Outcast: A New Beginning

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 583 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Outcast: A New Beginning Game Cover
Explore the rich land of Adelpha while saving it from an invasion with some help from the Yods.
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"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.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 583 reviews
story131 positive mentions
optimization20 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully crafted open world with diverse environments and stunning visuals, making exploration a joy.
  • The jetpack mechanics provide a fun and dynamic way to traverse the world, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
  • The writing and humor are engaging, with quirky characters and entertaining dialogue that evoke nostalgia for fans of the original Outcast.
  • The story can feel disjointed and lacks depth, with some plot points being predictable and poorly executed.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including frame rate drops and glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
  • The quest structure is repetitive, often relying on generic fetch quests and combat encounters that can become tedious over time.
  • story506 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet flawed. While some appreciate the humor, world-building, and interconnected quests, others criticize the narrative for being clichéd, repetitive, and reminiscent of other works like "Avatar." The quest structure, often reliant on fetch tasks, detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of tedium despite the vibrant world and character interactions.

    • “The story is interesting and keeps a good pace; everything is well voice acted, and there is a handy little glossary feature that allows you to quickly view the definitions of alien words mid-dialogue, which definitely helps.”
    • “The main quest is engaging and the side quests often delightful.”
    • “The story is intriguing, and the concepts seem to tie cohesively into the main story.”
    • “The main story is bogged down in an enormous amount of world-building side quests, so much so that when the story finally does begin to take off you're almost at the end of the game.”
    • “The story itself feels dated, relying on the trope of 'white savior' for most of the game.”
    • “The story is rife with typos in subtitles, some voice acting lines were mixed at 5% volume, and music cutting out suddenly to ruin the mood.”
  • gameplay165 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its enjoyable mechanics, particularly the traversal options like jetpacks and gliding, which enhance exploration and movement. However, many players noted that the gameplay can become repetitive, with a lack of challenge in combat and frequent interruptions from cutscenes and loading screens. While the mechanics are solid and the world is engaging, the overall experience is marred by issues such as clunky controls, a disjointed story, and a reliance on familiar gameplay loops.

    • “The freedom to run, fly, and glide anywhere, and stand on almost anything was a welcome addition, and the movement mechanics in general were enjoyable.”
    • “From a pure gameplay point of view, this is an outstanding game from top to bottom, a decently sized, living open world with plenty to do but doesn't feel like a chore; it's just a straight-up fun game.”
    • “Gameplay flows seamlessly, thanks to the exhilarating jet pack and wing suit mechanics, offering breathtaking aerial exploration.”
    • “Gameplay is interrupted every 30 seconds for either a cutscene or a loading screen.”
    • “The combat is very repetitive with no challenge at all; once you know the mechanics, it becomes really easy, and that also includes the bosses.”
    • “There are no puzzles, no quests or choices, or anything else that has any effect at all on the storyline or the gameplay in any way, no engaging conversations or even challenging enemies.”
  • graphics122 mentions

    Overall, the graphics of the game have received positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, beautiful environments, and inventive art design. While some noted minor issues such as graphical glitches and performance hiccups, the general consensus is that the graphics are impressive and contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics may not be groundbreaking and can feel dated in certain aspects.

    • “The graphics are top notch and the freedom of movement feels amazing.”
    • “I was very impressed by the gorgeous graphics and the freedom of movement allowed around the game world.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely fantastic, with a huge open world (including a lot of verticality) and massive draw distances.”
    • “The graphics are lacking, the gameplay is repetitive, the storyline is about as basic as can be, but the worst part is... it has absolutely nothing, and I do mean nothing to do with the original Outcast.”
    • “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.”
  • music92 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the orchestral soundtrack composed by Lennie Moore for its ability to evoke nostalgia and enhance the immersive experience. However, some players noted issues with abrupt transitions and volume adjustments during cutscenes, which detracted from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is often described as a standout feature, successfully capturing the charm of the original game while introducing new themes.

    • “The soundtrack is simply magnificent and out of this world, combat system is simple but a hell of a fun at the same time.”
    • “The beautiful orchestral soundtrack makes exploration of all the vibrant environments feel just like the first game, and the many charming NPCs spouting optional dumps of lore are familiar too.”
    • “The music is triumphant and asks you to soak in the spectacle with it, and the feel of wanton exploration is refreshing after so many open worlds failing to get the spice right that makes you want to go off bounding and reaching new heights.”
    • “During some cutscenes, the music would stop and start again a couple of times.”
    • “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 where players love to dedicate long hours to exploration.”
  • humor62 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its witty dialogue, hilarious characters, and entertaining quests, often blending self-deprecating and ironic tones. Players appreciate the light-hearted nature of the writing, which includes clever puns and pop culture references, contributing to a rich and immersive experience. While some found the humor occasionally clunky or overdone, the overall consensus is that it adds significant charm and enjoyment to the gameplay.

