You only ever get one save file for each character you make. So often, in fact, that you never get any sort of do-overs. While you can save manually (and I recommended you do so often), it also autosaves with regularity. In Outward, you quite literally live with your failures. You may have noticed that I’ve referenced failure a lot in this review. Yes, this world is unforgiving, but if you prepare accordingly, and accept that you’re going to fail here and there, you can push through. The outside world is so dangerous that enemies can even attack you while you’re resting to regain health (how rude of them!). Now that they’re wounded, it’s time to do your worst. I eventually fell into a pattern of setting up a tripwire trap (preferably with iron spikes, though wood will suffice), coming up to the enemy, and leading them into the trap. Magic can be more powerful than any weapon you have, but even gaining access to it is a journey in itself. Even casting spells can become a cumbersome affair. While you do become stronger, and gain access to better equipment, you’ll never feel too powerful. It does tie into the general theme of Outward: you’re essentially a nobody in this fantasy world. ![]() Unlike many action-RPGs, you’re often better off setting traps and meticulously planning your assault, as opposed to going in, swords swinging. You can get ahold of traps fairly easy throughout your journey, and they can be rigged with various accompaniments, with varying effectiveness. However, because combat is so clunky, you’re more often than not going to want to set up traps. Yes, weapons do wear down, but that never became an issue during my time playing Outward. Combat is fairly clunky, so much that I often chose to avoid it except when necessary, or I felt confident enough that I’d take my opponent down. Though you can fight back, that may not necessarily always be the best course of action. Outward Review – Everything Wants to Kill Youįrom bandits to hyenas, the outside world is a dangerous one. Sure, there’s nothing more annoying than getting hungry while in the middle of a quest, but that’s that’s the risk you sign up for. Some may see Outward’s mechanics as micromanaging (as did I, at first), but you eventually learn to realize that this is just part of being an adventurer, an average adventurer at that. You better make sure your backpack is filled with adequate supplies, unless you plan on risking your health. Keeping track of your vitals is just as important as keeping stock of your armory. Outward is marketed as a “survival RPG,” and that’s no fluff. That’s without mentioning the limited inventory, too (there’s an encumbrance system, and it’s as bad as you’d expect). Outward always makes sure you feel vulnerable in some way. Attacks from animals can result in infections, and staying out in the cold for too long can lead to illness. There’s no such thing as a “breezy” journey here, as every venture outside of a town’s walls can unleash the worst on you. You’ll get thirsty after mistakenly drinking some salt water. You’ll get tired from adventuring too much. Everything outside of the towns (and even sometimes within) is a threat. Each faction requires you to travel across the world, which means you best prepare for a long journey. There’s no fast travel here if a quest takes you to the other end of the country, you better hoof it. You’re given the opportunity to join a number of factions, each promising to rid you of your debt in some way. ![]() ![]() Of course, I failed at that. But that’s when the true adventure begins. When Outward begins, you’re forced to pay your dues within five days-lest you face a foreclosure on your home. Some intriguing survival mechanics ensure that Outward will not be a game for everyone however, those that push through will find an engaging, yet clunky epic. Outward makes some very specific twists on the standard RPG formula, twists that give it some pretty hefty bite. But go past that, and you’ll find yourself in a compelling, albeit unforgiving world. Yes, on a very surface level, it’s visuals are dated, and that may turn some people off. This is a game that hearkens back to an earlier era in video games, for better or worse.
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