when i was like 8 years old i had a dream once that i somehow was teleported to my grandpa's house
i remember hiding behind the trashcans in front of their house, watching my uncle sitting on the front porch with a friend of his sharing a 6 pack
i was so freaked out and i had no idea what would happen if they saw me
but then they did
and he stared right at me
and my entire body just went cold, frozen, paralyzed by the thought of "oh my god, what do i do, how do i explain this"
it wasn't necessarily fear of my uncle, i actually got along with him pretty well
it was the idea that i had intruded a place that i had no reasonable explanation for being at, watching people go about their daily routines, routines i were never meant to see, not because the routines were secret but because i was simply not a part of them
this fucking game man
anyways dlc was stellar, i played it before any updates so arguably i got the "worst" experience, and even then it was amazing
the visuals, the music, the story, the twists, the fear
all of it worked
and the ending was one of the most cathartic things i've ever felt
if you haven't played the dlc, or just haven't played outer wilds in general i absolutely IMPLORE you to try it
yes, it may not be for everyone, yes it may not "click" for you the same way it did for me, but you never know what experiences you're missing out on if you never give it a chance
i remember hiding behind the trashcans in front of their house, watching my uncle sitting on the front porch with a friend of his sharing a 6 pack
i was so freaked out and i had no idea what would happen if they saw me
but then they did
and he stared right at me
and my entire body just went cold, frozen, paralyzed by the thought of "oh my god, what do i do, how do i explain this"
it wasn't necessarily fear of my uncle, i actually got along with him pretty well
it was the idea that i had intruded a place that i had no reasonable explanation for being at, watching people go about their daily routines, routines i were never meant to see, not because the routines were secret but because i was simply not a part of them
this fucking game man
anyways dlc was stellar, i played it before any updates so arguably i got the "worst" experience, and even then it was amazing
the visuals, the music, the story, the twists, the fear
all of it worked
and the ending was one of the most cathartic things i've ever felt
if you haven't played the dlc, or just haven't played outer wilds in general i absolutely IMPLORE you to try it
yes, it may not be for everyone, yes it may not "click" for you the same way it did for me, but you never know what experiences you're missing out on if you never give it a chance
soul but uhh can't say I'm a big fan of this "switch" in gameplay
but the big moments hit hard
but the big moments hit hard
This review contains spoilers
Thematically perfect when attached narratively, and completes Outer Wilds in a way I could never go back on; the story of the Stranger completely adds to everything and it might be my favorite part of the games story on reflection.
Unfortunately, everything else about it was disjointed compared to the base game, even on a conceptual level: A DLC adding a new area with its own story to a game where everything is knowledge-based and the whole point is it can't be replayed? At what point do I play this? Because if I do it afterwards, that ruins the "never replay" model thematically, but if I do it beforehand, the themes just won't work, even if they fit!
On an executive level, Echoes of the Eye has one (technically two) big environment(s) that are non-linear alike the base game, yet requires steps in this environment to be done in a linear fashion where all the knowledge you learn is still absolutely necessary and you won't find sources of clues in other places, in different words; Echoes of the Eye will not let you freely explore each location as if they were their own planets like the base game, they all fundamentally function the same and each show big steps in a non-recordable form due to the lack of an easily accessible shiplog and the lack of text conveying the story, (which by the way, I do enjoy, but was hampered by the lack of a shiplog in the end for me) which has the end result of making you require a very specific path in an environment that seems deceptively open-ended, the progression also takes practically no utilization of the base Outer Wilds toolset, yet doesn't add much more beyond light-receptive tools. The dream world on the other hand has far more interesting mechanics in some cases but the vast majority are standard survival horror tropes, the main one being "we will plaster the screen in overwhelming darkness so you can't see shit." The most interesting mechanic I remember is sincerely the hands you use to get around, which is a big shame given how much you could do with a simulation made by complete aliens. All of this comes together to be worsened as base game mechanics are still at play with practically no utilization, there is still a 22 time-loop active forcing you to bolt to the Stranger and then the dream world at lightspeed but there is never any positive application of it here; all it does in this DLC is barricade you, paths are never opened or anything here and due to how your timeframe is shorter due to needing to get to the dream world rapidly at the start, the whole thing feels like an obnoxious barricade rather than a natural part of the loop that lends itself well to open-ended exploration where you can start a loop, go anywhere, and still make progress. On an atmospheric front, with the fact the Strangers are complete aliens, I feel they knocked it out of the park for the most part, I have seriously no complaints there; the combination of American folklore, weird sci-fi tropes and pre-existing Outer Wilds mythology goes a long way to create a extremely distinct atmosphere and story, one that will stick with me just as much as the base game, especially with how it just furthers the base storyline.