    • “The whole game does not take itself too seriously and is strewn with an ironic humor that I enjoyed.”
    • “I love how the characters all have opinions about each other (mostly bad ones, which is absolutely hilarious) and how all the quests are connected: what you do in one corner of the world influences everything else as well.”
    • “The dialogues and side quests are very entertaining, the humor just hits that certain sarcastic spot.”
  • optimization55 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably inconsistent, with significant performance issues reported in specific areas, particularly in villages, even on high-end hardware. While some players experienced smooth gameplay and good performance overall, many others faced stuttering, frame drops, and bugs, especially during cutscenes and in densely populated environments. Despite these challenges, some users found enjoyment in the combat and story, suggesting that the game may improve with future patches.

    • “The game felt smooth to play (at least on my PC), with 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.”
    • “Beyond that, the game boasts a visually stunning 'peak Unreal Engine 4' open world offering a smooth performance with only occasional microstutters and some unnecessary pop-ins, which hopefully will soon be taken care of through a patch.”
    • “Sadly, the performance is horrible for the okay-ish graphics this game has, unless you have good hardware.”
    • “Any time there are more than 5 or so on screen, the animation gets simplified and they jerk around like a 2fps slideshow even if the rest of the game is still at full performance.”
    • “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.”
  • stability29 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, including audio issues, graphical anomalies, and occasional crashes. While some users experienced significant performance problems, others noted that the game runs well on higher-end systems, with only minor glitches that did not severely impact gameplay. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability issues detract from the experience for some players.

    • “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.”
    • “Runs great on upper mid-range system.. great animations and voice acting.”
    • “Runs great on 4070 Ti and 7800X3D, usually 90-110 maxed out.”
    • “Where the game mostly falters is in the bugs and glitches that still haven't been completely patched up yet. From enemies suspended mid-air or t-posing, to occasional frame drops even when I was playing on 'balanced' mode, nothing that was game-breaking for me, but it did sour my experience a bit.”
    • “Over the course of the game, I experienced a handful of crashes, numerous sound glitches, and even some lines of dialogue that were clearly flubbed by the actors, yet somehow made it into the game.”
    • “The game is buggy and glitchy at times, where I had to redo 30 minutes of gameplay as a result, and should be better, but as far as FPS goes, I was mostly in the 80's+ frame rates.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning environments, engaging character movements, and a captivating orchestral score that evokes a classic space/action-adventure feel. Players appreciate the unique blend of humor and lightheartedness, alongside beautifully designed landscapes that encourage exploration. While some note a shift in narrative coherence compared to the original, the overall ambiance remains immersive and visually striking, making it a delightful experience.

    • “The environments and atmosphere are gorgeous, and the orchestral score makes me feel like I'm in a classic space/action-adventure movie.”
    • “There are beautiful forests, villages, alien ruins, deserts, mountain passes, all underlined by perfectly atmospheric music from the returning Lennie Moore, and Cutter now has a jetpack that can be used to jump and fly, on land, underwater, or in the air, according to levels of upgrades unlocked.”
    • “A game with a unique atmosphere, this beautiful open-world adventure doesn't underestimate the player and rewards exploration of its world and denizens.”
    • “At the same time, the atmosphere of what is happening is closer to Hogwarts Legacy than to Avatar.”
    • “It is interesting to pour into this nonsense, as if you are reading a perky children's book — even glimpses of 'serious drama' do not interrupt the atmosphere.”
    • “The feeling of adventure, mystery, and atmosphere aren't on the same level as the original.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, with some noting a lack of traditional grinding mechanics often seen in RPGs. However, many express frustration with the tedious and repetitive nature of missions, particularly those involving local interactions, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the game avoids excessive grinding, the gameplay loop can feel cumbersome and detracts from the experience.

    • “Luckily, it's not grinding like in Ubisoft's latest games.”
    • “I stopped playing (maybe for now) because most of the missions are tedious and boring, especially the ones interacting with the locals.”
    • “The gameplay loop is horrendous, tedious, and made worse with timer-based missions (the main reason it's a red thumb).”
    • “This game is extremely tedious and runs poorly even on a good system.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The game evokes a strong emotional response, blending charm and nostalgia while offering a heartfelt homage to its predecessor. Players appreciate the emotional highs and lows, particularly in moments like the touching outro after defeating the main antagonist, which enhances the sense of connection to the characters and the world. Despite some rough edges, the overall experience is filled with warmth and a sense of visiting a long-lost friend.

    • “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.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    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 game's commitment to delivering a pure, enjoyable single-player experience, free from cash grab tactics.

    • “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.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, users express that the game's replayability is limited, with concerns about its longevity and potential technical issues affecting the experience. While some players appreciate the acquisition despite these drawbacks, there is a general lack of confidence in the game's 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.”
    • “[i]Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the latest iteration of Outcast is significantly improved compared to the original, with more engaging NPCs and a deeper exploration of personalities beyond just the main character, Slade. However, some players still feel that the original's character design was superior and criticize the overall combat experience as mediocre.

    • “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 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

24hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
20-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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