Always Be Switching Colors.
Outland is a standard 2D platformer with a polarity-switching mechanic akin to classic shooter Ikaruga. Simply put, your main character can shift between two colors, blue and red, "light" and "dark" in game terms. Each enemy also has an associated color, and you can only defeat them with the opposite color. Most of the landscape is also populated with infinite bullet generators that spew endless barrages of colored bullets that will only damage your character when he is of the wrong color. In summary, you want to be the same color when running through bullets, and the opposite color when fighting enemies. Confused yet? It's a mind-bending concept that, in later stages, can have you equal parts frantic and frustrated. Succeeding in navigating a long vertical shaft of color-switch platforms and insane flowery patterns of bullets is ultimately a rewarding experience.
Graphically, the game sets its black silhouette foreground against multiple layers of colorful, subtly animated backgrounds. The environments range from deep jungles, underground caves, and fragmented cities in the sky, and they're all beautiful to see. Regretfully, as most of the foreground elements looks similar from scene to scene, it can be difficult to appreciate what is happening behind the action on most occasions. In addition, the high contrast between bright colorful background and stark black foregrounds can be a bit of a strain on the eyes. Also, some of the deep red or blue backgrounds can cause some of the tiny colored bullets of similar color to virtually disappear during some of the more harrowing jumps.
The soundscape is mostly made up of a minimalist arrangement of ambient music. It is appropriate and non-intrusive, but not particularly memorable either. I can't help but think the high-concept presentation could have been aided by even more ambient effects, such as sweeping wind in the treetops, or deep echoes of thunder along the skyline, however that is not the case. The main character will utter an audible "whoa!" when teetering off the side of a platform or taking a long fall, which is a nice touch as it is not overdone or repetitive (a design choice that should be mimicked by other game designers). Overall, the sound design is competent and serves the game well.
As with any 2D platformer, tight controls will make or break the experience, and Outland does not disappoint. Precision is key to squeezing in between some of the more complex patterns of shifting colors, and you're given enough agility to jump off walls and slide around. Despite this, I found myself sticking to walls on some occasions when I did not want to, causing some inopportune hops in the wrong direction. While the controls are smooth and responsive, the moves do not often blend into each other as seamlessly as I'd like.
Outland provides several upgrades to the character as you play, integrating new attack methods and movement abilities. I found that a portion of these attacks were not entirely useful, and I relied on a few of the more basic moves through a majority of the game, however your mileage may vary. Many reviews liken the concept to the " Metroidvania" style of design, however Outland is much more linear than one might presume from first glance, and backtracking very rarely comes into play here unless you're out to collect relics. Even then you may find yourself hardly ever traversing old ground.
The game is fair about its checkpoints and, despite coming across some rather taxing obstacles involving extreme bullet patterns and polarity-switching enemies, you will often be sent back to a reasonable location upon death. Expect to die frequently; Outland is not extremely difficult but it's no pushover either. You've also got five giant bosses to defeat, each with many unique patterns and game play elements. and do not repeat from fight to fight.
Overall, at the base price of ten dollars, you get a lot of value. Most players will finish the single player experience in five to eight hours, and seasoned veterans can then play game segments in time trials for leader board supremacy. The entire game can even be played co-op - although there's no local two-player option, so you may have to tell your significant other to sit this one out. It's a shame that its April release will likely send Outland under the radar, as it's a premiere online release worthy of your gaming dollar.
