Outland (video game)

Outland is a 2011 platform game developed by Housemarque and published by Ubisoft. It is notable for its distinctive art style, challenging gameplay, and unique light and dark energy-shifting mechanic.

Gameplay:

The game is a 2D platformer with metroidvania elements, meaning that players explore a large, interconnected world and gain new abilities that allow them to access previously inaccessible areas. The core gameplay revolves around the player character's ability to switch between light and dark energy polarities. Enemies and projectiles are also either light or dark, and the player can only damage or pass through objects of the opposite polarity. This necessitates constant switching between light and dark states to survive and progress.

Story:

The narrative centers around an unnamed protagonist who experiences visions of a past civilization destroyed by an imbalance of light and dark energy. The protagonist must journey through a dangerous landscape, mastering the use of light and dark energy, to prevent a similar catastrophe from occurring in the present.

Art Style:

Outland features a striking visual style characterized by its use of silhouettes and vibrant colors. The environments are often depicted as layered landscapes with intricate details, creating a sense of depth and scale. The game's aesthetic draws inspiration from art deco and Mayan art.

Reception:

Upon its release, Outland was generally well-received by critics, who praised its challenging gameplay, unique mechanics, and distinctive art style. It was often compared to classic games such as Ikaruga due to its polarity-switching mechanic.