Really, this isn't something I'd like to rate lowly because in some ways it appeals more than the base game narratively and thematically, but that's not what makes Outer Wilds amazing, is it? As a result of the format and design, I was consistently confused on where to go since I dared to play the game in spaced out chunks as opposed to binging in one go (which I generally hate doing) and it led to me being just completely unable to follow clues and story direction, alongside being generally unimpressed with blander implementation of mechanics and progression than the base game, and this is lethal to the score I have to give this, because even though I have a deep-found respect and appreciation for the DLC, what makes Outer Wilds a 10/10 masterpiece in so many peoples eyes, including mine, is that it's perfectly harmonious in storytelling and gameplay, there's no dividing line, and to feel disjointed in that sense, is to not be Outer Wilds.
Unfortunately, everything else about it was disjointed compared to the base game, even on a conceptual level: A DLC adding a new area with its own story to a game where everything is knowledge-based and the whole point is it can't be replayed? At what point do I play this? Because if I do it afterwards, that ruins the "never replay" model thematically, but if I do it beforehand, the themes just won't work, even if they fit!
On an executive level, Echoes of the Eye has one (technically two) big environment(s) that are non-linear alike the base game, yet requires steps in this environment to be done in a linear fashion where all the knowledge you learn is still absolutely necessary and you won't find sources of clues in other places, in different words; Echoes of the Eye will not let you freely explore each location as if they were their own planets like the base game, they all fundamentally function the same and each show big steps in a non-recordable form due to the lack of an easily accessible shiplog and the lack of text conveying the story, (which by the way, I do enjoy, but was hampered by the lack of a shiplog in the end for me) which has the end result of making you require a very specific path in an environment that seems deceptively open-ended, the progression also takes practically no utilization of the base Outer Wilds toolset, yet doesn't add much more beyond light-receptive tools. The dream world on the other hand has far more interesting mechanics in some cases but the vast majority are standard survival horror tropes, the main one being "we will plaster the screen in overwhelming darkness so you can't see shit." The most interesting mechanic I remember is sincerely the hands you use to get around, which is a big shame given how much you could do with a simulation made by complete aliens. All of this comes together to be worsened as base game mechanics are still at play with practically no utilization, there is still a 22 time-loop active forcing you to bolt to the Stranger and then the dream world at lightspeed but there is never any positive application of it here; all it does in this DLC is barricade you, paths are never opened or anything here and due to how your timeframe is shorter due to needing to get to the dream world rapidly at the start, the whole thing feels like an obnoxious barricade rather than a natural part of the loop that lends itself well to open-ended exploration where you can start a loop, go anywhere, and still make progress. On an atmospheric front, with the fact the Strangers are complete aliens, I feel they knocked it out of the park for the most part, I have seriously no complaints there; the combination of American folklore, weird sci-fi tropes and pre-existing Outer Wilds mythology goes a long way to create a extremely distinct atmosphere and story, one that will stick with me just as much as the base game, especially with how it just furthers the base storyline.
Really, this isn't something I'd like to rate lowly because in some ways it appeals more than the base game narratively and thematically, but that's not what makes Outer Wilds amazing, is it? As a result of the format and design, I was consistently confused on where to go since I dared to play the game in spaced out chunks as opposed to binging in one go (which I generally hate doing) and it led to me being just completely unable to follow clues and story direction, alongside being generally unimpressed with blander implementation of mechanics and progression than the base game, and this is lethal to the score I have to give this, because even though I have a deep-found respect and appreciation for the DLC, what makes Outer Wilds a 10/10 masterpiece in so many peoples eyes, including mine, is that it's perfectly harmonious in storytelling and gameplay, there's no dividing line, and to feel disjointed in that sense, is to not be Outer Wilds.
