Outer Terror
Developer(s)	Salt & Pixel LLC
Publisher(s)	VoxPop Games, Inc.
Producer(s)	Marc Anthony Rodriguez, Connor Riley
Designer(s)	Brandon Rodriguez
Artist(s)	Joe Roman (Chito)
Writer(s)	Brandon Rodriguez, Marc Anthony Rodriguez, Connor Riley
Composer(s)	Cori Branch
Engine	Construct 3
Platform(s)	Windows
Release	April 20, 2023
Genre(s)	Roguelike, Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multi-player

Outer Terror is a roguelike, horde shooter, bullet hell video game developed by Salt & Pixel and published by VoxPop Games, Inc.^[1]

The player takes control of an automatically attacking character and is set against waves of continuously spawning enemies. Players can survive the waves for a set period of time or complete quests for alternate win conditions. The game shares various similarities to the 2003 game, Crimsonland

The game is structured as a pulp-horror anthology series, where each level is its own self-contained comic book styled story. It features both online and offline co-op play.^[1][2]

Outer Terror was released on Microsoft Windows on April 20, 2023.^[3]

Gameplay

Outer Terror's core gameplay has been described as a "bullet hell with roguelite elements."^[1]

The game is formatted as an anthology, with each level representing a different story. Although not directly related to one another, each story is set in motion by the same antagonist, a Lovecraftian entity known as The Crying God.

Every chapter features a different pair of playable characters, as the game was designed with co-op play in mind. Each of the 10 playable characters has a unique ability and a different starting weapon.^[1][4]

The gameplay focuses on surviving waves of enemies for a set period of time. Each map also features quests and safe zones which offer an alternate win condition. By default, the player character attacks automatically, with weapons firing in set patterns.

The player can also choose to take manual aim allowing them to control the direction most weapons fire. The player can stack different weapons together for a more powerful effect, although weapons and upgrades are randomized.^[2]

The game features both offline and online co-op.^[1][2]

Development

Outer Terror was developed by Brandon Rodriguez, the owner of Salt & Pixel, LLC, a solo-dev studio based in Virginia.^[5][6]

Development began after the completion of Salt & Pixel's 2022 game, "Sitra Achra", under the working title "Remnant: Beyond Gray Death."

Outer Terror was designed as a spiritual successor to one of Salt & Pixel's earlier games, "Gray Death", which was previously published on the VoxPop Games platform in 2021.^[7][8]

Outer Terror's visual design is inspired by Golden Age comic books, especially horror comics such as EC Vault of Horrors and Tales from the Crypt.^[1][4] VoxPop Games’ Co-Founder & COO, Marc Anthony Rodriguez, who served as executive producer for Outer Terror, cited B-horror movies from the 1980's and 1990's as direct inspiration with expanded marketing and video advert materials paying direct homage to Grindhouse films.^{[3][9][10][11]}

Outer Terror was published by VoxPop Games, and it was the first original game to make use of VoxPop's middleware tools, and the first to be funded through VoxPop's Indie Fund. The version of the game available on the VoxPop Games' store will contain exclusive content.^[1][9][12]

Outer Terror was featured as part of the MOME (Made in New York) New York State Pavilion demo booth at GDC 2023.^[13][14]

Reception

On release, Outer Terror received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics.

Johanna Koziol of Screen Rant criticized Outer Terror for its lack of quality-of-life features, but praised the game's core gameplay loop, tone, and characters, saying "Outer Terror's unique horror spin on the rouge-lite genre makes it a breath of fresh air.".^[15]

Thomas Wilde of Bloody Disgusting praised Outer Terror's retro comic book aesthetic and co-op features, but referred to the game as "consistently under baked," and criticized the game for its early release glitches and animation errors.^[16]

Violet Plata of Game Grin also warned of early bugs and typos in the game, but praised the combat, co-op mode and level design for giving the game a "sense of freedom and fun.".^[17]

GameSpot via Try Hard Guides cited the game as "a great tribute to Cult Classics" with a "deceptively addicting gameplay model." They also cited “the enjoyment time of this game will definitely vary from person to person, but fans of similar games are sure to find plenty of hours of fun"^[18]

Ash Wayling of Well Played AU wrote "This is a title that revels in the distinct experience it was hoping to deliver" and quipped "...five delicious flavours of pulpy old-school fiction that are delivered, amuse-bouche style, to enthusiastic mouths.", listing the title at a solid score of 75^[19]

The New York Video Game Critic's Circle (NYVGCC) gave the title praise and wrote "Outer Terror is not the sort of game that will hold your hand and guide you step by step. There is no going back once you accept, which is part of the thrill. This game is entertaining and imaginative, and the narrative and the natural world are absolutely original."^[20]

Kağan Ur of Lawod.com noted "Outer Terror also offers an exceptional gaming experience with a diverse range of characters to choose from, each with their own distinct weapons and abilities. As you progress through the game, you have the opportunity to improve your attributes and acquire new skills. Despite the potential for challenges, the game is incredibly enjoyable."^[21]

Outer Terror for PC stands at a 73 overall Metacritic Score as of January 10th, 2024^[22]

Outer Terror has been nominated for an 13th Annual New York Video Game Critic's Circle (NYVGCC) New York Video Game Award, under the category of Chumley's Speakeasy Best Hidden Gem ^[23][24][25]

References