A Way Out Reviews
Messy, varied and inadvertently hilarious: A Way Out is an unusual but uneven tandem ride.
If you go into A Way Out thinking its mandatory two-player co-op is a gimmick, you'll likely come out of it realizing that it couldn't have been done any other way. Vincent and Leo's journey will have you and a friend performing tasks together both mundane and dramatic, and the result is a memorable, variety-packed cinematic adventure that feels like what Telltale's games might've evolved into if they'd leaned into game mechanics instead of phasing them out.
Fresh presentation and admirable dedication to its big idea can't save this two-player adventure from mediocrity.
A Way Out elevates co-op gaming in a way nothing has before, bringing players together to create one beautifully told story that everyone needs to experience.
The premise, and occasionally its execution, has its moments, but A Way Out feels like a vision not fully realized
A Way Out is a unique, enjoyable adventure that has a number of problems.
A Way Out has many faults, but a lack of heart isn't one of them. Seeing that heart translated into a cooperative play experience makes the journey worthwhile.
It is a game full of smart moments, perfect for bringing together dedicated gamers and curious onlookers alike.
Hazelight Studios deserves praise for the high ambitions of their first title, with A Way Out attempting to emulate a wide variety of genres, themes and gameplay mechanics.
Usually, in the course of gameplay, a game's character becomes an avatar for you. But A Way Out accomplishes something far more subversive and bold. Eventually, for better or for worse, you become an avatar for your character.
You may feel split between the lack of complete agency and the recognition that you are being told a story.
A Way Out is a story worth sharing with a friend. There's plenty to do, with moments of intensity and emotion, and the ending is one of the best conclusions in video games.
A Way Out has some ambitious, fantastic ideas at its core, but it's unfortunately surrounded by tiresome gameplay mechanics and a story that is just a bit too straightforward. While I think that the co-op focused nature of A Way Out could have better been executed upon, I endlessly credit Hazelight for trying something that I've never really seen done in this manner. Despite my issues, I really love the experimentation seen in A Way Out and hope to see more unique ideas like it in the future.
An excellent coop game that manages to entertain despite its not so great tempo due to its profound variety on almost every scene.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The results of a bold idea, which stays with us until the end and offers a very clever foundation for the gameplay. It's a little too short and, sometimes, the gameplay is too basic in order for the story to advance, but A Way Out is one of those gaming experiences you NEED to try at least once.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Hazelight Studios redefines with A Way Out what a coop game should be. Leo and Vincent's story has the players facing situations like we have never seen in a videogame before. This is undoubtedly one of this year's surprises.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
After Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, I came into A Way Out with expectations of a fraught and trying prison escape drama. That's just the beginning though, and it soon transforms into a fun revenge flick. It doesn't have the emotional impact of Brothers, and there's some rough edges from the breadth of ideas that Hazelight include, but most importantly we just had a lot of fun.
A Way Out may not be the perfect local multiplayer game, and though Hazelight made the excellent decision to allow two online players to play the game using only one copy, it lacked the replayability required to inspire me to complete it with another friend after I'd finished my first playthrough.
A Way Out is full of heart and soul: you'll grow to love the characters, and you'll become invested in Leo's charm and curious about Vincent's problems, but it's light and it could leave you unsatisfied.