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Outcast: A New Beginning

Explore the rich land of Adelpha while saving it from an invasion with some help from the Yods.
Outcast: A New Beginning Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
77% User Score Based on 802 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 36 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5CloudXbox Cloud GamingXboxWindowsPlayStation
Outcast: A New Beginning Game Cover

About

Outcast: A New Beginning is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Appeal Studios and was released on March 15, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Outcast: A New Beginning" is the sequel to the acclaimed 1999 action adventure game, bringing back protagonist Cutter Slade to the alien world of Adelpha. The Talans are enslaved and the world's resources are depleted, and it's up to Slade to save the planet once again. With the original team back, players can explore the open world using a jetpack, encountering dangerous creatures and completing missions to restore Adelpha.

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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 802 reviews
story193 positive mentions
optimization27 negative mentions

  • Beautiful graphics and world design that captures the essence of the original game.
  • Fun and engaging gameplay mechanics, especially with the jetpack and weapon customization.
  • Humorous dialogue and quirky characters that add charm to the experience.
  • Repetitive quests and activities that can feel tedious over time.
  • Technical issues, including bugs and performance drops, especially during cutscenes.
  • The story lacks depth and coherence, with a rushed ending that leaves many plot points unresolved.
  • story
    756 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Outcast – A New Beginning" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it derivative and lacking depth, often comparing it unfavorably to the original game and even to popular films like "Avatar." While some appreciate the humor and character interactions, others criticize the excessive dialogue, repetitive fetch quests, and a disjointed narrative that fails to engage. Overall, the story is seen as a serviceable backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling driving force, with many players opting to skip dialogue to focus on the action.

    • “The story is interesting, the characters and writing got so much love.”
    • “The story builds toward a clear, logical conclusion—then abruptly pivots.”
    • “The story is engaging, but it doesn’t clearly explain why you’re doing certain things.”
    • “The story seems like it was written by a 12-year-old.”
    • “Your decisions in the story are not worth thinking about; the 'love story' is a joke, the twist is a joke, and the end altogether is an insult to the time you played.”
    • “The story is bland and feels forced, and the progression of the story is confusing and poorly executed.”
  • gameplay
    245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Outcast: A New Beginning" is characterized by its fun mechanics, particularly the jetpack and gliding features that enhance exploration and combat dynamics. While many players appreciate the vibrant world and engaging movement, some criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the frequent interruptions from cutscenes, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a solid blend of action and exploration, though it may not fully recapture the charm of its predecessor.

    • “There are a lot of fun game mechanics that never really get old, like the jump pack and the boost jump, and a lot of satisfying exploring to do.”
    • “The sense of verticality and freedom introduced by the jetpack mechanic transforms traversal into one of the game’s great pleasures.”
    • “Gameplay revolves around a balance of exploration, combat, and interaction with the Talan people.”
    • “About one meager hour into the game, I'm so annoyed about the gameplay that I threw the towel into the ring.”
    • “The repetitive gameplay, lackluster story, and technical issues hold it back from being a truly great revival.”
    • “When the gameplay feels this bad, it doesn't matter how pretty the scenery is.”
  • graphics
    170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the vibrant art style, detailed environments, and impressive visual fidelity. However, some users noted issues such as minor animation glitches, texture tiling problems, and performance dips, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, while the graphics are considered a highlight, they are occasionally marred by technical shortcomings and inconsistencies.

    • “The graphics are nice and the world is unique, busy, and vibrant.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely fantastic, with a huge open world (including a lot of verticality) and massive draw distances.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and different biomes.”
    • “The graphics are disappointing for a 2024 release, falling behind modern standards in both visual fidelity and world-building.”
    • “Sadly, the performance is horrible for the okay-ish graphics this game has, unless you have good hardware.”
    • “Animations are rigid and character visuals are mediocre to poor.”
  • music
    107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its orchestral quality and nostalgic ties to the original title, while others criticize audio glitches and a lack of thematic diversity. Some reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the game's atmosphere and exploration, likening it to iconic scores from franchises like Star Wars. However, issues such as abrupt volume changes and repetitive tracks during gameplay have detracted from the overall experience for some players.

