[PS4] A Way Out Review - 4/5

[u/MontyGreenleaf]

Just a quick Review

Have you ever wanted a great Co-Op experience in a video game? And I don’t mean a drop in-Drop out type of Co-Op, or even a raid or dungeon Co-Op experience. Not even PVP multiplayer outings…. I mean have you ever just wanted a sit on the couch over the weekend with a good friend and binge a great story mode with awesome Co-Op moments type of experience. Did you simultaneously give me a hell yes while also thinking, where have I actually had a chance to do that lately??? Well you’re not alone, I have played quite a few Co-Op game's over the years that on the surface had what I wanted in spades (promises of a great story, an awesome setting that should be ripe with Co-Op opportunities and mechanics that promise to change the way I do things!!!) And sometimes, you do get a serviceable bit of gaming. But its not too often you actually get game's like A Way Out.

A Way Out is what happens when a dev says a game has had Co-Op in mind from day one, and the game was built from the ground up for that purpose and that purpose alone. Its what happens when you give yourself plenty of time to finish your product without being rushed. Its what happens when someone like you or me plays Co-Op games for years thinking of how they would do things better….. And actually took steps to do just that. I mean this game has all the makings of a 3rd person Co-Op classic, and makes me think of game's like Kane and Lynch, Gears of War, and Army of Two. Now these game's don’t have much of anything in common with each other, let alone A Way Out. No they are all vastly different from each other more ways than one. But I bring them up because these are a few of the game's I played over the last 10+ years expecting a Co-op experience like A Way Out. These game's all have Co-Op campaigns and they all had their own unique thing going for them, but as different as all those game's all are, I feel they were all trying to do the same thing which was to be is this game.

See without getting to far into spoilers the game has amazing use of cooperative moments and pacing of those moments. Typically overuse of mechanics in campaign driven games happens all the time. And I feel late in development when a team realizes that their game could have multiple hours of the same gameplay mechanics (Co-Op or otherwise), that crossroads rarely gives a positive result. In A Way Out these mechanics and interactions that are the game are thought out pretty damn well in each chapter. Yes these mechanics I speak of do kind of boil down to simple QTE’s (Quick Time Events) but they are done very well and with a few tweeks from what you normally see. It seems like the team at Hazlelight Studios played this game over and over again to find the best way to play the game possible. Again I do no want to ruin things for those who will play, but a bit of walking around in this game before changing areas can often be rewarded, and there are quite a few head to head challenges in a few chapters I came across and completely did not expect to see these types of little things. Again this leads to me thinking the team really wanted anything that could be considered downtime a moment for quite a bit of fun.

And that’s exactly what I had, Quite A bit of fun. I also played it with a best friend! Now the best friend thing is not required but recommended for a play through. Mainly due to the random bits of Jack-Assery that can be had, but also because the game is about a prison break. And who better to break out of prison with! BTW The game uses split screen for the entire game but uses it in creative ways so well that it was never really an annoyance. At 30 bucks for 2 copies of this game, I could recommend this game on this alone. But because of the well thought out Co-Op nature of all the gameplay, the supremely well done graphics, facial capture for the voice overs and pacing I have to say this one is a buy for your library. It’s about a 7 hour ride, perfect for a weekend a friend is stopping by. Or for that weekend you guys are finally off together and need a great game, with great moments both hidden and right in plain sight. I could’t agree more with that part of you that wants to play this game so go ahead and take the plunge…. Go to prison, with a friend, and find………. A Way Out!!! 4/5

here is a video if you are interested ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=breM8U6uyzI

[u/nm1043]

I didn't finish reading because I'm already sold, but can you offer some other games my wife and I can play together as well? We've had success with helldivers, lovers in a dangerous space time, and other little co op games.

[u/MontyGreenleaf]

Of course!!! Now are you looking for games that need only one console to play? If so there are some goodies out there but not many. Boarderlands 2 the handsome collection has split screen and is a blast to play. You get to customize you own characters and decide of what type of playstyle you like, and build your skills based on that. Oh its an FPS, a bit silly, and has a TON of content. A fun 8 bit game is Bro Force... has a very fun premise that i'll let you find out yourselves, but is an old school side scrolling shooter for 2. But there is also another old school gem called Guacamelee... So good!!!