Out of This World

aka: Another World, Outer World
Moby ID: 564
DOS Specs
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Conversion (official) Included in See Also

Description official descriptions

A young physics professor named Lester conducts a particle experiment. Suddenly, something goes wrong, lightning strikes, and in a moment Lester finds himself in a strange alien world. Now he must fight for his life, first with his bare hands, then with a gun he finds. But what gives him courage is that he is not alone. One of the aliens who escapes from the prison together with him helps him on his dangerous quest. Friendship can overcome all obstacles.

Out of This World combines shooting, platforming, and puzzle-solving elements. The game is divided into stages; some of them are straightforward and can only be accessed one time, while others are connected to each other, constituting a larger environment. Exploration and problem-solving are emphasized. Many levels include challenges not seen in the previous ones. Tasks may involve environmental puzzles, timed sequences, precise jumping, and combat.

Typically, enemies are defeated by using an energy gun found in an early stage. The gun's regular function is shooting energy projectiles. By pressing down and holding the fire button the player can activate an energy shield that protects Lester from regular attacks, allowing him to fire from relative safety until it evaporates. Finally, by holding the fire button even longer the gun creates powerful blasts which can disrupt shields. Most enemies are equipped with similar guns and are able to perform the same actions as Lester. Fighting enemies, therefore, requires tactical usage of regular attacks, shields, and bombs, as well as learning enemy patterns.

Each level can be accessed by typing a code the player learns after having completed the level. If Lester dies, the level must be restarted. There is no on-screen interface and no in-game dialogue in the game. Vector graphics are used for creating the game's environments and animated cutscenes.

Spellings

  • Another World: Коллекционное переиздание - Russian spelling
  • עולם אחר - Hebrew spelling
  • アウターワールド - Japanese spelling
  • 另一個世界 - Chinese spelling (traditional)

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (DOS version)

12 People (4 developers, 8 thanks)

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 83% (based on 75 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.7 out of 5 (based on 590 ratings with 25 reviews)

Short, Difficult, but Playing Makes It Last Forever

The Good
It was complex, intuitive, and straight-forward. There was something of a plot, and that was revealed in the beginning of the game. I am always one for a good story, and while the game was merely a vehicle for showing off new and remarkable graphics (there was even a hint of speech in this game, and load-time!), it accomplished its sole task - it was, for all practical purposes, entertaining.

The Bad
It was virtually impossible and utterly realistic...which is also why I liked it.

One thing that was difficult to handle was the controls. Slight pressing of directional buttons made Lester (the protagonist) move way more than you thought was possible.

Dying comes naturally (no joke). In fact, it is almost expected that you die every time you encounter an enemy. Ammo for your weapon is non-existent, unless you count the "recharging" area for your gun.

More energy was spent avoiding death than figuring out puzzles. Even though that could make a good and challenging game, I found it frustrating after about 15 minutes (and those 15 minutes were spent trying to make it through the first part of the game, which should have taken less than 5 minutes at most).

The Bottom Line
I would tell other gamers that, when they prepare to play this game, get ready for a long night of sighs and exasperated expressions. In total, the game should have lasted about 20 minutes, but it has taken me months to complete (I simply just haven't come across the time to finish it all in one sitting). It's fun, but check around on the 'net for information about it, because it could take you months (even if you are a seasoned gamer) to figure out where the gun is in the jail area (you'll see).

Good luck with it! Challenge is something it doesn't lack, and it certainly makes for a good conversation piece. Is it replayable? Perhaps, if you beat it once and want to do it again perfectly, sure.

SNES · by Kitty Says Meow (18) · 2005

Still here in my mind...

The Good
In the release time, this games was unique! Envolving, creative, amazing all I can desire for this game style! The history absorbs you in this parallel universe.

The Bad
Sometimes you get really stuck! Have to re-play an entire 'hard' sequence, because you forget a little detail - like open a door (guess to insight what is a key in this place...) 5 screens before you reach it.

The Bottom Line
Superb piece of imagination and gameplay.

DOS · by Killer-Ants (2) · 2002

I don't understand how such simple games can be so impressive and addictive!

The Good
Oh my, you won't believe it until you experience it... a game of awful 16 color polygon graphics (and not even 3d!), without platforms without big mean guys, without inventory, and weapon variety, can impress you so much!!

The game is consisted by rich original puzzles which are solved not by commands or items but by your gun or combined moves!

The game 'narrative' is so brilliant that makes you believe you are exploring a whole new planet... the way of presentation, scenery etc is very atmospheric (notice the birds that fly in the scenery, or the buildings at the distance) and will make you believe that this otherwise simple game has a real depth..

I can't say why, but while playing you have the feeling that this Another World is a whole virtual world and you will be able to explore it.. but you won't because of the storyline limits!!

nothing more i can say.. the game is brilliantly designed!!

The Bad
look above!! the game managed to make pros out of its own cons!!

The Bottom Line
brilliant!

DOS · by Boston Low (85) · 2004

[ View all 25 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
DOS Manual Freeman (64836) Sep 19, 2016
No evidence on Win3x eXo (346) Apr 7, 2015
15/20th anniversary Cavalary (11445) Dec 30, 2013

Trivia

1001 Video Games

Another World appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

3DO version

The 3DO version of Out of This World is quite different from the other versions in terms of graphics and sound. The polygon backgrounds have been replaced by hand-drawn versions, the quality of which varies from stunning to amateurish. Music is played quite consistently throughout the game. It somewhat resembles a film score, and is similar to the music in the Sega CD sequel Heart of the Alien. The sound effects seem to be the same, however. Oddly enough, after the game is completed and the credits roll, the intro sequence from Heart of the Alien is played, with the same hand-drawn art style as the rest of the game. The gameplay has not changed at all. There is also a hidden mini-game by entering the password BRGR.

