Resident Evil Village: Overlord Reviews

The Good

Resident Evil Village is a continuation of the story of Ethan Winters who we were introduced to in Resident Evil 7. Ethan as the main protagonist of this story has even more challenges to face in Resident Evil Village. In Resident Evil Village the normal Umbrella Bioweapons which have shown up in the previous games primarily as zombies have been replaced by Vampires, Werewolves, and strange gooey aquatic beings. Taking on a first-person perspective in a Resident Evil game is a new concept though the developers have tried quite hard to increase the scare factor of the game and bring the eerie spooky ambiance back to the franchise in a new way. While not quite as unnerving as the original Resident Evil games which took camera placement and angles to provide a specific amount of visibility allowing for more control over the scares, the first-person perspective will put you face to face with the monsters you fight. This also has the potential for VR compatibilities which would place you directly into the action and danger of the village.

Resident Evil Village takes a couple of ideas from the Resident Evil 4 story which also saw a different protagonist, Leon, though a village infected by a different mutation of the T virus as he searches for the president’s daughter. Similarly, Ethan must make his way through Caves, Castles, and Factories in search of his daughter who was taken from him. Facing massive monsters, and some epic boss fights Ethan faces ultimate peril to find his daughter.

Resident Evil Village unleashes another wave of Resident Evil lore about Umbrella, Bioweapons, and the variations of the original T Virus. Many small details are hidden through out the village in notes and scribblings all over the place and will paint a very vivid picture of the story that happened to the village and its people.

Past the story Resident Evil Village has an additional game mode which places you into several scenarios where kills, accuracy, and speed matter to earn the highest point totals possible. The Mercenary mode is fun though once you have double S ranked each of the scenarios it does get a little stale. Still a fantastic edition that is similar to the Tofu Mode of Resident Evil 2 Remake that was released a couple years ago.

This game runs fantastically out of the box, no bugs, no issues that I could find in my eight playthroughs. This game really got a final polish before it was released to the public. This is a huge breath of fresh air as it has become more and more common to release a partial product with an expectation to patch out the bugs later.

Ultimately Resident Evil Village is a fantastic addition to the Ethan Winters story and answers a huge number of questions that Resident Evil 7 left us speculating about for years. While also keeping plenty of secrets of its own to continue the story and allow for further growth of the overall story.

The Bad

                While the game is fantastic at a technical, story and gameplay level there are a couple of things that I think were overlooked or could have done with a little more development.

Some of the areas in the game felt overlooked or like they were a second thought. You could tell right off the bat where much of the effort was placed, and where some attention could have been useful. Of the areas within Resident Evil Village a couple were incredibly short and significantly gimmicky, while they were still scary and played into the ultimate story they could have been expanded into an even greater experience in my opinion.

Some of the boss fights felt a little stale or lame, when the game itself expects you to beat one of the bosses in under a minute you know there is definitely a gimmick there that you will have to exploit.

Thoughts

                Through my eight playthroughs on all the difficulties I had a fantastic amount of fun challenging myself to further difficulties and self-imposed challenges allowed the game to stay fresh even when the game itself wouldn’t change. Like Resident Evil 7 I am expecting a DLC, like the “Ethan Must Die” DLC, later that will introduce a level of randomization to the game, improving the level of replay ability even after full completion of the game.

This game was definitely a favorite of mine and I will revisit it in the future when more content is likely to be added. It was fantastic to try to speed run and even better at the first look, when you didn’t already know what to expect and all the opportunities for scares were fresh.

This game earns a very high score from me, while there are a couple areas I would have liked to see expanded the main points of the game were fantastic and a great experience.

The Close

                This game would receive a have to play recommendation for anyone who is a fan of the Resident Evil franchise, and even a check it out for anyone else. Some people might be discouraged by the Horror aspect of the game, but there is enough action and thrill that you soon loose sight of the previous jump scares while you rush your way through a maze being chased by a horrible monster.

I alluded to this previously but having done everything and anything to do in Resident Evil Village up until this point I will likely put this game on the back burner till new content is released. I am eagerly awaiting a randomizer version of a map similar to Resident Evil 7 that I can play over and over again since each time everything will be different.

The future is bright for Resident Evil, after a couple of bumps in the road Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 which took a bit of a wide step outside of the Horror realm, Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village have pulled back the previous lovers of the horror franchise. It has brought horror back to the Resident Evil world and allowed for even more lore and story to be discussed by devoted fans for years to come.

I cannot wait for more from Resident Evil Village in the form of DLC and I cannot wait to see where Capcom decides to take the next Resident Evil game! The future is bright for Resident Evil and I cannot be happier for it!

How Gaming has Changed: A Retro Gaming Story

Gaming has changed so much over the years, we see faster sharper graphics, more intense gameplay and drastic increases in necessary response times. But do all these changes make better gamers?

