A Way Out Video Review
You could be forgiven for thinking Hazelight Studio’s newest title, A Way Out, might just be another co-op action game like Payday or Army of Two. While the premise has all the makings of a summer action movie, Hazelight has learned from their previous title – Brothers – and created something more deeply human and rich in story than you might expect.
Vincent and Leo come together through blind fate, and the more you get to know their stories and personalities, the more you simply must know. Their personalities aren’t cut and dry, they aren’t devices but people, and A Way Out is designed to not only pull you into their story, but hand it to you in a unique perspective. Sound interesting? Check out our video review below.
A Way Out is a co-op action-adventure game following the intertwining stories of Vincent and Leo. Players will pick one of the characters of the respective duo and, from their view, do their best to progress the game: Vincent is careful and methodical. He wants to talk and figure things out. Leo, however, is rash and violent, a man of action. While their initial play styles aren’t particularly different, there will be moments where their respective personalities will shine, particularly when it comes to whether or not a situation requires action.
Of course the biggest and most notable point of A Way Out is its co-op. Whether couch or online, the game is played in splitscreen, letting you each see what the other is doing at every step of the way. While this mechanic is a big jarring at first, its an incredible decision and one very well suited to the games idea of staying together as partners. While the game does have its downsides including a short story and little in the way of consequences for various actions, its still a beautifully handled tale and well worth the experience.
A Way Out is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. For more information, check out the game’s official website.
