A Way Out is the co-op only cinematic adventure game from Hazelight Studios which tasks two players with escaping from prison. The game is essentially a collection of individual mini-games, linked together by a compelling narrative and as a result, features a bunch of cool moments and things to do. We’ve rounded up the coolest things you can do in A Way Out, and for more on the game, be sure to check out our review. Mild spoilers for the game are included in this article.
You Can Play For Free
One of the coolest things about A Way Out is that only one person actually needs to own the game in order for two friends to play. It can only be played cooperatively, either locally or online, with each player controlling a different character. One friend can play the game for free via the Friends Pass free trial version on the PSN store, Xbox store, or through Origin. This is a great way to forgo any barrier the game may have had by being co-op only, and increases the player base significantly.
You’re Escaping From Freaking Prison!
We’ve all fantasized about how we’d escape from prison. Do you start a riot, steal a guard’s uniform, or dig your way to freedom? A Way Out explores this theme to great effect, weaving in several prison break tropes featured in countless Hollywood films at this point. Watching the plan slowly come to fruition is very cool indeed, made all the more cool by the fact you’re doing it with a buddy in tow. It’s seriously compelling stuff which ends up being a perfect fit for a game, peppering moments of emotional impact with exhilarating action sequences and nail-biting tension.
Play Basketball
It’s not all shivs and pepper sprays in A Way Out, as there are plenty of quieter, more emotional moments peppered throughout. One such moment sees Leo and Vincent playing basketball with Leo’s son Alex. It’s a heartwarming moment which shows just how strong the bond between father and son can be. Either that or it’s a hilarious game of keep away with a kid who is no match for your prison-sculpted athleticism. Me and my friend had a way too much fun running rings around Alex, passing the ball back and forth over his dumb head. Did it ruin the subtlety of the moment? Sure, but it was undoubtedly fun as hell. A Way Out is filled with fun mini-games just like this one, serving as a cool way to break up the action-packed experience and improve the pacing.
Trigger Multiple Endings
A really cool aspect of A Way Out’s story is that it can be completed in a number of ways. Towards the end of the game, the way certain events play out have an impact on the direction of the story. The neat thing about the way the game does this is that it actively pits the two players against each other. We’re not going to go into details here but we managed to trigger two very different endings in our time with the game, each serving as an equally emotional conclusion to the experience. It will be fairly clear when these important decisions are at play and the way things play out is decided naturally. The game definitely didn’t need to have multiple endings, but it is much cooler as a result.
Steal a Pickup Truck, Outrun the Cops
There’s a few car chase sequences in A Way Out. After all, no prison break story would be complete without one, but the first one takes the biscuit. After stealing a pickup truck, players must outrun the cops on a dusty mountain trail, all the while firing shotgun blasts out of the back of it. Players have to coordinate in order to land shots successfully and the whole thing gives off a real Dukes of Hazard vibe. Needless to say, the car chase escalates and escalates until things get truly crazy. The sequence serves as proof that you don’t have to be Naughty Dog to nail an action-packed, cinematic car chase.
Spear Fishing
A man’s got to eat, and being on the lamb is hungry work. After stumbling upon an abandoned campsite, our two heroes decide to rustle up some grub by spear fishing in a nearby pond. One player must splash and draw the fish over to the other, who is waiting to spear them. It’s a neat way of showing how the game encourages cooperation, even when the stakes are low in its quieter moments. It’s also a great opportunity for some good old fashion character building, with Vincent revealing that he isn’t much one for camping. It’s small moments like this that build on each other to create a narrative greater than the sum of its parts. It also gives you all the joys of spear fishing without getting your ankles wet.
Head to Head Pong
Of all the small distractions littered around the game, this head to head arcade machine just might be the coolest. It’s pong of sorts and pits the two players head to head to beat each other’s score. It is found just before a pretty major moment in the game, which actually takes up our next space on this list, and acts as one of the game’s final quiet moments before the climactic finale. It’s pretty easy to lose a good chunk of time to this charming mini-game, and observing the characters go back and forth on who is clearly the best is a nice touch.
Jump Out of a Plane
You saw it in the promotional material and I can confirm that yes, you do jump out of a plane in A Way Out. It’s all part of the game’s final mission but can actually be missed if you make different choices. As you would expect by now, it doesn’t exactly go as planned and ends up being a adrenaline-filled set piece which elevates the action to new levels. The scene is hinted at throughout the game, showing clips of the two protagonists waiting in the cargo hold ready to jump. It’s also where the game is arguably at its most impressive visually, with the tropical waters glistening as you plummet towards them at dizzying speed.
Shred on a Banjo
When you’re on the run from the law it’s still important to take the time to smell the flowers every now and then, or in this case, play the banjo. While gathering resources in a farm house, Leo and Vincent try on hats, check themselves out in the mirror and play instruments. Vincent seems to be the musical one of the two, managing to get a tune out of both a piano and a banjo. There are multiple difficulty levels associated with the resulting mini-rhythm games, offering yet another moment of surprising attention to detail. The two should definitely be more focused on the task at hand though, what with the cops circling in on them and the fact they’re breaking and entering. Still, anyone for Stairway to Heaven?
Wheelchair Olympics
For two dudes facing the threat of being thrown back in jail for life, these guys are surprisingly focused on outdoing each other at every dumb opportunity. While sneaking into a hospital crawling with cops, Leo and Vincent come across a couple of wheelchairs and decide to see who is best at balancing in them. While being a little dumb, this moment highlights the brotherly bond that has developed between the two, showing how they aim to impress each other at every turn. It’s another clever way to ease up on the throttle and present some valuable character development, which benefits the game in the long run. At the very least, it’s another thing you can beat your friend at, and after all, isn’t that what we’re here for in the first place?
About the author