This review contains spoilers
This DLC made all the right decissions to justify its existence. It feels like the missing half of the main Outer Wilds plot. Accepting the eventual death of everything and living to your fullest feels a bit half baked when every character was awfully stoic and seemed ready for that eventual end; not to mention the pristine honesty the Nomai and Hearthian records are composed.
This DLC provides that other, pessimistic half we needed to elevate the message. The consequences of fearing the future all too much, how individuals are twisted by their longing to a long past era, and how said longing can be weaponised to turn them into lifeless husks of what they were; and the sad reality of selective archival to make civilizations seem better than what they are. The fact that an individual stood tall against these odds and gave more importance to truth and acceptance feels more rewarding than the optimistic Hearthians and Nomai eras.
It makes me gain appretiation for the Outer Wilds base universe, its equally stoic and tragic tone and how powerful the message hits now that we see what could've been of the universe if handled by a civilization closer to our own.
This DLC provides that other, pessimistic half we needed to elevate the message. The consequences of fearing the future all too much, how individuals are twisted by their longing to a long past era, and how said longing can be weaponised to turn them into lifeless husks of what they were; and the sad reality of selective archival to make civilizations seem better than what they are. The fact that an individual stood tall against these odds and gave more importance to truth and acceptance feels more rewarding than the optimistic Hearthians and Nomai eras.
It makes me gain appretiation for the Outer Wilds base universe, its equally stoic and tragic tone and how powerful the message hits now that we see what could've been of the universe if handled by a civilization closer to our own.
The loop of the base game didn't feel tedious at all. But this? I spent 3/4 of the time going to the Stranger, pushing the raft, getting the artifact from the ghost matter shack, travel to the fire I needed, open the secret door and only THEN entering the dream world. It gets annoying pretty fast. Also some of the spooky parts are way too "horror" and don't fit the rest of the game at all tbh. Overall the story is great and almost on par with the base game, but gameplay wise it was way too tedious and unnecessarily repetitive.
you play the base game and think it's the best thing ever and then you play this and realize there's a best thing ever part 2
I'll just watch a walkthrough of the rest I didn't get to.
I have anxiety so spending too much time in a game makes me feel weird asf, I don't have the patience to play this whole thing without spoilers of where to look once I reach a point of no more ideas. I do love the game and the feeling it gives me but yeah I can't handle playing it all the way through, because the fact that every 20 minutes you have to go all the way back annoys me so much after having played so many times...
I have anxiety so spending too much time in a game makes me feel weird asf, I don't have the patience to play this whole thing without spoilers of where to look once I reach a point of no more ideas. I do love the game and the feeling it gives me but yeah I can't handle playing it all the way through, because the fact that every 20 minutes you have to go all the way back annoys me so much after having played so many times...
Almost everything I said in my review of Outer Wilds applies here. There's a few changes/additions that definitely make this a different experience, though.
The new stuff is much more explicitly scary than anything in the base game, which was a positive for me since I appreciated the change in atmosphere. Base Outer Wilds locations feel like passive, naturally dangerous places that don't particularly care if you're there or not, let alone if you live or die. What Echoes of the Eye adds feels like it actively doesn't want you to be there and is trying to make you go away, by intimidation and obfuscation if it can or force if it has to. It's a clear change in direction that fits what the expansion is trying to do, but some people will for sure bounce off of it.
The new music is as fantastic as you'd expect, with one modified version of an old song that plays once you've finished the expansion being my new favorite track in the entire game. They even managed to add a lot of new mechanics without changing your basic toolkit (ship/jetpack, probe, signalscope, translator, and flashlight), which is really remarkable after how fleshed out everything felt by the end of the base game.
The only real "downside" is the new stuff isn't super tightly integrated into what was already there, but I can't even imagine how it could have been since there aren't any gaps in the base game that an expansion could slot into. What little integration is there, though, is excellent.
Overall, a worthy addition to the original. Probably best played late in a first-time playthrough or gone back to after finishing the base game, considering the difficulty seems balanced for people who already finished the game 2 years ago.