The answer isn’t as simple as a yes or no. What we develop these days are different gamers. Gamers today may have faster response times and a higher number of actions per minute, but would today’s gamers have the patience and persistence to work their way through a puzzle in Zork? Would they be able to take a full game reset after missing a single jump in Ghouls ‘n Ghosts?

How Gaming Has Changed

Today, most games offer at least a glimpse of success before forcing the player to work for their prize. Most of the time instant or near instant gratification is all too prominent. Like we need that hit of “Feel good juice” before we get to the hard stuff, if there even is a “hard stuff section”.

The ‘Old Days’ of Gaming

Having grown up in the 90’s I had the pick of the litter when it came to video games. NES was still very much a huge system, and with the SNES on the way it was a feast of gaming that no one could have foreseen.

We had PC games and any number of gaming systems to choose from: RPG games, puzzle games, racing games, action games, side scrolling shooters, the list goes on and on. A lot of what we see today in the form or genre is inspired from the earliest of early games.

All the way back to the text-based games, which were basically Choose Your Own Adventure books turned digital. These games really knew how to punish and reward the player - any misstep could mean instant death and a full reset (hope you wrote down that continue code from completing the last level).

But completion meant that you got a new piece of the puzzle that was the game. Seeing the end of a game meant you were the cream of the crop, you were elite, you persisted; bruised, battered, and beaten only to walk away victorious.

I pull no punches when I say that early games were the hardest of the hard games to have existed. There are some comparable recent games that come close, but ultimately are still more consistently beatable than most retro games.

Retro Gaming Skills

I learned so many skills in all the games I played early in life that I still use today, patience being the most obvious and prominent.

The ability to sit at a puzzle and work it out for an hour left me with the ability to pull apart many challenging tasks into simpler steps and use that patience to push through completion.

I would recommend revisiting the games of my youth, some. But these games will test even the greatest gamer, push them to their limits and past.

If you can work your way through the Under Ground Empire in Zork to collect all the treasures and make your way back to the forest you have true patience, memory, and the knack for puzzles that it takes to best some even harder games. If you can get to Sardius in Ghouls and Ghosts then you know pain and repetition. Level 30 in Doom on Nightmare Difficulty and you will know skill and dexterity.

These were some of my favorite games growing up, I had the time of my life testing my skills against their maps and monsters.

There are so many more games that, on the outside, look simple and straightforward until you get into the very deep depths of their true nature.

The saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ goes double for games. What looks like a simple side scrolling platformer will test your patience as you wait for a single enemy to get into the best position to dispatch it. The simplest-looking shooter can overwhelm you with enemies and not enough ammo to kill them all.

Why Play Retro Games?

My intent is not to discourage but to encourage. Look to the past for inspiration, do not be afraid to test the very limits of the word “Hard”.

Make something so challenging that more people give up than complete the game. Then you will know the feeling of accomplishment that we felt back in the early generation of gamers. My ultimate list of the Top 30 Best Retro Videogames will break down my favorites and why everyone should experience them at some point in their life.

Now, a fair amount of these games were only available in an arcade for a nickel or quarter per-play depending on the year. I spent many hours in movie theater arcades and nickel arcades playing these games to death. Every time I got any sort of allowance from my parents, got paid for mowing the lawn or some other chore, that money was either spent on buying new games for the systems I had or dumped into arcade cabinets around the San Francisco Bay Area.

These days most of these retro games can be downloaded and played on an emulator, or you can find a remastered version that can be played on a current generation system. If you are interested, I recommend checking out a couple of these games if you have not already. Test yourself in the trials of the past and perhaps learn some new skills to put to use in the current generation of games.

The How and Why of Retro Game Difficulty

While I do not claim to be a game developer, I think that my experience with games allows me to speculate why a retro game might be more difficult.

A lot of the time a game released during the 80’s and 90’s were the first of their kind. There were no expectations so a game developer could take any liberty they wanted with a game that they chose.

If they thought the game was fun at its current difficulty, more than likely someone else would also find the game enjoyable and rewarding. They were given free reign to shape, mold and build worlds of their very own in a digital medium.

Before this all these visuals would only take place in one’s own imagination, and each person playing would experience the scene differently.

Another thought as to why these games might have been more difficult or challenging would the lack of power or resources to run it. Think about it, today we have save files hundreds of Megabytes large. Most games back then didn’t even run with a single Megabyte of memory.

Corners had to be cut to just fit the whole game on a single card, often some of those corners ended up being a Save function. This meant that every game was a roguelike or a one-shot run, hope you perfected those jumps. No second chances here.

 Later the way around storing data on the game disk was to allow for recall codes to be displayed at the end of levels which would allow you to start from that point and move forward, if you remember to write them down before you move on to the next level.

