Our first impressions of the horror The Outlast Trials

Published by 18 May, 2023 0 likes

Red Barells studio continues experimenting with Outlast, introducing new elements into the horror series.

Outlast Trials, coming out today in early access on PC on Steam, is trying to expand the boundaries of the universe with a cooperative mode and a new format for story submission, but it is with a single passage that really pumps the confused player with primal horror.

As follows from a small introductory video, a certain secret corporation is engaged in the creation of new superhumans, disposing of drug addicts, drunks and homeless people in its underground paramilitary complex.

After going through the chipping procedure with a canvas bag on his head, the hero must overcome a series of survival tests together with other prisoners and get the coveted ticket to freedom.

Waking up in solitary confinement, you can correct your appearance and gender, and if you feel like it, even buy fashionable equipment in exchange for local currency or donations and decorate the room with expensive toys.

Then the game offers to go on a mission — together or alone.

Officially, The Outlast Trials supports up to four players, but as far as I understand from the press version, the remaining two volunteers join the enemies.

Loneliness of fearthe first journey I started in single mode.

After covering a noticeable distance on a high-speed train and entering a special capsule, I found myself in uncharted territory without any equipment.

The burning police station with the corpses of officers and the torn bodies of prisoners inspired not the best suspicions.

And my intuition didn't let me down here — a crazed thug was waiting for me around the corner.

Avoiding a dangerous enemy and resorting to night vision in the darkness of the corridors, I was able to get deep into the site and complete the first part of the task.

And then new predators came on the scene. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the hero has absolutely no weapons, and the inventory is limited to only three items.

You can carry and throw empty bottles, distracting enemies, use rare bricks to knock down ordinary opponents, take an adrenaline rush to speed up and open boxes and first aid kits with lock picks.

In the chests there are batteries for a night vision device, and in the first—aid kits there are medicines and an antidote.

But all these accessories are strictly delimited, and the world of Outlast Trials is filled with numerous traps and opponents.

Carelessly opening the door, you can get a sharp stalk in the chest, and running past a floor mine — get gassed.

The latter does not take away health, but gives the subject hallucinations and paranoia — in addition to your oppressive sense of danger.

The character begins to see demons or receive visual distortions of space. And this will continue until you get the antidote or finish the level.

The game constantly puts pressure on the psyche, and not only with creaks, wild screams and loud noises, but also with a feeling of endless fear and expectation that an enemy is hiding behind the door, and a trap or something even worse is hidden in the dark.