The new stuff is much more explicitly scary than anything in the base game, which was a positive for me since I appreciated the change in atmosphere. Base Outer Wilds locations feel like passive, naturally dangerous places that don't particularly care if you're there or not, let alone if you live or die. What Echoes of the Eye adds feels like it actively doesn't want you to be there and is trying to make you go away, by intimidation and obfuscation if it can or force if it has to. It's a clear change in direction that fits what the expansion is trying to do, but some people will for sure bounce off of it.
The new music is as fantastic as you'd expect, with one modified version of an old song that plays once you've finished the expansion being my new favorite track in the entire game. They even managed to add a lot of new mechanics without changing your basic toolkit (ship/jetpack, probe, signalscope, translator, and flashlight), which is really remarkable after how fleshed out everything felt by the end of the base game.
The only real "downside" is the new stuff isn't super tightly integrated into what was already there, but I can't even imagine how it could have been since there aren't any gaps in the base game that an expansion could slot into. What little integration is there, though, is excellent.
Overall, a worthy addition to the original. Probably best played late in a first-time playthrough or gone back to after finishing the base game, considering the difficulty seems balanced for people who already finished the game 2 years ago.
This review contains spoilers
This dlc reaffirms what I said many months ago
Outer wilds is one of the greatest games ever made, dare I say one of the greatest pieces of art ever made, and echoes of the eye is probably the single greatest DLC for any game, right up there with Bloodborne’s old hunters dlc.
The stranger is such a cool location, the horror bits build greatly upon the dark bramble concept from the base game, the visual storytelling used here as opposed to the text based storytelling of the game is phenomenal, and despite its many horrors, it has a very wholesome ending and even adds some more wholesomeness to the main game’s ending.
If you loved outer wilds, obviously play this, part of me wishes I just played this with the base game but alas, I didn’t.
Outer wilds is one of the greatest games ever made, dare I say one of the greatest pieces of art ever made, and echoes of the eye is probably the single greatest DLC for any game, right up there with Bloodborne’s old hunters dlc.
The stranger is such a cool location, the horror bits build greatly upon the dark bramble concept from the base game, the visual storytelling used here as opposed to the text based storytelling of the game is phenomenal, and despite its many horrors, it has a very wholesome ending and even adds some more wholesomeness to the main game’s ending.
If you loved outer wilds, obviously play this, part of me wishes I just played this with the base game but alas, I didn’t.
This review contains spoilers
SPOILERS FOR ENTIRE GAME
Admitting that I didn't love EOTE is deeply painful. Outer Wilds is one of the best games I've ever played and I was beyond thrilled to try the expansion. While it didn't ruin the original game for me, neither did it improve upon it.
I would describe Outer Wilds as combining three key aspects: space exploration, a time loop, and a mystery which you gradually piece together. EOTE delivers only the last aspect.
Space Exploration:
Discovering the Stranger and getting the first glimpse of the ringworld got an audible "holy shit" from me. It's visually striking and impressive from a technical standpoint. But that's where it ends, you can't take your ship inside so once you enter the Stranger you are essentially on foot for the rest of the expansion. The fact that it's a ringworld is almost incidental and isn't explored in any creative way within the gameplay.
In any other game this wouldn't be a gripe, but the base game uses the diverse properties of all the other planets as core parts of the overall puzzle. Not so here.
Time Loop:
This aspect of the game is almost entirely lost in EOTE. Other than the dam bursting about halfway through the loop, which is used for only one major puzzle, having to restart the loop every 22 minutes is nothing but an impediment to your progress within the Stranger. It's almost baffling that the developers treated the primary mechanic of the base game as a complete afterthought here. Remember, this isn't a standalone expansion, it's very much crafted to be a part of the overall experience and narrative of the base game.
Mystery:
In this one regard, the game does not disappoint. I love the story which is told in EOTE, and found myself relating a lot more to the existential terror of the Elks than the reckless curiosity of the Nomai. Piecing together the story was a thrill, and the eventual reveal of the prisoner was a wonderful moment. I especially liked the emphasis on visual storytelling rather than text logs, something the base game relied heavily upon.
--
Traditional Horror:
This is probably the most notable aspect of EOTE. Now let me just say, Outer Wilds is one of the scariest games I've ever played. But that horror was something unique that I have never experienced in any other game.
Hurtling through Giant's Deep's atmosphere to reveal an ocean covered in enormous waterspouts. The eerie drone of the enigmatic Quantum Moon's signal before it suddenly reappears on the other side of the solar system. Dropping feet-first into a black hole.