There was also the possibility that the developers wanted to make the player work for their reward. They prided themselves on having a game that people play over and over again just to reach the end.

This meant more attention and a returning fan base for their game, which brought them pride in their work and likely some amount of money as well. These were also people who came up with the idea that a game can have secrets that are almost not intended for a player to find.

Some of the first Easter Eggs in games came in the form of invisible pixels that had to be manipulated in an extremely specific way in order to unlock their secrets. These were carried on as tradition in later games in more and more unique and interesting ways. From promises of Cake to a Grunt Birthday party, and many more.

Your Thoughts on How Gaming Has Changed

Let me know what you think. Do you think that gamers today are more skilled or talented than the older generation?

Do you think that the older generation are the masters at all things game? Or are we simply different gamers with different expectations and goals?

Personally, I just think that with different teachers we develop different students, each with their skills, some overlapping some unique. But each equally qualified to be listed as a genuine gamer.

Top 30 Best Retro Video Games

I’ve compiled a list of the best retro video games that I have ever played. This list is in no way definitive - these were my favorite games to play as I grew up. Most of these games hold massive nostalgic value to me and contain fantastic stories that helped me become the person and gamer I am today. My all-time favorite 30  games that I played between my first and tenth years of life are right here. The best retro video games of my life.

1.       Zork I & II (1980 & 1981) Infocom

Zork, the game that introduced us to the underground empire and the grue. You need to use your words for this game as it is entirely text based, the controls are not as simple as the WASD that we know and love today. Back then you had to actually type the cardinal direction to move. Want to go North towards the broken damn? You need to enter North as a command. Want to know what was in the room? Want to try to communicate with the Komodo Dragon? Well, there are commands for that! Such a great story, and it allows you to fill in the visuals yourself. Always remember to take your lantern and don’t stay in the dark for too long, or you’re likely to be eaten by a grue!

2.       Super Mario Bros (1985) Nintendo

One of the original side scrolling platformers to come to video games. This game carved out a place for itself among all the games available as an action game with enemies, power ups and a visual story to get lost in. Jump your way to victory and get through all the challenges that await you in the Mushroom Kingdom in this game and get your princess back!

3.       Ghouls and Ghosts (1988) Capcom

This was the sequel to Ghosts and Goblins, an ultimately hard video game. This game pulled no punches, and more rage quits have been had in front of this games’ Game Over screen than can be counted. Completing this game without assistance put you in an elite squad of gamers. Originally developed for life in the arcade, it was later ported to a number of home game systems allowing you to rage in private as you restarted the game again and again.

4.       Pac-Man (1980) Namco

Who doesn’t just love chomping down on anything and everything that gets in your way? Pac-Man exists in a genre of its own with mazes, ghost chases and strategic power pellet usage that captured the hearts and minds of so many. This game is challenging but in such a way as to keep you coming back to the arcade cabinet over and over again to pump in another nickel. Most already know of this game but have they reached the memory overflow level and gotten the hidden pellets? Go test yourself and see how far you get Pac-Man through those mazes.

5.       Mega Man (1987) Capcom

Mega Man the side scrolling shooter. Make your way through these two-dimensional halls of Mega Man facing numerous enemies and bosses that increase in difficulty exponentially as you approach the ultimate boss Dr. Wily! Collect your power ups and make your way to the start of this part-platformer part-shooter game to test your patience and aim.

6.       Todd McFarlane’s Spawn: The Video Game (1995) Acclaim Entertainment

This was a favorite game of mine, having grown up on the comic book series I was engrossed in the imagery and story of this game when I was younger. Features some uniquely challenging gameplay and boss fights as you progress Spawn through the streets. Eventually coming face to face with the devil himself to beat the tar out of. Don’t forget your chain whip and be ready to block with your cloak when you are in real danger!

7.       Mortal Kombat (1992) Midway Games

Mortal Kombat was an incredibly unique game, it pushed the boundaries on violence and gore as one of the most brutal games of the time. The fatalities and the imagery of gore kept players coming back over and over again. They would come for the challenge but then stay to watch the fatalities. Ever wanted to freeze an opponent solid then smash them into bloody bits? Mortal Kombat is where I learned that was an actual thing. Remember to hit your combos and always go for the flashy finish with Mortal Kombat.

8.       The Legend of Zelda (1986) Nintendo

One of the original RPG’s, The Legend of Zelda was full of monsters, dungeons, and puzzles to solve before you could face the final boss. Ganon was a fun and engaging antagonist, always throwing more and more difficult challenges at you as you work your way through his castle to face him one on one in his throne room! Remember it’s dangerous to go alone, here take this! Slash your way to victory with The Legend of Zelda.

