March 2018 brings some promising new releases for multiplayer fans. Among the most exciting titles is A Way Out, which takes cooperative multiplayer and storytelling in entirely new directions. Here’s what you need to know before the launch of A Way Out.
The release of A Way Out is approaching quickly. The highly anticipated cooperative experiment from the creator of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons will be released on March 23 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Here you will find all relevant information about the launch of this potential cooperative hit:
What is A Way Out?
A Way Out is an extremely story-driven cooperative action-adventure game played from a third-person perspective.
When and on which platforms will the game be released?
A Way Out will be released on March 23, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
What is it about?
Players take control of Leo and Vincent – two convicted criminals who must escape from prison and embark on a cinematic escape from law enforcement.
How does A Way Out play?
The gameplay of A Way Out looks diverse and has various mechanics in store. There are stealth elements including sneaking sections. Certain situations should be managed using your rhetorical skills. And action-packed situations are also not lacking: there will be shooting, fighting with fists and improvised weapons, running, swimming, jumping, and climbing.
Players will continuously face decisions that have consequences for gameplay. There is no fixed role distribution. Dialogue options exist for both protagonists. Both are free in their actions, and there are always multiple ways to master a situation.
What makes the game so special?
A Way Out is fundamentally designed as a cooperative split-screen experience – there is no single-player mode. Therefore, a second player is required. It can be played either in “couch coop” mode on the same screen or via an online connection.
The story of the two protagonists is told simultaneously but often asymmetrically. This means that, for example, one player actively controls their character in gameplay while the other is watching a cutscene in the same situation, still witnessing the actions of the active player live.
The reverse is also true – the active player sees their partner engaged in a cutscene, along with their actions and reactions. The transitions are completely seamless. This way of storytelling greatly enhances immersion. The goal is always to create an intense experience of the respective situation.
Notably, the game skillfully employs mechanics that ensure both players must continuously communicate, interact, and cooperate to progress in the game – and it never feels forced at any point.
Another distinctive feature: You only need one copy of A Way Out to experience the game together. This means – one pays, and two can play.
How long does the cooperative fun last?
The playtime of A Way Out is said to be around 6 to 8 hours. No expansions are planned.
How the cooperative mode works
For double cooperative fun, 2 players only need one copy of A Way Out.
But beware: Crossplay does not work in A Way Out.
Players cooperate on the couch on the same screen or through an online connection. Here’s what you should know about the two different modes:
Online play with the Friend Pass feature
The Friend Pass feature allows all buyers of A Way Out to choose a friend to embark on the adventure together. This player then gets the option to download the game completely free of charge. However, as a guest, they can only play with the original purchaser. The guest player does not have their own rights to invite other players in their version of the game.
The purchaser, however, receives extended rights. They can freely invite other friends to a shared experience using the Friend Pass feature. So, if the original partner cannot participate, the owner of the game can simply invite another buddy. However, from this point on, the originally invited friend loses access rights to their version of A Way Out. These rights will be restored only when they join the purchaser again to escape from the law.
Playing in couch coop mode
Besides the need for a second controller, there’s nothing else to consider in the local couch coop mode. You can start playing together immediately.
What you need to play
For playing together via an online connection, a valid membership with PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold is required. For the couch coop mode, you need a second controller.
Further frequent questions about the multiplayer are answered in the following GameStar video:
A Way Out is ideal for you if…
You’re looking for high-level cooperative gameplay and exciting, cinematic storytelling. While it’s hard to categorize the gameplay and compare it to other games, it offers everything that makes the cooperative heart beat faster.
You constantly need to communicate, search for new solutions together, make plans, test different strategies, and make joint decisions that significantly influence your adventure – all while being on the couch together. If this appeals to you, A Way Out will definitely be worth your while.
You might be disappointed if…
You’re not particularly interested in the story of a game and prefer to mow through hordes of monsters and shoot aliens or other players without much preparation. While rudimentary shooter mechanics exist – they only appear where the story requires it. Those expecting multiplayer like in The Last of Us or Uncharted will be disappointed.
It is a purely cooperative game – designed for 2 people. There is no PvP, and weapons themselves are not the focus in A Way Out. It’s all about the intense shared experience of the story, not about competing with others in the game. Those looking for competitive multiplayer elements should definitely steer clear of this game.
What the first testers say
A Way Out offers a unique couch experience with split-screen.
Initial testers were quite impressed with their experiences (Link to IGN review): An exciting story with emotional highlights and twists, a serious background, a realistic setting, a cinematic narrative style, well-developed, distinctive characters with flaws, relatable problems – all of this leads to much discussion and is likely to appeal particularly to a mature audience.
The split-screen feature, which is unfortunately hard to find in games today, adds extra appeal. It allows the player experience to be enjoyed with a best friend or partner in a cozy atmosphere from the couch, something many long for. This makes the shared storytelling even more intense.
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