I had decent expectations for this paper mario like game after how great another indie paper mario like game: Bug fables https://www.deviantart.com/eternaljonathan/art/Game-review-Bug-fables-The-Everlasting-Sapling-846087738
blew away my expectations, however this game was honestly not worth the wait. It's story is fine, it's gameplay is mixed, and depending on the console can run badly (But that's more of the Publisher's fault not the Developers in this case).

Now the story is basically split into 3 parts. In part 1 you control your own character that you name whom initially has amnesia, but by part two has recovered all their memories off screen (which is incredibly disappointing that we don't get to experience those past memories ourselves and grow a better attachment to our character). in Part two you take control of a ghost named Mary whom when she encounters a boss that is in the shape of your own character she gains your party without any explanation ever made in the entire game as to why this happened and why she can suddenly see the invisible enemies (in fact very little explanation is given about the enemies we encounter and why we encounter them in the wild in the first place). in the beginning of part 3 you temporarily take over your character again, sort of. You only control them in combat, but in traversing the game you control the character traveling with your character (I have no clue why), but after that you take control of the guy you've been chasing after the whole game Adrian. You have to play through his story in reverse playing from his newest memories to his oldest one (There is also this cutscene involving a book that happens between memories for some reason). After you finish Adrian's story the game suddenly ends on a cliff hanger which is very unsatisfying and a bad idea for a indie game to do (sure you can play a post game, but it's just fighting as some random a$$ knight you encounter at the beginning of the game to kill some stronger versions of the bosses for no real reward for going to the effort other than more units you won't need since you've completed the game). Overall I didn't enjoy the story. I found it rather bland and scattered with mention of a serial killer talked about in the background but has no real importance to the story until the Very end and not in a satisfying way. The worst part is the enemies as the literally have no real presence. Only those who can fight them can see them and interact with them, but none of them have any personality (despite being named after feelings) and the bosses have no real build up or character, they just appear as an obstacle (and usually aren't even talked about since only your character can see and fight them). There's also this weird a$$ part in the story where in the beginning of part 3 all the enemies are replaced by you two super dead friends for no reason and no explanation (the characters don't even talk about it)

Gameplay is mixed. You know how in paper mario games (and bug fables) there's a central area that is connected to all the areas of the game? Well this game is one big linear line with an awful map system that in the mini map vaguely points out things, and the menu map is practically useless but it does come with a fast travel (That won't work in several sections of the story), but unless you are going for 100% completion (which you shouldn't bother with) you won't be using it at all. enemies in the game can be snuck around or ambushed thanks to a sneaking system that is pretty bare bones, but since this is an RPG you should kill every enemy you encounter. As for the fighting, you fight with a team of 4 in basic rpg fashion with a pretty bare bones button timed bit for attacks that always uses the same button and bar (it just changes the speed and pattern the arrow). Some think it's kinda like pokemon with all the different units you can use, but as a pokemon fan I can say no it's not as it lacks a lot of the depth of pokemon's gameplay, not to mention the freedom to choose whatever creature you want for your team while in this game you unlock them through a fight against a grave hidden around the world. Honestly I would rather have a team with character and personality like, I dunno, paper Mario?

In the end, The Outbound Ghost is just an average RPG that leaves more to be desired. Honestly if you want an indie game that surpasses the paper Mario game you should play bug fables (seriously it's a very good paper Mario game). If I had 2 rank the paper Mario like games I've played I would Rank it from best to worst: Bug Fables, Paper Mario thousand year door, paper Mario, Here comes Niko, Super paper Mario, color splash, origami king, The Outbound Ghost, and finally sticker star. I honestly don't recommend the game, especially the switch port as it's has the worst graphics and a long nearly 30 second load time before every fight. I give this game and average 5 out of 10 with plenty more room for improvement

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