| Outcast: A New Beginning | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Appeal Studios |
| Publisher(s) | THQ Nordic |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 [1] |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Outcast: A New Beginning is a 2024 action-adventure video game developed by Appeal Studios and published by THQ Nordic. It is a sequel to 1999's Outcast . Players help defend an alien civilization while searching for their missing daughter.
Players control Cutter Slade, the protagonist of Outcast. Slade has had his memory wiped and does not remember his previous adventures. While attempting to find his missing daughter, he helps the Talans, a race native to the planet Adelpha, repel an invasion. This is done by performing fetch quests, talking to non-player characters, and fighting robots. Slade is equipped with a jetpack, and his weapons can be customized and upgraded in various ways. If Slade dies, he respawns nearby. Outcast: A New Beginning has an open world that can be explored, and fast travel can be used to teleport to areas already visited. [2]
On September 17, 2021, THQ Nordic announced Outcast 2: A New Beginning. [3] In August 2023, the game was renamed to Outcast: A New Beginning. [4] THQ Nordic released the game for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 15, 2024. [5] It was developed by the same team that made the first game, Belgian developer Appeal Studios. [5]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 69/100 [6] (PS5) 68/100 [7] (XSX) 72/100 [8] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Hardcore Gamer | 4/5 [9] |
| IGN | 7/10 [2] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 69/100 [10] |
| Push Square | 5/10 [11] |
| Shacknews | 8/10 [12] |
On Metacritic, Outcast: A New Beginning received mixed reviews on all platforms. [13] Although they criticized it for having "overly long questlines filled with busywork" and dialogue that is "goofy sci-fi babble", IGN recommended it to fans of open world games on the strength of its freedom and exploration. [2] Rock Paper Shotgun said it is a beautiful alien world "filled with open world busy work" and cringe-worthy dialogue. They also criticized what they felt was a white savior narrative. [14] PC Gamer 's reviewer felt Slade, who appeared to be middle-aged in the game, would appeal to older gamers given both his old-fashioned design and the game itself. [15] Push Square likewise thought people hungry for mid-2000s era action-adventure games might enjoy it, but they said there were too many other, better options today. They also experienced technical issues on the PlayStation 5. [11]
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Outcast is an action-adventure game developed by Appeal and released by Infogrames for Windows in 1999. The game was critically acclaimed and was named the "Adventure Game of the Year" by GameSpot in 1999. In 2001, Appeal developed a sequel, called Outcast II: The Lost Paradise, which was never finished due to bankruptcy. In 2010, Outcast was re-released via digital distribution on GOG. In 2014, Outcast was remastered as Outcast 1.1, after the original developers reacquired the franchise intellectual property. In 2017, a remake titled Outcast: Second Contact was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A sequel, Outcast: A New Beginning, was released for Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.
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