In 2013, Samuel’s music entered the international spotlight through his work on the critically acclaimed survival horror-game Outlast. The game told the nightmarish story of Miles Upshur, a journalist investigating the crimes of a twisted mental institution, and it fell upon Laflamme to simultaneously capture the setting’s dark and overwhelming sense of helplessness, while also subtly clue the player in on the unique dangers of each hidden area. This complex task required Laflamme to draw on a wide range of musical techniques, including the use of live orchestras, layered samples, and experimental musicianship, at one point incorporating the sound of a violin bow running against a cymbal to create a sound uncannily similar to a human scream. His work played a valuable role in the tension of the game, and is interwoven into the identity of the game, contributing to its fervent fan following. In the sequel, Outlast 2, just as the asylum has been traded for a more rural backwoods setting, Laflamme has switched from the orchestral based arrangements he used in the first game, in favour of something far more visceral and brutal. In addition, he bolstered the voice of the score by crafting new instruments, leading to unique and unprecedented sounds.