So many moments in Outer Wilds made my stomach lurch without relying on traditional horror tropes or video game mechanics. EOTE retains a little of that cosmic dread, but it mainly relies heavily on scrambling through the dark as screeching monsters hunt you. It's like they took the most frustrating part of the base game, the Angerflish, and decided to make that a major part of the expansion. While certainly terrifying, this is something that we've seen done in countless games before.
Combine that with a 22-minute time loop, and the initial horror rapidly gives way to annoyance as you rush past your foes for the umpteenth time.
--
EOTE didn't sour my love of the base game, but it left me feeling deflated. A day may come when I've forgotten enough about Outer Wilds to replay it all over again, but I doubt I will be revisiting my friends on the Stranger any time soon. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to sleep in the simulation where this expansion doesn't exist.
Admitting that I didn't love EOTE is deeply painful. Outer Wilds is one of the best games I've ever played and I was beyond thrilled to try the expansion. While it didn't ruin the original game for me, neither did it improve upon it.
I would describe Outer Wilds as combining three key aspects: space exploration, a time loop, and a mystery which you gradually piece together. EOTE delivers only the last aspect.
Space Exploration:
Discovering the Stranger and getting the first glimpse of the ringworld got an audible "holy shit" from me. It's visually striking and impressive from a technical standpoint. But that's where it ends, you can't take your ship inside so once you enter the Stranger you are essentially on foot for the rest of the expansion. The fact that it's a ringworld is almost incidental and isn't explored in any creative way within the gameplay.
In any other game this wouldn't be a gripe, but the base game uses the diverse properties of all the other planets as core parts of the overall puzzle. Not so here.
Time Loop:
This aspect of the game is almost entirely lost in EOTE. Other than the dam bursting about halfway through the loop, which is used for only one major puzzle, having to restart the loop every 22 minutes is nothing but an impediment to your progress within the Stranger. It's almost baffling that the developers treated the primary mechanic of the base game as a complete afterthought here. Remember, this isn't a standalone expansion, it's very much crafted to be a part of the overall experience and narrative of the base game.
Mystery:
In this one regard, the game does not disappoint. I love the story which is told in EOTE, and found myself relating a lot more to the existential terror of the Elks than the reckless curiosity of the Nomai. Piecing together the story was a thrill, and the eventual reveal of the prisoner was a wonderful moment. I especially liked the emphasis on visual storytelling rather than text logs, something the base game relied heavily upon.
--
Traditional Horror:
This is probably the most notable aspect of EOTE. Now let me just say, Outer Wilds is one of the scariest games I've ever played. But that horror was something unique that I have never experienced in any other game.
Hurtling through Giant's Deep's atmosphere to reveal an ocean covered in enormous waterspouts. The eerie drone of the enigmatic Quantum Moon's signal before it suddenly reappears on the other side of the solar system. Dropping feet-first into a black hole.
So many moments in Outer Wilds made my stomach lurch without relying on traditional horror tropes or video game mechanics. EOTE retains a little of that cosmic dread, but it mainly relies heavily on scrambling through the dark as screeching monsters hunt you. It's like they took the most frustrating part of the base game, the Angerflish, and decided to make that a major part of the expansion. While certainly terrifying, this is something that we've seen done in countless games before.
Combine that with a 22-minute time loop, and the initial horror rapidly gives way to annoyance as you rush past your foes for the umpteenth time.
--
EOTE didn't sour my love of the base game, but it left me feeling deflated. A day may come when I've forgotten enough about Outer Wilds to replay it all over again, but I doubt I will be revisiting my friends on the Stranger any time soon. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to sleep in the simulation where this expansion doesn't exist.
halo infinite is looking kinda strange ngl
What is Echoes of the Eye?
A DLC add-on to 2019's Outer Wilds, encompassing a new object found in the solar system, known only as "The Stranger".
Who made Echoes of the Eye? When did Echoes of the Eye release?
Mobius Digital, an independent game studio based in Los Angeles, notably founded by Masi Oka of Heroes fame. It was released in September 2021 for PC, Xbox, and Playstation 4.
Why should you play Echoes of the Eye?