    • “The soundtrack reinforces this meditative pace, blending orchestral and ambient elements that capture both the mystery and melancholy of Adelpha.”
    • “The orchestral music is once again very epic and manages to stay true to the original while bringing some very cool new tunes to the mix.”
    • “The soundtrack is at the level of Star Wars/Indiana Jones, pure magical moments; and even better than the original from 1999.”
    • “Awful music that sounds like a bunch of songs just colliding (no flow, no sense).”
    • “The music is a problem for two reasons; first, the score is just your generic Hollywood orchestral music that absolutely doesn't fit in the game.”
    • “The second reason is the OST gets repetitive very fast because it plays continuously and that, my friend, is a capital sin in an open world game in which players love to dedicate long hours into exploration.”
  • humor
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, cheesy charm, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue and funny character interactions, particularly with the talans and the protagonist, Cutter Slade. While some found the humor to be reminiscent of 90s sci-fi and appreciated its light-heartedness, others noted that it could become repetitive or cringe-inducing at times, especially with the frequent cutscenes interrupting gameplay. Overall, the blend of humor, engaging quests, and vibrant world design contributes to a fun and entertaining experience, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.

    • “The world of Adelpha is beautiful, the Talans are interesting, and their dialogues are funny.”
    • “A surprisingly funny story with solid dialogue and decent voice acting.”
    • “The characters and the humor (at least for my taste, although Cutter could tone his wisecracking a bit) are great.”
  • optimization
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and long load times, particularly in densely populated areas and during intense action sequences. While some users experienced stable performance on high-end systems, others noted that even mid-range hardware struggled, indicating a need for further optimization updates. Overall, the game's visual appeal is overshadowed by its technical shortcomings, leading to a less immersive experience for many players.

    • “Performance-wise, the game is a technical treat.”
    • “The game felt smooth to play (at least on my PC), quick loading and good performance.”
    • “This is an example that you can make a game with good graphics and well optimized; I was able to play the game with 50-60 fps.”
    • “Performance is generally stable on most systems, but occasional frame drops and minor bugs break immersion.”
    • “If you can't stand open world streaming stutters, don't buy this game; it's poorly optimized and no matter how good your computer is, it will never run this game smoothly.”
    • “It needs some major optimization tweaks; I'm running an RTX 3080 with 32GB of RAM on an SSD and went from around 120fps at the beginning of the game on high settings to not being able to hit 60fps before I made it into the first little town.”
  • stability
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, including crashes, audio issues, and progression blockers. While some users noted that these issues were minor and did not significantly impact gameplay, others experienced game-breaking problems that hindered their enjoyment. Overall, the game is described as fun but in need of further polish to address its stability concerns.

    • “Runs great on 4070ti and 7800x3d, usually 90-110 maxed out.”
    • “Runs great on upper mid-range system. Great animations and voice acting.”
    • “The game looks good, it feels good, it runs great on my system (AMD CPU + NVIDIA 4080, 32GB RAM, game installed on NVMe storage) and after 10 hours of play, I have yet to see any serious bugs or glitches.”
    • “Sadly, not everything is great; the game is rather buggy, even almost 2 years after release.”
    • “The reason I can't recommend the game is that it's pretty buggy and glitchy, and at the time of review, I am almost at the end of the game and I can't seem to progress because the next quest won't trigger...”
    • “I can deal with a game that's a little buggy (although I shouldn't have to when I paid for it with my hard-earned cash), but a game-breaking bug that prevents progression, that's a big no-no.”
  • atmosphere
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, featuring beautifully crafted environments and a captivating orchestral score that enhances the experience. While many players appreciate the rich, vibrant world and its engaging design, some express disappointment over a perceived decline in the sense of awe compared to its predecessor. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a blend of humor, adventure, and stunning visuals, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “The atmosphere is rich and immersive, with beautifully crafted landmarks and areas that feel alive and thoughtfully designed.”
    • “The environments and atmosphere are gorgeous, and the orchestral score makes me feel like I'm in a classic space/action-adventure movie.”
    • “A game with a unique atmosphere, this beautiful open world adventure doesn't underestimate the player and rewards for exploring its world and denizens.”
    • “The biggest issue for me was its strange lack of atmosphere or sense of awe and wonder that the first game had.”
    • “If the game had a 'serious' atmosphere, and cut out the slapstick banter, it would be much more enjoyable.”
    • “The feeling of adventure, mystery, and atmosphere aren't on the same level as the original.”
  • grinding
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" in the game are mixed, with some players noting a lack of traditional grinding mechanics, while others find the gameplay repetitive and tedious. Many express frustration with the repetitive nature of missions and tasks, which can detract from the overall enjoyment, despite some acknowledging that the game shines with time. Overall, while grinding isn't a prominent feature, the game's repetitive elements can lead to a sense of tedium for players.

