From the developers of Brother’s - A Tale of Two Sons, comes the first official title released under the Hazelight studio name, A Way Out - an exclusively two-player revenge-driven adventure available now for the PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. A Way Out provides a story-based, co-op gameplay experience with complex characters, primarily dealing with the themes of trust and vengeance.

READ MORE: Our 'A Way Out' Review

Set in the late-1970’s in a post-Vietnam War environment, the game begins with the two main characters - Vincent and Leo - in the back of a helicopter having a discussion. This is just the first of many scenes like this, which serve as a present-day look at the duo before cutting away to flashback levels, wherein which the actual gameplay resides. The first such flashback showcases Vincent, a level-headed individual with a calm and controlled demeanor, and his arrival to the prison where he ends up in a cell right next to Leo, a hardened and more aggressive prisoner who has already served a few months of his sentence.

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Besides the close proximity of cells, it does not take long for the two to connect. Vincent winds up getting involved in a prison yard fight with Leo, taking on a gang of thugs that were hired to kill Leo by a man on the outside named Harvey. Although Leo’s hesitation towards trusting Vincent and accepting his help remains steadfast, following a second fight against the gang, it is clear that the duo’s fates are sealed as the two partner up and hatch a daring plan to escape from prison to go after Harvey, who happens to be the same person who wronged them both.

Fans of The Shawshank Redemption will recognize this part of the story, as everything from the setup to the execution of the escape are reminiscent of the iconic film. The escape from the prison comes during a thundery rainstorm, but ends up going a bit south as the guards are alerted and immediately provide chase. Vincent and Leo are forced to make their way through rugged mountain terrain, utilizing stealth or force - depending on the choices of the players - until finally escaping to the countryside.

https://www.primagames.com/games/way-out/walkthrough/a-way-out-chapter-1-escape

Vincent and Leo eventually stumble upon a farm and quickly make hostages of the elderly couple living occupying the home. They also realize that news of their escape has made its way to the press, with a full-on manhunt underway for the two fugitives. A beat-up truck sits in the barn, which the duo are able to get back to working condition just as a police chase ensues. Vincent and Leo hightail it through the highways and off-road paths of the countryside, until the two are forced to abandon the truck. Luckily, they are able to continue their escape on boat down a rapids-laden river, losing the police en route to their next destinations.

The next phase of the game acts as a reunion of sorts with Vincent and Leo’s respective families, in which each character’s individual goals and motivations for going after Harvey are fully fleshed out. The first stop is a trailer park where Leo visits his twelve-year-old son, Alex, and his wife, Linda. The two also stop at a hospital for Vincent to visit his estranged wife, Carol, and their newborn daughter. It is also during this part of the story in which Vincent and Leo learn of Harvey’s whereabouts in the jungles of Mexico, bringing the story current with the two in the back of the helicopter. At this point, the bond between the two fugitives is undeniable; both understand that they need the other in order to succeed in their plan.

After a gunfight-fueled trek through the jungle, Vincent and Leo reach Harvey’s compound and proceed to take him down in spectacular fashion, which fans of Scarface will recognize immediately. Depending on the character to confront him, Harvey attempts to hold them hostage as a bargaining chip for his life; ultimately meeting his demise at the hands of Leo or Vincent’s sharpshooting skills. The two are then free to unleash their weapons upon Harvey, sending his bullet-ridden body over the balcony into a pool below.

With all the loose ends finally tied up, it is a helicopter ride back home to what would presumably be some sort of semi-happy ending for the duo. However, A Way Out’s ending is anything but.

Immediately upon landing, Vincent and Leo are surrounded by a heavy police presence. It is in this moment that Leo learns that Vincent has been lying to him the entire time, and that he is actually an undercover cop. It turns out that the two were connected long before Vincent’s arrival at the prison. In a stolen jewel deal gone sour, Harvey double-crossed his partner, Leo, while murdering the undercover cop facilitating the deal; that cop being Vincent’s brother.

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In a fit of rage and desperation, Leo takes Vincent hostage, throwing him in a police car and speeding off into the night. The car winds up crashing into a river, resulting in Leo and Vincent separating from one another. After an enthralling chase and gunfight, the two find themselves on a rooftop facing off against each other, with only one of the characters leaving the fight alive.

A Way Out does not provide much in the way of replayability other than viewing the different endings, which is easily achievable without having to play through the game in its entirety a second time. This was intentional, as the game’s writer and director, Josef Fares, stated in an interview with Player.One: “Replayability isn't really something I think about, because I don't replay most of the story games that I've played. If you look at the statistics, people rarely finish games, nevermind replay them. So why would we focus on replay when you hardly finish them? I would say it's a bigger problem that people get tired of a game halfway in.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mquSaBV_gHg

Fares’ explanation makes even more sense considering the game’s $30 price tag. For the five to six hours it takes to finish the game - maybe seven, should players decide to experience both endings - there is really no need or logical way for the game to expand on its story or characters beyond what is presented. Any other outcomes than the two provided would take away from the incredible weight of the final act, which is sure to stick around with players upon completion of the game. One could argue that the outcome featuring Leo’s death could potentially pave the way for a sequel with Leo’s child seeking revenge on his father’s killer. However, this would be a pretty large stretch of the imagination and would likely not be able to provide much in the way of story substance which, clearly, was Fares’ most important element for A Way Out.

Trust is a delicate element in any relationship; being one of the hardest things to gain and the easiest to lose. This is presented beautifully in A Way Out, with trust continually being built between Vincent and Leo throughout the majority of the game, only to see it wiped away entirely in the game’s devastating final moments. While some of A Way Out’s less polished technical components may prevent the game from going down as an instant classic, its story diving into the complexity of trust and the raw, human emotion that comes with it, is one that should not be overlooked.