A Way Out lives up to promise shown in teaser
Sometimes it pays to dampen your critical appraisal of a game and to simply enjoy it for the boldness and individuality it brings to the table.
For its numbered shortcomings, there is not a single moment of A Way Out that lacks character, heart and a myriad other intangible qualities that place this game beyond the scope of the traditional check-box approach to the review process.
A Way Out paints a diffuse and slightly-romanticised portrayal of two men in their bid to secure freedom from a prison in the 1970’s. The plot centres around two main characters, Vincent and Leo, both of whom are controlled by human players. Two timelines are interspersed throughout the opening chapter of the gameplay, one set in current time and the other being expositionary flashbacks describing how these two men found themselves behind bars.
It feels important that A Way Out can only be played by two players. Important in that the death of couch co-op has been perpetually lamented by gamers for the past decade, but also important in the sense that both players getting to know their respective characters is mirrored in-game as Vincent and Leo get to know each other.
Conversation at the beginning of the game is pointedly wooden, but as literal and figurative barriers crumble, the comraderie between the two on-screen companions grows stronger.
The dynamic split-screen is one of A Way Out’s strongest points, with each player’s screen size shifting to accomodate each characters big moments.
One of my only gripes with A Way Out is that the downtime during cutscenes can slow the pacing of the game to a crawl. Often, these cutscenes are so excruciatingly long that one player might quickly nip off to grab a bite to eat, somewhat defeating the spirit of a game that can only be experienced in company.
Overall, A Way Out does a good job of living up to the promise it showed during its initial teaser. Should you find that you want to share a gaming experience with a friend but baulk at the stress and rigor of modern shooters, then this may well be the game for you