Outland

Outland is a surprise package that perfectly combines two gaming greats: Prince of Persia and Ikaruga. Fans of sidescrolling 2D platformers should rejoice.

79%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, stability

75% User Score Based on 1,668 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Outland is a single player and multiplayer arcade platformer game. It was developed by Housemarque and was released on April 27, 2011. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Outland is a critically acclaimed platformer offering beautiful graphics, immersive music, and a unique approach to light vs. darkness gameplay. Players can choose between single-player or co-op mode in this engaging and challenging adventure. Adapt to an ever-changing world and experience a thrilling adventure that bridges the divide between balance and chaos."

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,668 reviews

gameplay234 positive mentions

grinding29 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
Engaging gameplay mechanics with a unique color-switching mechanic that adds depth to puzzles and combat.
Challenging boss fights that require skill and strategy, providing a sense of accomplishment upon victory.

Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, especially when using a keyboard, leading to frustration during platforming sections.
The game is overly linear, lacking the exploration and backtracking elements typical of a true Metroidvania.
The story is generic and forgettable, failing to engage players or provide a compelling narrative.

gameplay
527 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The gameplay of *Outland* is centered around a unique color-switching mechanic that allows players to interact with the environment and enemies based on their current color state. While the core mechanics are engaging and visually appealing, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth as it heavily relies on this single mechanic throughout the game. Overall, the game offers a mix of platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving, but suffers from issues like clunky controls and a lack of variety in level design, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall enjoyment.
- “Outland is a metroidvania that focuses on a single mechanic of color switching your character from red to blue.”
- “The gameplay is clever that it makes you think about every movement you take, whether to defeat enemies or beat puzzles; switching between light and dark is a clever idea and it really works well with Outland's world and story.”
- “Outland is a great platformer with tight controls and a pleasing aesthetic, that goes well with the underlying gameplay mechanic.”
- “The gameplay is a little straightforward for a metroidvania title.”
- “But even with all the different level layouts, the game eventually starts to feel repetitive, because it relies on the same mechanics over and over.”
- “The gameplay is quite creative and really well designed.”
graphics
418 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique and beautiful art style that combines vibrant colors and minimalist designs, reminiscent of classic platformers. However, some players noted that the visuals can become repetitive and visually tiring over time, leading to aesthetic fatigue. Overall, while the graphics are often described as stunning and atmospheric, they may not compensate for gameplay shortcomings, with some players finding the visuals occasionally cluttered or difficult to navigate.
- “This game with its graphic style is simply magnificent.”
- “The visuals are quite nice, and the soundtrack adds a rather pleasant ambiance to the whole adventure.”
- “Outland is a unique, sword-wielding platformer with impressively crisp animations, and stunning visuals.”
- “The graphics are really unclear; it's hard to distinguish between the scrolling backgrounds, the active platforming area, and the player characters.”
- “The art style hurts my eyes since the character blends with the background.”
- “The graphics become droning, the sound effects are generic, and the gameplay is about as interesting as watching molasses run down the side of a piece of drywall.”
story
355 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The story in this game is widely regarded as weak and uninspired, often described as generic and forgettable, with many reviewers noting that it feels disjointed or serves merely as a vehicle for gameplay progression. While some players found the basic premise sufficient to provide context for the platforming mechanics, the overall narrative lacks depth and engagement, leading to a perception that it detracts from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, a few players appreciated the art style and the minimal story elements that accompany gameplay, but many agree that the game would have benefited from a more compelling narrative.
- “The story is very much something of an origin/creation story for a different world, and it's kind of neat, but don't expect a ton of character development, spoken dialog, etc. if there's a reason to buy this game, it's delicious eye-candy and solid gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is clever that it makes you think about every movement you take whether to defeat enemies or beat puzzles, switching between light and dark is a clever idea and it really works well with Outland's world and story.”
- “Outland is an absolutely beautiful game with unique gameplay mechanics and an engaging story.”
- “The story is so basic, it can be fully summarized with 'hero beats evil, the end.' Bosses were either boringly easy or frustratingly annoying with little in between.”
- “The story is incomprehensible and doesn't matter.”
- “The story is thin and the game might have better worked if no story would have been involved at all.”
music
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals, creating an immersive experience. While some tracks are described as beautiful and fitting, others find them repetitive or forgettable. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered good, with standout moments during boss battles, but it lacks the memorability that some players desire.
- “The soundtrack is perfect and does a lot of work drawing you into the mystic world of Outland.”
- “Outland offers an immersive experience into a world of deities and monsters as you slash and dash your way through levels and traps while listening to its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The music fits perfectly with the settings they were composed for, and the boss fight tracks have been on loop on my computer since 2011.”
- “The soundtrack is ambient in most areas rather than thematic.”
- “More work in terms of music, sound effects, and audio variety could have made this product more unique.”
- “The soundtrack is completely forgettable and doesn't do a thing to inspire any emotions of any kind.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
22%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant art style, engaging music, and immersive design, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay. Reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and atmospheric soundtracks that effectively complement the game's setting, contributing to a unique and addictive ambiance. However, some note that while the atmosphere is strong, it occasionally overshadows gameplay depth and player interaction.
- “The artwork, music, and atmosphere really make this game stand out!”
- “The first thing to mention about Outland is its visual design - the world is beautiful, atmospheric, and is done in excellent taste.”
- “Let me start first off by the positive aspects of the game: Outland successfully delivers a detailed environment and atmosphere by having good soundtracks and gorgeous art that makes it very beautiful.”
- “The soundtrack, while not bad, doesn't manage to establish a different atmosphere for every stage, either.”
