There are a lot of different ways to try to describe Outland. You could call it an Ikaruga-infused platformer, but you could also say it’s a Metroid-inspired action/adventure with melee-based combat. I actually overheard someone call it the lovechild of Tron and Limbo. Though none of these descriptions are remotely similar, they all remain accurate. I really wish the name Hybrid Heaven hadn’t already been taken by that weird-ass N64 game, because that’s exactly what Outland is. It’s a hybrid heaven for Metroid/Tron/Ikaruga/Limbo/Shadow of the Colossus fans like myself.
The video above is some off-screen gameplay from toward the end of my hands on with the game. I sucked a lot less by that time, but still died quite a bit. The amount of quick, mid-air color changes needed to survive the games many bullet traps and platforming bits gets pretty intense. Below, you’ll find video of some less action packed gameplay. There’s still some pretty cool combat and bullet absorption to be found there though (particularly after I grab the controller from the guy who had been playing before me).
Outland is coming to XBLA and PSN ASAP. If that’s not seen enough for you, maybe this video interview with the game’s developers from PAX Prime will help tide you over.
