(Game Review) A Way Out

Time to read: 2 min read

Game Cover Game Cover

There's a difference between overthinking things and being smart, Leo.

Are you implying that I'm not smart?

Your words, not mine.

Platform played on: Xbox One

Review

In the age of online multiplayer, it's rare to have a game designed for couch co-op; A Way Out is exactly that: a scenematic experience designed to be experienced by two friends playing couch co-op.

The story follows two inmates of a prison in 1972, Vincent Moretti and Leonard "Leo" Caruso. Vincent is mature and calm while Leo is talkative and energetic; while the two are initially antagonistic to one another, they work together to escape prison and get revenge on Harvey, a mysterious crime boss who has wronged both Vincent and Leo.

The game featues an amazing story; I especially liked watching Vincent and Leo's friendship develop as the game progresses. The dialogue and voice acting are both amazing. The soundtrack and cinematics are also thoughtful and entertaining; it felt I was playing through a polished action movie.

The gameplay centers around the two players (one playing as Vincent and the other as Leo) cooperating to accomplish goals. What's cool about the experience is that one has to constantly be aware of what the other player is doing in order to time the events properly. The game is generally linear and features light stealth elements, some puzzle-solving, and some shooter sections.

Screenshot Cooperative Gameplay

One of the things I especially liked about the game is the amount of detail added to the surroundings; the environments are very interactive with tons of Easter eggs and mini-games. I really enjoyed the cooperative mini-games, such as arm wrestling (button mashing), banjo and piano duet (rhythm game), and Connect Four.

Conclusion

An amazing co-op experience.

Overall rating: 8.7

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