Josef Fares’ A Way Out is a strange beast. Despite being one of the best couch co-op games we have played in recent memory, its implementation across the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X versions is rather inconsistent.

The Way Out on the Xbox One X comes with two visual modes, one which prioritizes resolution and the second which prefers better performance. However, on the PS4 Pro, there are no such options. The game simply seems to run at an unlocked frame rate on the PS4 Pro. Now A Way Out can look gorgeous in some scenes but it’s by no means a system pusher. Yes, it does something incredible from a game design perspective but from a technical front it still pretty much has that indie look and feel to it. So, the lack of modes on the PS4 Pro doesn’t represent a case where Sony’s machine can’t do something due to its technical deficiency compared to Xbox One X.  In the end PS4 Pro users are stuck with somewhat of an inferior version of A Way Out.

A Way Out uses Unreal Engine 4 and the differences between the versions, besides the ones we have already mentioned before, are minimal. Both versions use the same core assets, character details, level of detail and draw distances. There are also some minor issues like clipping and mediocre animations but they don’t deter the overall feel the game is aiming for.

Overall, it’s the Xbox One X version which takes the lead here. The lack of a proper PS4 Pro support is quite baffling. The PS4 Pro in no ways lacks the technical prowess to run A Wat Out with different visual parameters and this is rather disappointing state of affairs, specially given how good A Way Out is from a gameplay perspective.

A Way Out is Josef Fares’ second game after Brothers: A Tale of two sons. Just like his previous game, this one also focuses on multiplayer gameplay. In fact, A Way Out even takes things a step further and is an exclusively co-operative experience. The game offers a deep and immersive narrative and it’s bound to be a unique co-op experience for any player who chooses to try the game out.

In this game, players take on the roles of two convicts, Vincent and Leo as they attempt to get out of prison. The game will be played in a splitscreen mode and each player will be seeing and responding to something completely different on their own side of the screen. This will ensure that each player is able to explore the game’s story from a different perspective. If you and a friend are ever feeling stuck at any point in the game, then the following walkthrough will help you out.

So, when I got the opportunity to review A Way Out, I went in with very low expectations. For me, the pre-release footage didn’t look that impressive and if anything, I had this feeling that it will be yet another game that players will forget by the year’s end. But after playing it through multiple times, I am glad that Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight Studios have proven me completely wrong.  To put it simply, A Way Out is unlike anything I have played. But before I explain what makes this game special, there is something I need to get out of the way. A Way Out is designed only for a co-op experience, local and online. There is absolutely no way you can play this game alone (unless you know some weird trick to control two joypads at one time, which in that case I must congratulate you!). This game has been designed, from the ground up, for two players only. So, keep this mind if you are a player who has an interest in solo experiences.

"At multiple points during the game, players will be presented with choices…go with Leo’s rough and tough ways or choose Vincent’s sensible and less daring path."

A Way Out tells a tale of two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, who found themselves at the center of a crime epic whilst focusing on a very distinctive story. This isn’t your mindless C grade, “kill everybody” kind of a story. There is a personal agenda involved with both the main characters and the well directed cutscenes made us feel connected to these people. As the story progresses you get to understand their motivations, and how they land up in prison. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to speak more about the story and how it unfolds, but what I can is that the game is filled with exciting twists and turns that kept me at the edge of my seat.

Now it won’t be much of a story if the main characters, Leo and Vincent, don’t have much personality to them. You see, both of these characters are different in several ways but so similar in their goals. Leo is voiced by Fare’s brother Fares Fares and he comes off as a really likeable character. He will throw out tantrums, crack jokes and sometimes talk non-sense, and it gels with the characterization the game is aiming for. On the other hand, we have Vincent who is more mature and methodical in his approach. These different personalities not only impact the story, but it’s also used as a gameplay element by the developers.

At multiple points during the game, players will be presented with choices…go with Leo’s rough and tough ways or choose Vincent’s sensible and less daring path. Interestingly, the choices aren’t that simple. My colleague with whom I played the game is younger than me and, in a way, represents Leo’s nature to get things done rather quickly. So, we were always at odds at how we should approach a particular situation. The game forces you to discuss among yourselves and take the path ahead. This gameplay mechanic also ensures that there is a high replayability value as different scenes will play out resulting into different gameplay objectives, hence giving your more value out of the overall package.

"Both players have to work together in various different ways to break out of prison which includes the likes of back to back climbing (which by the way is one of the most hilarious parts of the game), hide in a laundry carrier, or smuggle repair tools for breaking out."

The initial opening hours of A Way Out are perhaps one of the most intense ones I have ever witnessed in a video game. Both players have to work together in various different ways to break out of prison which includes the likes of back to back climbing (which by the way is one of the most hilarious parts of the game), hide in a laundry carrier, or smuggle repair tools for breaking out. None of these tasks can be completed alone as it requires the other player’s input in the form of creating a distraction, stealthily taking out a guard or creating opportunities that you would do in real life. Once you break through the prison, the game opens up a bit in its level design but that doesn’t stop the game to become even more crazy.

