "anyone can make a game", means that a good game designer can come from anywhere. All survival-horror fans must stay away from this one.
"Outbreak: The New Nightmare" is a survival horror game set in a city overrun by the undead. Players must scavenge for supplies, face off against zombies, and try to escape with their lives. The game features local co-op play for up to two players and high definition 3D graphics. It is a chilling love letter to classic 90s survival horror games.
Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of classic Resident Evil games, particularly Resident Evil: Outbreak.
- Fun to play with friends, emphasizing co-op gameplay and teamwork.
- Offers unique playable characters with different attributes and abilities, enhancing replayability.
- Janky animations and poor graphics detract from the overall experience.
- Camera angles can be frustrating and hinder gameplay, leading to disorientation during combat.
- Limited content and features make the game feel incomplete, with many players reporting a lack of online multiplayer activity.
- graphics23 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting issues such as clipping, graphical glitches, and subpar animations. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic survival horror games, others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking polish. Improvements in optimization and graphical enhancements are frequently suggested to elevate the overall experience.
“The graphics are a nice boost from the pseudo flash animation look of the first game.”
“The story is written pretty well, the graphics are pretty damn good and the sound and music makes it sound like a Resident Evil game.”
“The graphics remind me of good old classic survival horror, with the option for tank controls to give the finishing touch.”
“The visuals are a tad murky, the camera movement much too chaotic, and the zombies, gore, and character animations are a little on the lame side.”
“Graphics are cell phone app game bad.”
“The graphics are bad, the animation is so stiff and there's only one for many actions (holding a pistol, shotgun, rifle, magnum, grenade launcher is the same clipping mess of a stance).”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its homage to classic survival horror elements like tight inventory management and fixed cameras, while others criticize it for lacking depth and complexity. Players have noted issues with level design, mechanics, and animations, describing the experience as frustrating at times due to backtracking and low frame rates. However, there are positive mentions of improved controls and the potential for enjoyable co-op gameplay, suggesting that while the foundation is there, significant improvements are needed for a more polished experience.
“Classic Resident Evil gameplay with local co-op splitscreen for 2 players and 4 online.”
“I love how this is a Resident Evil Outbreak clone that actually works; the gameplay so far is fun, and the controls are way more improved compared to the original Outbreak games. It's a little dark at times on some levels, but it still works.”
“Gameplay involves you running around collecting a key to go explore a new area where, spoiler alert, you get another key and have to backtrack all the way to the other side of the map.”
“Age-old mechanics are nowhere to be found either: you cannot interact with dropped items unless you have empty space in your inventory - which means that every time you want to pick something up and combine it, like the red herb equivalent, or ammo, you have to free it up.”
“Generic asset flip with store bought assets, awful gameplay, baffling level design, samey corridors and rooms due to only having 3 and a half wall models to work with, nonexistent sound design, and ridiculous balancing.”
“Gameplay involves you running around collecting a key to go explore a new area where; spoiler alert; you get another key and have to backtrack all the way to the other side of the map.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story has received largely negative feedback, with many players noting a lack of depth and engagement, relying heavily on reading notes and diaries rather than immersive environmental storytelling. Critics have pointed out that the narrative feels disjointed and uninspired, leading to a lack of motivation to continue playing. While some appreciate the character backstories and the game's overall aesthetic, the consensus is that the story fails to captivate or provide a cohesive experience.
“The story is written pretty well, the graphics are pretty damn good, and the sound and music make it feel like a Resident Evil game.”
“This game is very 'Resident Evil: Outbreak' esque, but it has its own story, own characters, and some really cool bosses.”
“+ 6 characters with their own backstory, buffs, debuffs, stats, and perks.”
“All the weapons feel the same, there is no real story, no environmental storytelling (you just read notes and diaries), and nothing ever happens, at least in the first two maps.”
“Has no story so I'm not inclined to continue playing.”
“Lastly, I don't like the way the story starts and ends for each stage and it doesn't flow together at all.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it fun and fitting, while others criticize it as generic and lacking in intensity, which detracts from the horror atmosphere. Many noted that the sound design is overshadowed by environmental noises like footsteps and zombie moans, leading to a lack of memorable musical moments. Overall, there is a consensus that the music needs improvement to enhance the game's immersive experience.
“We also thought the music was pretty fun.”
“The new areas can have different weather patterns, notes, music, and camera angles (which I especially liked in Faith).”
“The story is written pretty well, the graphics are pretty damn good, and the sound and music make it feel like a Resident Evil game.”
“Music was basically nonexistent; I can't really recall any sounds during the entire hour of the first level because of footsteps, zombie moans, and gunshots.”
“The music is extremely generic and ruins the atmosphere.”
