Outlast 2 Analysis - Style Over Substance

[@vex6530]

I have a theorie for the ending : The sun is an imagery with insanity blinding him for the last time has he dies that's why Jessica says in her prayer "Now that the light has gone away.... send me quietly to sleep" nice vid like all the others ^^

[@anxietyreport9037]

That's a good theory, it does coincide with the idea that Blake has died due to both the insanity and the agony during the game.

[@skyrogue1977]

In the first game and Dlc, it is explained that the Morphogenic engine, the device that made the Walrider, it has an adverse effect on women. It induces symptoms of hysterical pregnancy, which would sometimes prove fatal. That is why Lynn appeared pregnant.

[@anxietyreport9037]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I didn't play the first one but that would explain why the women of the second game seemed to be affected differently

[@Codduct]

Which also explains the lack of deranged FEMALE patients within the first game, it's also explained in the comics as to how the morphogenic engine affected the opposite sex differently. Which isn't really perplexing to think about since Murkoff is a company for gene therapy and whatnot....

[@xSaecredChaotixx]

The ambiguity actually hit home for me as someone who has experienced psychosis. What is one to do when other people tell you that something that is-to you-as real as the floor beneath you is not real? What's left to stand on? What can you reliably know from now on? The doubt seeps through, the floor falls through, and it's terrifying.

[@anxietyreport9037]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I never thought of it that way. I guess Red Barrels succeeded in making the player feel what Blake and even the others are feeling during the events of the game

[@Astartes-6969]

I also hate how there's Farm Tools on the ground and you can't pick them up and defend yourself. Like they shoulda allowed you to fight but with only Melee Weapons that break if you keep hitting enemies and you can only fight 2 or 3 people before your weapon breaks and you have to run & hide.

[@anxietyreport9037]

Completely agree, it makes too much sense to let Blake pick up an axe or a shovel and just swing it at an enemy. Missed opportunity in my view

[@h20delorian]

Here's an interesting theory. There's another video on KZbin, that mentions how this game should have ended (with Blake being taken by Murkoff). What IF....this game is a prequel to Outlast 1, and Blake is one of the crazies in the mental hospital/asylum, since the flashes were driving him more and more insane, and him and the remaining crazies were taken to Murkoff to either be "treated" or kept there, to not expose Murkoffs wrongdoings. Just a theory. This game can also be a sequel in the sense of (and this will only make sense if you're a fan of the series and have played 1, the DLC, and 2) that maybe that last flash of light was the last flash of light before Murkoff was shut down, because of the Whistleblower's big reveal to the world about Murkoff. Which might make you think "what happens to Blake then?". Well, I feel he just lives in insanity OR (and this is a huge stretch, since Red Barrels takes ages to release each title, which is not a jab at them, since they make great games, with such a small team) maybe the whistleblower will find Blake and use him to further expose Murkoff, in one big title with a recovering Blake, the whistleblower VS Miles or teaming up with Miles to finally take down Murkoff. That might not work and is why I mentioned VS, since Miles is taken over by the evil entity in Outlast 1. All just theories, but I would love for this all to be true and more of so for this to be the sequel theory, so we can have a big game of all of them together. Also, great video :)

[@anxietyreport9037]

That's an interesting take...seems plausible. I like how this game has provoked conversation, it kind of seems a lot of people wrote it off as just another horror game so it's good to see it has people talking. Thanks for the kind words too.

[@TheCybercoco]

The writing definitely has its issues, as it doesn't even seem to understand how psychosis works. People don't generally share hallucinations. Everyone will typically have their own visions, so to speak. So it makes sense that a baby that Blake see Lynn doesn't see, but it's quite extraordinary that Knoth would see it. It's these kind of inconsistencies that cause confusion and hurt the narrative. It's strange, because the first game seem to understand it a lot better. Must've been different writers. Two is inconsistent for the convenience of the story the writer was trying to tell. And sounds like Loutermilch was praying in the recordings, not reciting scripture. No scripture I've ever hear, anyway.

[@kuribos]

Idk for me I understood the gist of the story without finding many collectibles. Personally I think you can piece most of the story together yourself if you’re paying attention a little bit, it’s more of when you start to go more in depth with the motivations and reason for everything going on is when you begin to get confused

[@anxietyreport9037]

That's a fair point. Just wish there weren't so many vague plot points but I guess it's all about the player's interpretation

[@AugustRx]

The canon reason for why that document is so well hidden is bcoz it's a shit explanation