It’s been six years since we last fell prey to the dangerous whims of the Murkoff Corporation, at enduring trial, and its inhumane experiments only became more extreme. After we take on the role of an investigative reporter exposing Murkov’s plans at Mount Massive Asylum, and as a photographer uncovering corruption in the Arizona desert, we become Murkoff in “Fugitive Trial”. One of the undercover agents in “.
There’s no denying that Outlast Trials is still Outlast; your night vision camera is your best friend, hiding is often better than revenge, and ultimately, the whole thing is deeply disturbing. Batteries and weapons are scarce, and the risk of drunken insanity is high. How has psychosis affected your personality? Well, I think you’d better wait and see – but know that you won’t be able to believe your eyes. literally.
Drawing inspiration from films like Saw 2, Rubik’s Cube and 31, as well as films like The Stanford Prison Experiment and The Manchurian Candidate, Judgment is as much gore as it is psychological horror; so far , not only is it a terrifying experience that makes you shiver, but it’s also a truly fascinating story that slowly unravels.
Maybe I’m partial to psychology, but Outlast Trials mostly deals with the concept of MKUltra and sleeper agents; two things that will fascinate any conspiracy theorist for life. When you wake up in a secret Murkoff facility with fellow inmates huddled around you and a doctor watching you through the glass, it’s clear that everything that’s going on here is morally wrong.
You – hypothetically kidnapped by Murkoff and involuntarily participating in this series of experiments – become the corporate guinea pig, forced to undergo the most brutal trials in order to fight for your freedom. However, what this freedom actually means (and whether it is freedom) remains unknown.
As one of Murkoff’s pawns, created entirely at the whim of its doctor, The Outlast Trials feels closer to the original game than the sequel, which is a relief to me. That said, there’s more of an emphasis on co-op play here than ever before; the narrative here doesn’t progress through a linear story, but rather is made up of procedurals and trials. Playing alone makes Outlast Trials far more terrifying, but with a group, things are much more manageable–friends act as a buffer against the game’s pure horror–even as enemies become stronger as a result.
There are also gear and medicines that can be unlocked later in the game, designed to help you and your squad through these dangerous experiments. You’ll need to complete a ton of “healing” to access these, though, which gives The Outlast Trials a bit of a fallout vibe that I wasn’t expecting. This isn’t the only time you’ll see Red Barrels draw inspiration from other media, either, and it’s a joy to note amidst all the blood-stained hallways, throat-screaming screams, and death traps.
Each project takes place in a different area of Murkoff’s secret facility, and each area is essentially a collection of mannequins, traps, and terrifying abominations that just want to smash your skulls in. These items are then made up of those trials of the same name; different objectives that you or your team must accomplish to pass the test and enter any sadistic experiments that follow. After successfully completing the mission, you will be rewarded with points and cash, one step closer to escaping. Whether you have the mental stamina to keep it alive – or sanity – is the main question here.
That’s because, based on my brief experience with it, The Outlast Trials is really scary. The Outlast series has always been brutal, and Outlast (2013) was one of the first games I had to repeatedly close and reopen because I was too scared. This doesn’t happen very often. Outlast Trials is more brutal than ever; with enemies reminiscent of Resident Evil 4’s Ganados, and the berserker-type enemies we’ve seen in multiple horror games before, you’d think it would be easy to deal with and pass Trials easy. Alas, these enemies can really catch you off guard, especially if you pass by any desk that appears to be unattended, or if you’re desperately trying to find a locker to hide in only to find it’s already taken. Don’t forget, your own friends might end up stabbing you in the back too…
Outlast Trials has certainly come a long way since its October beta period. While there are still some kinks to be ironed out, Red Barrels not only brings the Outlast series back to the brutal, scary, and engaging themes of Outlast Trials, but also in its “trials” format and via offshoots into co-op, too. It’s nice to see this game lives up to its name.
I have high hopes for The Outlast Trials, and it might just be one of the best multiplayer horror games of the year. The attention to detail here isn’t often seen in co-op horror films, and I’m sure Trials of Escape will really terrify players, as it did in the franchise’s 2013 debut.
Outlast Trials will launch on Steam on May 18, 2023. The game has been previewed on PC with code provided by the publisher.
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