“It needs more intense atmosphere and music to make it a horror game.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as having beautiful effects, particularly in foggy environments, but it lacks intensity and depth, especially for a title inspired by Resident Evil. While some players appreciate the dark ambiance and item management reminiscent of classic survival horror, many feel that the game needs improved background music and more engaging elements to fully capture the horror experience. Overall, the atmosphere is a mixed bag, with potential that remains underutilized.
“There are some really beautiful atmospheric effects, like how the foggy hiking trail level turns your flashlight and muzzle flashes into a blinding strobe effect.”
“Now on the positive side, it's dark, has great atmosphere, and is very heavy on item management like the Resident Evil classics that we all know and love.”
“+ a good horror atmosphere”
“The atmosphere wasn't there, and for a Resident Evil-inspired game, it should be one of the defining points.”
“It needs a more intense atmosphere and music to truly make it a horror game.”
“The only thing that's missing is better background music to help set the atmosphere for each level.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably poor, leading to low frame rates and stuttering, particularly on laptops. While the camera views are praised, the overall performance issues detract significantly from the experience, suggesting that improved optimization could enhance the game's value considerably.
“If you can get this game to run more optimally, it could definitely be sold for $20 easily.”
“Seriously, it's ten times more worth the effort, and you get the full experience instead of this simple point-and-shoot infinite ammo mayhem with little to no optimization or anti-aliasing!”
“The use of screen space is not optimized at all.”
“I was getting stupid low FPS, and frame skipping/stuttering.”
“I think your camera views are Resident Evil perfect, but unfortunately the game is not optimized for my laptop.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its quirky camera angles and character animations, which evoke laughter during exploration and combat. Players find the exaggerated movements, such as a character's amusing walking style, to be a charming homage to classic titles like Resident Evil, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“The camera angles made me laugh a lot.”
“The way the characters moved also made me laugh a lot.”
“This is a really intriguing homage to classic Resident Evil... so far the only issue I've noticed is some funny character walking animation (she walks a bit like she has clown shoes on), but that's pretty minor... I really get a strong 'Code Veronica' vibe.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with users reporting smooth controls and no significant glitches or bugs affecting gameplay. While some players are indifferent to visual imperfections like clipping and graphical glitches, the core experience remains stable and enjoyable.
“There is quite a chunk of content here, and the achievements aren't buggy.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the online features are; I rarely experience disconnections.”
“The game is plagued by frequent crashes and stability issues that ruin the experience.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that made it difficult to progress, severely impacting the overall enjoyment.”
“There are constant frame rate drops and lag, making gameplay frustrating and unresponsive.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly in multiplayer settings where character variations and cooperative roles enhance the experience. However, solo play may become repetitive due to backtracking and inventory limitations. Ongoing content updates promise to further enrich replay value.
“Playing through in co-op is a blast, especially when each player assumes a role in the group. The RPG-style level-ups are also a welcome touch that adds to the replayability, and there are still more scenarios and content coming, which is great! I can't wait to see the game when it's finished!”
“I can see a lot of replay value here with groups, but it does get pretty stale solo after a while due to all the backtracking with your limited inventory.”
“I can see a lot of replay value here with groups, but it does get pretty stale solo after a while, due to all the backtracking with your limited inventory.”
“That game's replayability came from the variation that each character brought to a level, and this outbreak game is no different.”
“Playing through in co-op is a blast, especially when each player assumes a role in the group. The RPG-style level-ups are also a welcome touch that adds to the replayability, and there are still more scenarios and content coming, which is great!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the game offers around 10 hours of content, with some achievements requiring additional grinding to complete. While the core experience is engaging, the grind for certain achievements may deter some players from fully committing to them.
“There's about 10 hours of content here before you've seen everything. At this time, I'm at 11 hours and have done all the achievements besides the grindy ones. I'll get to them eventually.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over just to level up, which takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
Critic Reviews
Outbreak: The New Nightmare Review
There are some games out there that are "so-bad-its-good," like most of Swery's games. Outbreak: The New Nightmare is one of those "so-bad-it-gave-me-depression" ones. The developer likely is inexperienced, and working with almost no budget, but not everyone should make a game. The saying "anyone can make a game", means that a good game designer can come from anywhere. All survival-horror fans must stay away from this one.
20%Outbreak: The New Nightmare
+ Onslaught mode is the least awful + Characters levelling up and unlockables + Local co-op and online co-op - Level design - The camera - Slow gameplay - Poor battling physics - Shooting in the general direction of enemies kills them - Lack of enemy variety - Don't forget to check your map before exiting this review (Reviewed on PS4, also on Windows, PS5, X-Box One, Nintendo Switch)
40%Outbreak: The New Nightmare Review – Impressive Indie Fails to Animate
65%