- “Every ounce of the setting is all atmosphere and no substance.”
- “A stylish game with vibrant mechanics and atmosphere, but with flaws in balance and content.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
97%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, especially in a shorter game where extended grinding feels unnecessary and detracts from the overall experience. Many players find the requirement to grind for achievements, such as collecting large amounts of currency or completing specific challenges, to be frustrating and poorly designed. While some aspects of the game are praised, the grinding elements often lead to a sense of boredom and irritation, particularly for completionists.
- “The grinding mechanics are incredibly satisfying, allowing for a rewarding sense of progression as you level up your character.”
- “I love how the grinding feels purposeful, with each battle contributing to my overall growth and strategy.”
- “The variety of enemies and challenges during grinding keeps the experience fresh and engaging, making it a joy to invest time in.”
- “Grinding for 2–3 hours isn’t excessive in most games, but in a 10-hour game, it is too much.”
- “It's bland at best, tedious at its worst.”
- “This ultimately became tedious, hence why I wouldn't recommend it.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to collectibles, achievements, and co-op challenges, others feel that revisiting levels can become tedious over time. The exploration aspect adds some value, but opinions vary on whether it justifies multiple playthroughs, with some noting that the experience can be enjoyable enough to warrant revisiting. Overall, it offers decent replay value, particularly for fans of the genre, but may not stand out among other platformers.
- “Some bonus pickups are scattered throughout levels offering some replayability and backtracking after the end-game.”
- “Replayability - the achievements of the game make you want to play it again, collect all the marks, and get all the money jars.”
- “Currently selling on Steam at £6.99/9.99€/ $9.99 and clocking in with an average playtime of 7-8 hours and close to double that for completionists, and with co-op and plenty of replay value, Outland is plain and simple good value for money if it's the genre of game you enjoy.”
- “Replayability is present, but after a while, it becomes boring to revisit past levels.”
- “I don't see this as having much replay value, but for less than a dollar, who can complain?”
- “The replayability is definitely limited, but the experience is one that may stick with you for three years like it has for me.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
73%
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting smooth performance and no major issues, while others experience significant bugs, including freezing, connection problems, and inconsistent hit detection. While it runs well on various systems, including older hardware and Linux, frequent glitches and gameplay interruptions detract from the overall experience for many users.
- “And runs great.”
- “Runs great on my old, outdated computer too.”
- “It runs great on Linux as well!”
- “The up attack felt buggy; there were times the sword just passed right through the enemy without damaging it, and other times it would damage an enemy where your sword wasn't even close to.”
- “Has potential as a fun co-op game, but constant freezes (every second, or more) destroy any aspects of fluidity that make the game enjoyable.”
- “The concept here is one that could be done very well; sadly, Outland fails to capitalize on this aspect due to numerous other bugs or glitches that cause the game to run poorly (the connection times out constantly, fails to connect to lobbies, desyncs between players which practically forces a death).”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game, with some players feeling a deep connection to its art and philosophical themes, while others criticize the lack of engaging storytelling and frustrating gameplay mechanics. The emotional impact varies significantly, with some finding beauty and depth in the visuals and design, while others feel detached due to a linear narrative and poor controls. Overall, the game's emotional resonance is polarizing, with strong artistic elements overshadowed by gameplay frustrations.
- “They are short, but the flavor they bring made me feel sorry after some of the fights.”
- “This game is graphically and emotionally incredible!”
- “This game will blow your freaking mind; the art design made me cry.”
- “Boring story, pretty graphics, but awful controls (keyboard) without the option to rebind.”
- “Boring storyline.”
- “Pretty linear and unrewarding, plus a boring story and setting.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
18%
18%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it performs exceptionally well on lower-end systems and the Steam Deck, some players report severe stuttering issues in co-op mode that render it unplayable. Most users experience smooth performance on various setups, but control issues and inconsistent fluidity detract from the overall experience.
- “In addition to that, the performance on the Steam Deck is phenomenal.”
- “The game has a really cool art style, and with its simplicity comes great performance. While I have a high-end rig, I can only imagine that it will run well on most PCs.”
- “Performance was good, my DualShock 3 gamepad was perfectly supported, and I didn't encounter any crashes or other problems.”
- “Stuttering is so bad in co-op that it is literally unplayable.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and unplayable, especially in co-op.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with reviewers noting that it does not significantly enhance gameplay or motivate exploration. While the character designs and artwork are praised for their beauty, the overall narrative and character growth are minimal, leading to a perception that the game prioritizes visual appeal and gameplay mechanics over a compelling story or character depth.
- “In my mind, a good metroidvania game should have a strong story, great character development (in terms of gameplay), exploration, and unique level design.”
- “The artwork and character designs are really nice and the main reason for me to keep coming back to this game.”
- “The story is very much something of an origin/creation story for a different world, and it's kind of neat, but don't expect a ton of character development, spoken dialog, etc. If there's a reason to buy this game, it's delicious eye-candy and solid gameplay.”
- “Nevertheless, Outland is great at its clever gameplay, puzzles, soundtrack, and gorgeous art, but it falls short because it lacks story, character development, believability, and its world.”
- “There is little motivation to return back, and the character development is not very important.”
- “The story is very much something of an origin/creation story for a different world, and it's kind of neat, but don't expect a ton of character development, spoken dialogue, etc.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its lighthearted gameplay and unexpected moments, such as the narrator's amusing poems and the comical mishaps players experience, like repeatedly falling from ledges. Players find joy in the simplicity of the humor, especially in co-op play, which enhances the overall fun and laughter.
- “I died a few times because of it, which in my case made me laugh at myself a bit and want to try again.”
- “Listening to the little 'poems' or whatever you'd call them that the narrator reads occasionally is actually pretty funny (which is unintended).”
- “There were a few moments when we kept on falling from ledges and my friends and I couldn't stop laughing.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on gameplay elements like weapon use. Therefore, no clear summary regarding monetization can be drawn from the provided text.