The thrills of discovery of something tucked away in time, the horror of breaking into something not meant to be found, the satisfaction of piecing it altogether and understanding why things fell apart and how to heal what remains.
Where does Echoes of the Eye fail?
I eventually realized that everything I disliked about this game were things that were not leading me closer to solving the mystery; the things I did were me banging my head against a wall, and when I realized the solution, it always worked, or if it didn't, it helped me understand something I didn't before.
How would you rate it?
On a scale of Pass/Meh/Fine/Cool/Play It!...
Play it!
A DLC add-on to 2019's Outer Wilds, encompassing a new object found in the solar system, known only as "The Stranger".
Who made Echoes of the Eye? When did Echoes of the Eye release?
Mobius Digital, an independent game studio based in Los Angeles, notably founded by Masi Oka of Heroes fame. It was released in September 2021 for PC, Xbox, and Playstation 4.
Why should you play Echoes of the Eye?
The thrills of discovery of something tucked away in time, the horror of breaking into something not meant to be found, the satisfaction of piecing it altogether and understanding why things fell apart and how to heal what remains.
Where does Echoes of the Eye fail?
I eventually realized that everything I disliked about this game were things that were not leading me closer to solving the mystery; the things I did were me banging my head against a wall, and when I realized the solution, it always worked, or if it didn't, it helped me understand something I didn't before.
How would you rate it?
On a scale of Pass/Meh/Fine/Cool/Play It!...
Play it!
This review contains spoilers
Perfect complement to the original. Just to gush about some moments that took my breath away:
1) The first crash into the river of the Stranger was fucking incredible. So grateful we live in an age when games can render so far out because getting to witness the ring world in a single glance was chef's kiss.
2) The first time stepping into one of the secret fire rooms creeped me the fuck out; something about seeing the corpses and realizing I'd been stomping around in what was essentially a massive graveyard.
3) Which was only topped by running into one of the horned owls in the simulation and being like, oh damn you guys are STILL AROUND. Like seeing a ghost, but this one wants to eat you.
4) I'm soooo impressed that, with minimal actual horror game elements but maximum environmental storytelling, I was so creeped out by the dream. Had to walk away from the game for a week before I could step out into the darkness.
1) The first crash into the river of the Stranger was fucking incredible. So grateful we live in an age when games can render so far out because getting to witness the ring world in a single glance was chef's kiss.
2) The first time stepping into one of the secret fire rooms creeped me the fuck out; something about seeing the corpses and realizing I'd been stomping around in what was essentially a massive graveyard.
3) Which was only topped by running into one of the horned owls in the simulation and being like, oh damn you guys are STILL AROUND. Like seeing a ghost, but this one wants to eat you.
4) I'm soooo impressed that, with minimal actual horror game elements but maximum environmental storytelling, I was so creeped out by the dream. Had to walk away from the game for a week before I could step out into the darkness.
I thought it'd be impossible to make DLC for this game that lived up to the feeling of the original, but they did it perfectly.
It doesn't quite hit the highs of the base game, but it is still a worthy expansion full of excellent "ah-ha" moments. I think this may be best to do alongside the base game for new players.
I'm not done picking up my jaw
I didn't believe Mobius would be able to top off what they'd done with Outer Wilds but they have. It's absolutely the greatest DLC I have ever played. You haven't completed Outer Wilds if you haven't played this. It's essentially a must-play if you liked the base game.
The only flaw of Outer Wilds is that you can only experience it once, but its expansion DLC successfully recaptured the magic of that first playthrough for me. Revisiting the Wilds for one last adventure was sublime, and leaving them again, possibly for good, is melancholic.
This is an extremely special game. Please play it.
This is an extremely special game. Please play it.
After completing the base game a year ago and now the dlc, I'm just happy to have "experienced" Outer Wilds one last time thru EotE. I'm glad with how much more focused it is on the horror aspect (which the solar system needed some more) and new mechanics (not reusing quantum rules). Add in some more phenomenal music from Andrew Prahlow, it was gonna be tough to be disappointed. Thank you so much for Outer Wilds, Mobius Digital.