Once you are out, you still need to escape from the police. This will involve mind blowing chases, a crazy boat ride, and an absolutely phenomenal sequence at a construction site. In many ways, the game borrows elements from games such as Uncharted and that’s perfectly fine as it matches the tone the game is aiming for.

A Way Out is largely a linear game. You are given a specific task, and you have to decide the best course of action to achieve it. In order to negate the somewhat boring linearity, the developers have added a number of NPC interactions and mini-games in the game. You can play them with your partner and compete for the highest score. If anything, these will give players a nice break from the mind boggling and often tiring sequences.

"A Way Out is a defining moment for couch co-op games done right and I have every reason to believe that it’s a new champion for the the once popular genre."

Combat for the most part seems tacked on and it really felt to me that the game could have been better without it. Hand to hand combat is a set of quick time events and it employs an Uncharted like approach to shooting and it never felt good. The guns don’t handle well and there isn’t any kind of satisfaction involved while shooting down an enemy. Fortunately, shooting is a very limited part of the experience as most of the time is spent on devising the best path ahead and unraveling the story.

A Way Out is largely a good looking game. I mean, it’s using the Unreal Engine 4 so it’s bound to look good but I did manage to come across some inconsistencies ranging from mediocre animations to clipping issues. The music isn’t as exciting as it could be with the best tunes emerging from the initial sequences. These are not game breaking issues and doesn’t make the game less fun, but it would have definitely lifted the overall experience to another level.

A Way Out is published by EA, who as you know is under fire for its controversial practices regarding loot boxes and microtransactions. So if anything, this also proves that at least their Originals program is on the right track with games like Fe, Unravel, and of course, A Way Out. 

A Way Out is a superlative effort by the team at Hazelight Studios and it’s simply a game which I will be re-playing a lot with my friends and family in the future. The new Friend Pass program allows players who own the game to share the experience with a friend is ground breaking to say the least. It’s a game tailor made to share gaming experiences in a way that it should be…together on a couch. A Way Out is a defining moment for couch co-op games done right and I have every reason to believe that it’s a new champion for the the once popular genre.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

A Way Out is set to release in just a few days and while we already knew some details about the game such as the game’s length and its omission of microtransactions, there’s still a lot we don’t know. One of the things we’ve been excited to know about are what enhancements the game will receive for the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro versions and we’ve now received an answer now from a recent AMA (Ask Me Anything) session.

When asked about what improvements would be present on the Xbox One X and PS4 pro versions of the game, the developer stated that the framerates would be uncapped for the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. On the base PS4 however, the game’s framerate is locked at 30 fps. Furthermore, the game will also support higher resolutions on the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro.

A Way Out is set to release for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One on March 23.

During a recent demo with GameSpot, A Way Out director Josef Fares shared even more information on the upcoming co-op adventure title. We learned that publisher Electronic Arts won’t be making “a single dollar” from sales as per Fares but there’s even more interesting information to glean.

For starters, the entire experience will take six to eight hours to finish. Fares is responsible for writing the script though a “script doctor” also assisted. He notes that EA’s approach has been both supportive and hands-off. “If EA wants to make an apple greener, I can say no.”

Hazelight started with only 10 people working on A Way Out but this eventually went up to 40 people. Fares is pretty passionate about the co-op aspect – if offered $10 million to go with a single player title, he would turn it down. He also noted that he’d never make a game with microtransactions.

A Way Out has already gone gold and will be releasing on March 23rd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Hazelight Games’ A Way Out, developed by the same team and director of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, has garnered its fair share of attention since its E3 2017 reveal. Much of that could be attributed to director Josef Fares’ controversial outburst at The Game Awards but it was trending at last year’s EA Play. There’s definitely something to the title, even if the EA label rubs a few people the wrong way.

Fares recognizes this and has clarified that EA has no creative control over his project. In fact, while speaking to The Sixth Axis, Fares went even further and stated that the publisher was not making “a single dollar” from the game.

“Here’s the thing, and you have to understand this: with this deal that I have for this game, EA is not making a single dollar out of this. Every single dollar is going to the developer. They’re not even making any money and all I’ve got is support from EA.

“They’ve not questioned the vision – they can’t because I won’t allow it – so they’ve been super supportive all the way. Even with this buy one [Friend Pass] thing, no problem,” said Fares.

It’s certainly interesting though not totally unbelievable to think that EA is taking these steps to lay the groundwork for its EA Originals brand. The positive public impression also doesn’t hurt, of course. If more developers are attracted to tie up with the company, then conditions could change down the line. For now though, Fares has a pretty good deal with A Way Out.

The co-op title is scheduled to release on March 23rd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Check out the most recent gameplay video depicting a hospital escape here.