A Way Out

TLDR: 9/10

Platform(s): Xbox One, PS4, PC
Players: 2

Rating:

 9/10

"I don't remember the last time a game made me cheese like this!"

Gameplay

I went into this game expectant but hesitant. I had heard good things about it but it was from like two people. I’m also hesitant with co-op games because people suck! That being said, I chose the right friend to play this with and we had a blast.

This game is full of little mini games for you and a friend to cooperate on.
There’s a part where you have to climb between two walls, so you have to stand back to back and link arms. To climb, each of you has to time a little mini game correctly. If only one of you nails it, you’re off balance. Meaning one person is higher on the wall than the other and they have to wait for the other to time their stunt correctly.

There are other mini games that are non-essential as well, such as: baseball, connect four, darts, and many more.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the game is played in split-screen view. The entire game is set up so you can see exactly what your partner is doing. This may seem like a turn-off for some, but it’s incredibly helpful and very easy to get used to.

It’s also incredibly well-polished. You can see what’s going on in real-time from multiple angles 99% of the time (there are a few cutscenes in which your partner is non-existent).

Cinematography

This game is what I would call a cinematic masterpiece. Not because of the graphics (which are mediocre), but because of the directing.

As I stated above, the game is played in split-screen, but there are times when that changes. Sometimes only one person’s screen will be shared to both players while that one has to nail a button combo. Other times, the two screens will combine, reminiscent of The Warriors (2005) game.

This is an over-the-shoulder 3rd-person game but that changes as well. One scene in particular comes to mind: when Leo and Vincent are escaping the hospital, whoever picked Leo will end up in a side-scrolling fighter game for a few moments.

The directing alone will keep you on the edge of your seat. *kisses hand like Italian chef*

Fantastic cinematography in the hospital scene

Story

Now, on to the story. Personally, I loved the story for a video game. It starts off a bit Shawshank, then turns a bit GTA, the shifts over to a Mission Impossible style story. It was really weird, but in the best way.

Shawshank: So you start out with Vincent being incarcerated while Leo had already been in there for a while. Vincent saves Leo in a fight (twice), so they start talking. Leo has a plan to get out and Vincent wants in…or out I suppose. The two have mutual beef with a guy named Harvey: they’re both in there because of him.

You’ll spend the next chapter plotting and executing your escape from prison. It happens surprisingly quick, but that’s probably just my thinking since I was told it’s a prison escape game.

Now the GTA section: Once you’re out of prison, you have to avoid the search party in the woods for a while. During this time you’ll fish for food and steal clothes and a truck from and old couple. Yeah, the protagonists aren’t exactly good guys.

You finally end up in town where you meet Leo’s family, hunt information on Harvey, and prepare to take him out. There’s robbery, torture, chase scenes, and a lot of other things you’d typically do in a GTA game.

Mission Impossible: Now the story gets nuts. You’re going to enlist the help of Vincent’s friend to fly you to Mexico, where Harvey’s mansion is. You’ll either parachute down or land on a strip (parachute. just parachute). Once you land, you’ll sneak (or shoot) through probably close to fifty of Harvey’s men on the way to his mansion. Inside, you’ll kill a few more, then Harvey himself. Harvey’s death is super unnecessary and unrealistic but, my God, did it feel good.

After Harvey’s death, more men will arrive from which you have to escape on conveniently placed motorcycles. DEUS EX MACHINA! The escape is a super unrealistic and fun chase with machine guns, Mexicans, gnarly jumps, and more. It all concludes when you jump onto a moving airplane (piloted by the previously mentioned friend).

Seriously, this spoiler WILL ruin an amazing experience!
PLEASE don’t click this unless you’ve beaten the game!

HAHA you actually thought I was gonna give away the ending?? Why? People who’ve beat the game know the ending. And then there’s you…shame on you. Go buy the game with the link below and play it.