wingedmonkey

Out There offers a beautifully bleak experience. It has it all: a great plot; an appealing comic book aesthetic; otherworldly sounds; and simple, infuriating and compelling gameplay. As you pilot a lone starship on the edge of the universe, scrambling for resources to fuel and fix the ship - and keep breathing - you realise how unforgiving an environment deep space would be. It is very tough at the beginning. There were a number of occasions when I howled with annoyance as I died on the brink of reaching a critical solar system - and then howled again when I realised I could have gotten further if only I'd cannibalised some of my gadgets for an extra lump of iron or something. However, the frustrations are part of the joy of the game, and I found myself starting over and over again to complete all three rather dispiriting storylines. Worth the effort.