Outcast - Second Contact

Even though I remember this game's original release I never actually played it. Therefore I had the rare opportunity to play it nonbiased. After my playthrough I can conclude that you don't need nostalgic transfiguration in order to be able to enjoy Outcast. Even though the technical problems, massive glitches, bugs and jolty controls almost drove me to the brink of insanity I still managed to enjoy the game quite a lot. As Sci-Fi fan I really enjoyed the idea of a parallel universe. But what made me like the game most was its love for details: the teasing of clumsy Talanans (in a humorous way of course), or that moment when an alien bird attacked me throwing rocks. Somehow the game managed to constantly surprise me over and over again. Sadly, nowadays that has become very uncommon.

Having played the original Outcast and the re-release for modern systems Outcast 1.1, I can say with absolute certainty, that this is the best version of the game by far. The modern graphics and reimagined user interface make for a much more fluent experience. If you've played the previous games, and remember the frustrating aspects of navigating Okriana and Shamazaar, rest assured that the difficulty is almost gone this time around because you can get around faster by sprinting (as well as not being slowed when moving through Rizi fields) and you actually KNOW where you are going since your map now highlights all named NPCs. A quicker save function and The recreated visuals take some getting used to yet give the game a clean look. This is certainly the most beautiful we have seen Adelpha. That being said, the game could have used more polish still. I've experienced lots of visual glitches which, although never game breaking on version Hotfix 2, hurt the immersion the game is most known for. I also could not get behind the new intro sequence. I understand that the original cinematic does not hold up, but their replacement, a drawn 2D animation in the artistic style of Supergiant Games' cinematics feels unsuitable and stilted. If you have not played Outcast before, be warned that the first ~five hours are by far the most offputting. The progression in the first area after the tutorial is the most convoluted and the enemies are the strongest they will be during the game, relative to your own strength. The optimal progression path is not obvious and the game discourages you somewhat to follow it. Bottom line, although it does not come without its own shortcomings, this is a great pickup for anyone looking to get back into Adelpha. If you have not played the original and want to experience Outcast, this is also the version you should choose. If you have never heard of Outcast, play this if you don't find any better action adventure.

Two stars for the excellent modification of the original game. For me the game is unplayable and I can only strictly recommend not to buy it. The game has so many crashing issues that it is really frustrating. In the last hour of gaming I had twelve crashes of which four were so severe that the computer went into lockdown and had to be rebooted. (No kidding, a game that kills your PC in 2018.) It is quite funny because the original runs extremly smoothly by comparision. As thrilled I was when I bought it, as disappointed I am now because the game would be fantastic, if there were not those technical issues. Graphics are awesome, details are great, the story is (still) rich but it does not do you much good if the game keeps crashing.

This was my most anticipated game of 2017 as it's a remake of my favorite game of all time. My opinion of the game remains the same: "Outcast, my all time favorite game. The game which made me forget that my body requires sustenance and frequent visits to the bathroom to function." Everything about it from the story, setting, music, dialogue, lore, voice acting and the graphics (Yes, the graphics!) are just perfect. This is the PC's Zelda. Being able to run it properly on a modern system/OS made me one happy fellow." However, the remake suffers from some issues such as performance, lack of video options, the game recognizing my HOTAS setup as a joypad, lazy still images for an intro (the original intro is far superior) and some occasssional in game bugs. Do these issues deter from the overall experience? Absolutely not! This is still an incredibly unique experience and a fully realized world. Here's hoping we finally get that sequel we were anticpating in the early 2000's.