    • “There is no grinding in this game, and the missions and the combat are really fun.”
    • “Luckily, it's not grinding like in Ubisoft's latest games.”
    • “Open world, interesting story, tons of things to do; it's fun for a while but gets tedious and boring after repeating the same thing over and over.”
    • “And it overstays its welcome, because clearing the generic bases with stupid, boring enemies becomes rather tedious after a while.”
    • “This game is extremely tedious and runs poorly even on a good system.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players appreciating genuine moments of connection, particularly around themes of fatherhood and nostalgia, while others find the narrative lacking in depth and emotional engagement. Although certain scenes tackle significant issues like colonization and environmentalism, the storytelling often relies on exposition rather than evoking true feelings. Overall, while the game has its heartfelt moments and charm, it struggles to maintain emotional momentum throughout the experience.

    • “It's not just a game; it's a heartfelt homage to its predecessor, brimming with charm and cleverness.”
    • “In the first game, they have created a really touching outro after you have defeated the big baddie, and were able to say goodbye.”
    • “This visit to Adelpha made me feel like I was visiting a long-lost friend with a new pair of eyes.”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is highly praised, as it features no intrusive microtransactions, live service elements, or additional paid content, allowing players to enjoy a complete RPG experience without the pressure of in-game purchases. Reviewers appreciate the commitment to delivering a genuine single-player experience, emphasizing that the game feels crafted with care rather than as a cash grab.

    • “No microtransactions, no live service elements, just a fun open-world RPG.”
    • “Clocking in at around 30 hours of pure enjoyment, devoid of intrusive microtransactions or live service gimmicks, this game stands as a testament to the essence of a complete RPG experience.”
    • “There's probably 25+ hours of great gameplay here (I'm well over 30), with no ticky-tacky microtransactions or DLC.”
    • “Finally, a singleplayer game without microtransactions, battle passes, or anything.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has significantly improved compared to the original, with more engaging NPCs and deeper personalities, although some players still prefer the original character designs. While the art design is generally well-received, there are criticisms regarding the depth of character interactions and combat mechanics. Overall, the game offers a more enriched narrative experience than its predecessor.

    • “Character development is way better than the original Outcast (when I say 'original', I've only played Second Contact, not 1.1 or the true original).”
    • “The original Outcast had a lot of NPCs that you talked to like... once... and many did not really get much character development or unique personality; that was generally saved for Slade.”
    • “The original Outcast had a lot of NPCs that you talked to only once, and many did not really get much character development or unique personality; that was generally saved for Slade.”
    • “Terrible character development and mediocre combat.”
    • “Original character design was better in '99.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with many users expressing doubts about its longevity despite some enjoyment of the initial experience. Technical issues and length also contribute to concerns regarding its replay value.

    • “Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
    • “Content & replay value: The game offers a lot of opportunities for replaying.”
    • “Replay value is limited.”
    • “I don't have much faith in it being replayable, but I'm happy to have acquired it despite the length and tech issues.”
    • “Content and replay value are lacking.”
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25h Median play time
22h Average play time
20-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Outcast: A New Beginning is a shooter game.

Outcast: A New Beginning is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 22 hours playing Outcast: A New Beginning.

Outcast: A New Beginning was released on March 15, 2024.

Outcast: A New Beginning was developed by Appeal Studios.

Outcast: A New Beginning has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Outcast: A New Beginning is a single player game.

Similar games include Elex II, Biomutant, Ghost Song, Days Gone, Forspoken and others.