This review contains spoilers
9.5/10. Amazing, base game is better though by a decent margin however, which is more a compliment to the base game than a mark on this DLC. It just doesn't hit quite as hard as the story in base game, and has some issues with its gameplay compared to base game. The time loop not being paused in one particular area is unfortunately able to ruin what is usually the best moment of the entire DLC, even if it's done to stay accurate to the games story.
Also, let it be known, this game did stealth better than most games dedicated entirely to it.
Also, let it be known, this game did stealth better than most games dedicated entirely to it.
I can't imagine a better DLC for the great game. I love it even more than a basic game.
Not as good as the main game, so by my previous reviews it shouldn't get 5 stars but the thing here is that Outer Wild is a 6 stars game and the DLC while not as good is still an awesome show dont tell story that uncover and ties everything together and for that it still gain 5 stars.
Play it. It's absolutely terrifying and fantastic, in a good way.
Play it. It's absolutely terrifying and fantastic, in a good way.
Se Outer Wilds é meu jogo favorito, sua DLC 'Echoes of the Eye' é meu jogo de terror favorito. Além de complementar com maestria a história do jogo principal, essa DLC faz com que você encare os seus medos e mergulhe na escuridão apenas para descobrir o que te espera do outro lado. Obra prima.
I had high expectations but holy shit dude.
I don't think any game has replicated the terror and dread of walking through the woods at night with only a cheap flashlight on you as well as this game has, and for that alone it deserves 5 stars, everything else is just a /really/ nice bonus :)
This review contains spoilers
The base game is one of the best ever made, this felt out of place and convoluted. Where the base game gave you a varied toolset, the DLC takes it away. Jetpack? Glorified double jump. Signalscope? used once. Translator? Never used. Oxygen? No longer a concern. Gravity? Same throughout the whole DLC. Looping? The DLC doesn't help you solve the overall mystery of the base game, so even loops feel out of place.
The dream world is the complete opposite of what I enjoyed from the base game. Why is my movement restricted? Why take even more of my equipment away? Why am I exploring a pitch black area? Why are there forced stealth sequences. Where the base game fun, varied and visually interesting, the DLC is the complete opposite. The DLC is also more linear than the base game, which makes getting stuck frustrating (whereas in the base game you could just go somewhere else due to the non-linear nature of the game).
This might be a nitpick but the new area also feels out of place, it's so disconnected from the main storyline. Adding what it is essentially a side mission to a game where everything is so interconnected kind of dilutes that aspect of the base game? Like I said, it might be a nitpick, but I do think this would be better as standalone DLC and leave the base game untouched.
This isn't to say the DLC is bad, it's just a big big step down from the base game. Which is understandable since the base game is one of the best games ever made. There are still some moments which have the classic Outer Wilds feel (e.g. when you enter the Stranger for the first time) and the story additions were good too.
I hope that whatever they make next maintains the open nature of the base game and doesn't restrict the player in the same way this DLC does
The dream world is the complete opposite of what I enjoyed from the base game. Why is my movement restricted? Why take even more of my equipment away? Why am I exploring a pitch black area? Why are there forced stealth sequences. Where the base game fun, varied and visually interesting, the DLC is the complete opposite. The DLC is also more linear than the base game, which makes getting stuck frustrating (whereas in the base game you could just go somewhere else due to the non-linear nature of the game).
This might be a nitpick but the new area also feels out of place, it's so disconnected from the main storyline. Adding what it is essentially a side mission to a game where everything is so interconnected kind of dilutes that aspect of the base game? Like I said, it might be a nitpick, but I do think this would be better as standalone DLC and leave the base game untouched.
This isn't to say the DLC is bad, it's just a big big step down from the base game. Which is understandable since the base game is one of the best games ever made. There are still some moments which have the classic Outer Wilds feel (e.g. when you enter the Stranger for the first time) and the story additions were good too.
I hope that whatever they make next maintains the open nature of the base game and doesn't restrict the player in the same way this DLC does
Stellenweise leider etwas nervig, aber insgesamt wieder ziemlich großartig. Leider beschränkt sich der DLC auf eine Region, was gegenüber dem Hauptspiel etwas an Abwechslungsreichtum einbüßt, aber für mich hat es sich auf jeden Fall gelohnt.
Just like Outer Wilds, Echoes of the Eye is made up of an intricate informational puzzle, but adds some actual physical gameplay elements that make sense and are explained quite well. Tying them all together to get to the main goal is once again very difficult, but I loved it nonetheless.