Advertisement

Due to its visuals, the game featured in a UK TV advert for the Amiga. The advert also featured a UK hit song called Sunshine on a Rainy Day by Zoe.

Apple IIgs release

Out of this World was one of the last commercially released games for the Apple IIgs. The port was written by Bill Heineman, who also was responsible for the SNES version (both the IIgs and the SNES share the same main processor). If the screen size was reduced, the game ran extremely smoothly on a stock unaccelerated IIgs.

Cutscenes

Out of this World was the first game to have cinematic cutscenes seen in many games today.

Development

When he needed a model for the rotoscoping in this game, Eric Chahi got his brother to run around in the back garden of their house!

DOS version

Released first on the Amiga and Atari ST, many players complained that Out Of This World was too easy. Because of this, the PC version includes two extra levels and has slightly increased difficulty in other parts of the game.

Dreamcast release

In Dec 2005 Out of this World was ported to the Dreamcast,with permission from Eric Chahi. Eric Chahi also allowed the Dreamcast port to include the datafiles. You can download the port here.

Ending

Some original storyboards, drawn up during the game's initial development, reveal an unmade ending in which Lester Chaykin survives and becomes a leader of the alien world. The storyboards can be viewed on the game's official site (http://www.anotherworld.fr/anotherworld_uk)

(Click on Another World from the side menu, then select Illustration from the top.There is a sketch with minimal detail at the bottom of the page that could represent the unmade cutscene.It seems to be Lester sitting at a throne, wearing a robe(?) and holding a sword.)

Flashback

Flashback is technically a sequel to Out Of This World. But since the storyline is completely different, it is not proper to call it a sequel.

Game Boy Advance release

In 2005, a free Game Boy Advance port of Out of this World was released by FoxySofts in the form of a downloadable rom, with the blessing of the game's original creator Eric Chahi. The port is a near flawless recreation of the original. It can be downloaded from: http://www.foxysofts.com/index.php?l=content/gba/anworld.inc

Graphics

It is important to note that Out Of This World is a technical achievement. All graphics in the game are filled vector images (2D polygons). This has been used before to save disk space with early adventure games (like King's Quest), but never before in an action game. Also, all music and sound effects are mixed in realtime to provide multichannel music and sound on modest sound hardware. All this on a 286!

ICO

In an issue of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, Japanese game designer Fumito Ueda cited this as an influence for ICO.

Intro erorrs

During the intro, watch Lester's hand as he's using the keypad. It moves forward too much, thus revealing...there is no arm attached to it! Also, at the very beginning of the intro, Lester goes up an elevator. Later on, a lightning hits a metal surface on the ground floor, but Lester is sitting right behind it. How is that possible?

Jaguar version

The Jaguar port contains an optional enhanced graphics mode (referred to as 15th anniversary mode), but everything else is identical to the original version, unlike the changes for the 15th anniversary version of the game,

References to the game

This game has a reference in Eiffel 65's song, My Console.

Release history

Out of This World was rereleased in 1995 on CD with a Windows binary in addition to the original DOS binary.

SNES version

The SNES version features a theme song -- the first time you hear it is in the very beginning of the game, when the black beast starts chasing you. There was also some tinkering with the background images of the last level (involving naked women viewed from the back) and all blood was removed.

Windows release

On April 14th, 2006 Out of this World has been re-released by it's developer Eric Chahi (who got back the rights to the game) in a completely remastered edition for Windows XP which supports resolutions of up to 1280x800. You can purchase it online and read about the making of the game (both the original version and the remake) at www.anotherworld.fr

Awards

  • Amiga Joker
    • Issue 02/1993 – #2 Best Genre Mix of 1992 (Readers' Vote)
  • FLUX
    • Issue #4 - #73 in the "Top 100 Video Games of All-Time" list
  • Electronic Gaming Monthly
    • February 1993 (issue #43) - Game of the Month (Genesis version)
    • 1993 Buyer's Guide - Most Innovative Game of the Year
  • ST Format
    • January 1993 (issue #42) - #32 in '50 finest Atari ST games of all time' list

Information also contributed by Big John WV, Brian Hirt, Caim Douglas, Darksaviour69, Gil Megidish, leon101, hydra9, Jiguryo, Mark Ennis, Martin Smith, Matt Dabrowski, Zack Green and Zovni

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by IJan.

Zodiac added by Trypticon. Genesis added by POMAH. Jaguar added by Sciere. Windows, Symbian, Atari ST added by Kabushi. Windows 3.x added by Freeman. Macintosh added by Игги Друге. SNES added by Unicorn Lynx. Amiga added by MAT. 3DO added by quizzley7. Apple IIgs added by Garcia.

Additional contributors: Trixter, POMAH, tarmo888, Alaka, Игги Друге, Crawly, Klaster_1, Paulus18950, Patrick Bregger, Jo ST, FatherJack, RufUsul, Kayburt, Vincent Kinian.

Game added December 12, 1999. Last modified February 16, 2024.