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- Saber Interactive
- Saber Interactive
- Saber Interactive
- Saber Interactive
Heading Out
Released On: May 7, 2024
76
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
76
69% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
23% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
76
69% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
23% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Heading Out is one of the most inventive games I've played all year, with plenty of replayability, great ideas, and an engaging story.
I started out expecting Heading Out to purely be a racing title, but it is much more than that. The various interactions you have with strangers you meet along the way are impactful, often leading to an outcome that was not immediately evident. Keeping ahead of Fear whilst maintaining your limited resources and competing against the plethora of opponents that are eager to take you down is an absolute joy. The soundtrack is a highlight though, with a mix of synth-wave and Americana tunes that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere and had me hooked right until the final orchestral score of "Take Me Home". The soundtrack alone is reason enough to buy the game, but combined with the narrative, the stylized black and white visuals and the highway racing, Heading Out is a must buy.
Heading Out is an intricate, compelling story that mixes modular storytelling and roguelike structure with deeply America-flavored media of the 1970s and on, particularly the “road” genre. I’m not a car guy but I do enjoy some crusty Americana, especially the kind that challenges authority and romanticizes the sheer scale and variety of this unhinged nation. Sometimes it may get a little too cute for its own good, but for the most part Heading Out captures its intended vibe with a shocking level of skill and accuracy, an academic level of cultural understanding through a lens of media and literature. That’s pretty darn cool. Between that and the intriguing, almost insincere roguelike structure, we have a game that doesn’t really feel like anything else in its own space.
Heading Out delivers a captivating narrative-driven experience, distinctively blending racing and adventure with a choice-driven storyline. Set against the backdrop of a visually stark yet intriguing open road, the game challenges players with moral dilemmas and strategic decision-making that significantly impact gameplay. While the main attraction lies in the enthralling scenarios and robust character interactions, the repetitive racing mechanics and less engaging driving portions may detract from the overall experience.
Heading Out is a decent game for those looking for primarily a driving-based game, and it delivers a fun, fast-paced adventure game where you choose how your story will play out.
Some of the short stories are nice to listen to and the driving itself feels good - but that's about it. The decisions made have no consequences worth mentioning, neither on a large nor small scale, the many repetitive races against depressingly lame opponents are potently sleep-inducing and even the protagonist's story is frighteningly irrelevant. Neither the damn good soundtrack nor the strong presentation can really do anything about this.
User Reviews
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Summary Hop into a muscle car and drive through the American West in a game inspired by 1970s road movies. Enjoy the ride in this narrative-driven racing experience with a comic book aesthetic. Choose your own route across the USA in a game where every run is a personalized, unique experience. Heading Out is a road-movie inspired racing game mi...
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date: May 7, 2024
Developer:
- Serious Sim
Publisher: Saber Interactive
Genres: