Plot: What’s it about?
Lester is a physicist working on some exotic experiments, one of which backfires in horrific fashion. Lester now finds himself on what seems to be an alien planet, an interesting, but dangerous turn of events. The terrain is treacherous, while the native wildlife is mostly lethal, from vicious tentacles to murderous slug-like creatures. Soon after his arrival, Lester encounters some hostile alien life forms, who quickly take him prisoner. The situation is tense to say the least, but Lester is locked up with another imprisoned alien, one known as Buddy. Buddy seems to be friendly and wants to escape the alien prison as much as Lester does, so the two join forces to increase their chances of survival. Now the unlikely allies must hatch a plan to break out of the high tech prison, but even if they escape those confines, the world outside is not much safer. Lester faces a situation where he can barely communicate, knows little to nothing about where he is, and even less about how to get back home. Even if Lester somehow manages to escape the prison and survive the wilds, how will his adventure end?
This is the 20th Anniversary Edition of Another World, also known as Out of This World. I think most players will remember this game from the 16 bit era, when it was praised for smooth animation and impressive overall visuals. While Another World seems a little simple by modern standards, the game holds up well and is still quite fun. I love how there is so little guidance, as it encourages trial & error and exploration. The game has some platforming elements, as well as light combat, but the main focus is on solving various puzzles. The downside is that the game only takes a few hours to complete, but the ride is worth taking and there is not really any filler to speak of. And the price is low, so that balances out the short duration. I will say the controls aren’t ideal and cause some awkward moments, but that is due more to button placement than poor execution. I wish you could change the layout, but sadly the controls are locked. This new version offers some improvements over prior editions, the best of which is a level select that makes replay value inch up a little. I hold Another World as a minor classic in the video game world, so to be able to revisit it with some nice enhancements was a real pleasure.
Video: How’s it look?
The visuals retain the old school feel, but have been given a little update. I love that the graphics simply look a touch more refined, which means the original visual design still shines through. Even with the fresh paint however, the game’s look is basic and retro, which isn’t going to dazzle all players out there. But I was satisfied with the slight upgrade and the faithful upholding of the intended graphics.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The sound design is good as well, with multiple soundtracks available. The audio is much like I remembered, which is fine in this case. The sound effects cover the needed bases, while the music is quite good too. I won’t say the overall audio experience was one that rose above the pack, but all the basics are under control here.