The new story ties in with Outer Wilds perfectly and adds context to the original so that the game feels more complete. It contains some breathtaking 'WOW' moments at the start. These made me feel so excited to discover the new additions to the game. This time, the story is told more visually and artistically, which I definitely preferred over written text from the main game.
The vibe of the DLC is very different from the main game. I would describe the main game as eerie and atmospheric, while the DLC is creepy and other-worldly. To be honest, this difference makes the DLC a lot more interesting. However, the main downside for me was that creepy turns into straight up horror near the end. I recognise that it is needed in this part of the game and story, because the creepy build-up leads up to a climax, but I would have executed it differently so that it does not become unfun for people who scare easily or are not into the horror genre. I can totally see how fans of the atmosphere of the main game were a bit put off by the DLC because of this very reason. In the end, for me, it did not ruin the great time I had outside of the horror aspect.
The new story ties in with Outer Wilds perfectly and adds context to the original so that the game feels more complete. It contains some breathtaking 'WOW' moments at the start. These made me feel so excited to discover the new additions to the game. This time, the story is told more visually and artistically, which I definitely preferred over written text from the main game.
The vibe of the DLC is very different from the main game. I would describe the main game as eerie and atmospheric, while the DLC is creepy and other-worldly. To be honest, this difference makes the DLC a lot more interesting. However, the main downside for me was that creepy turns into straight up horror near the end. I recognise that it is needed in this part of the game and story, because the creepy build-up leads up to a climax, but I would have executed it differently so that it does not become unfun for people who scare easily or are not into the horror genre. I can totally see how fans of the atmosphere of the main game were a bit put off by the DLC because of this very reason. In the end, for me, it did not ruin the great time I had outside of the horror aspect.
Can't say anything about it because just like outer wilds it's better to know absolutely nothing about. Play the base game first, and then delve into this wonder. It was insanely nice to be back into this game for one crazy goodbye. Also i prefer it to the base game, don't @ me.
I LOVE Outer Wilds, and I did really loved this DLC, it builds up on the already established lore without messing anything up, it presents new mechanics and aspects that makes you think in a different manner and awesome visuals and worldbuilding.
But I can't let the bad parts of this DLC alone... As soon as the "horror" part of the DLC started I was getting more and more frustrating, for a game that is heavily about you discovering the lore and mysteries of this world, this sections feel really frustrating, I do love the horror aspect and it gave me chills for the most part, but when I needed to repeat the same sections again and again because they're ridiculously hard I started to get frustrated, not just because it's hard, but because it took me away from the main thing of this game, discovering... I really think this DLC would benefit from a little more fairness in those parts, they were just too annoying for me.
But don't get me wrong, this is still and AMAZING DLC for anyone that loves Outer Wilds, and even with those missteps I truly loved basically everything here, this is how you do a expansion right, if you're reluctant about buying this, trust me, if you liked the main game you'll have a blast with this!
(and as the devs said that this would be the one and only DLC for Outer Wilds I can't wait to see their next game, I don't want, or think it'll happen, a Outer Wilds 2, but whatever these guys will do I'll be there to watch, or play I guess xD)
- Will Neot
But I can't let the bad parts of this DLC alone... As soon as the "horror" part of the DLC started I was getting more and more frustrating, for a game that is heavily about you discovering the lore and mysteries of this world, this sections feel really frustrating, I do love the horror aspect and it gave me chills for the most part, but when I needed to repeat the same sections again and again because they're ridiculously hard I started to get frustrated, not just because it's hard, but because it took me away from the main thing of this game, discovering... I really think this DLC would benefit from a little more fairness in those parts, they were just too annoying for me.
But don't get me wrong, this is still and AMAZING DLC for anyone that loves Outer Wilds, and even with those missteps I truly loved basically everything here, this is how you do a expansion right, if you're reluctant about buying this, trust me, if you liked the main game you'll have a blast with this!
(and as the devs said that this would be the one and only DLC for Outer Wilds I can't wait to see their next game, I don't want, or think it'll happen, a Outer Wilds 2, but whatever these guys will do I'll be there to watch, or play I guess xD)
- Will Neot