9.       The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past brought a huge amount of new content to an already stellar game. Gave us a fantastic new story to follow and immerse ourselves in and boosted the graphics to even further capture the nature and environment of the game. I spend many hours running through this game over and over again, I couldn’t get enough of the game play and even though there was no differences in the story though the countless playthroughs I still enjoyed the gameplay so much. Definitely worth a playthrough, even if you choose to play the new version, the story and gameplay still hold true to the original game. Spin to win in The Legend of Zelda: Link to the past!

10.   The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) Nintendo

The first of the 3D Zelda games and a huge innovation when it came to game play. You finally get to move around a full 3D world and defeat enemies in the fields of Hyrule. You get a much better idea of what monsters looked like and face countless enemies as you make your way through the game. Don’t forget your light arrows at home in Kokiri Forrest, you will need them to bring down Ganondorf and his ultimate form, Ganon!

11.   Super Mario 64 (1996) Nintendo

One of the very first games released on the Nintendo 64 console, it brought the 2D Mario figure into a whole new dimension! Finally, you get to run around Mushroom Kingdom bringing doom and destruction to the waves of goombas. One of the original 3D platforming games had you backflipping and long jumping to victory. Finally coming face to face with Bowser and taking him down once and for all. Ultimately, the princess is safe and Mario can rest… Or can he?

12.   Goldeneye 007 (1997) Rare

While this isn’t a first of its kind it does take the Goldeneye story and let you run through the spy work on your own, running and gunning your way to get the intel you need while escaping detection. This game had a fantastic story, including secrets and a full on 4-player multiplayer. You could bring your friends over and slap them to death in this game. Remember that Oddjob is an illegal character and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

13.   Doom I & II (1993 & 1994) id Software

Regarded as one of the first games to feature first person shooting. You would need your skills and cunning to make it through this game unscathed or not hurting for ammo as you fight off waves and waves of hell creatures on Mars. This game brought horror themes into the first-person shooter genre and it has never been the same again. Keep your eyes open for the Invisible Pinkys’ and always have your shotgun at the ready to shoot some floating Cacodemon eyes out!

14.   Tetris (1984) Blue Planet Software

Tetris was one of the first puzzle games that captured our hearts. This game was fairly simple to grasp as a concept but incredibly difficult to master. All about breaking blocks by fully filling the rows of the game board, and score points based on the number of rows you pop at the same time. This game ramps up to near impossible speeds as you progress through the difficulty level. The records in this game are honed to such a point as to be nearly insurmountable. How high can you score in Tetris? Think you can beat mine?

15.   Adventure (1980) Atari

Considered the first RPG game, though speculation and opinions on that vary. To me, Adventure was the original. It brought endless maps, monsters locked doors and secrets. Considered to have one of the oldest or original video game Easter eggs in existence it challenged players to make their way through the dungeon using their whit, memory and game skills to the test. Can you reach the end of this Adventure? Test your luck with Adventure.

16.   Pokémon Red & Blue (1998) Game Freak

Pokémon brought so much joy to my life as I grew up that I ended up fully diving into the whole environment without looking back. I have played every Pokémon game out there to completion. This game allows you to gather, train and battle any of 151 creatures each with it’s own set of strengths and weaknesses. It let you battle friends and trade rare Pokémon via game link cable. Since this game is played on one of the original handheld devices you could take it anywhere and trade with anyone else also fortunate enough to have the game. I owned and cherished both the Red and Blue games and even the later released Yellow, and still to this day they remain in my extensive collection of games. You have to catch them all in Pokémon Red and Blue.

17.   Street Fighter (1987) Capcom

Street Fighter was a fantastic fighter game. It opened up the genre and took some bold steps to differentiate itself from the competition. The bright colors and fantastic move sets brought massive amounts of action to arcades everywhere. You could challenge a computer or your friends to a battle to the knockout to determine your indisputable gaming supremacy. Throw some punches or you weight around in Street Fighter and knock some fighters out of the running!

18.   Super Mario Kart (1992) Nintendo

Super Mario Kart was a fantastic racing game where you could put your knowledge of the race tracks and short cuts to use with power ups and weapons to help you to victory over the competition. Race in a Grand Prix and go get your trophy in Super Mario Kart.

19.   Duck Hunt (1984) Nintendo

Duck hunt was where we learned that an incredibly simple game concept can be made infinitely more enjoyable when you turn the controller into something more immersive and fun. This game brought the NES Zapper into the spotlight and allowed us to manually aim and shoot the virtual ducks on the screen. Remember that if you held the gun against the screen to cheat you were doing it wrong, be sure to hunt as many ducks as you can in Duck Hunt!

20.   Paperboy (1984) Midway Games

While the concept of playing a game about being a paper boy riding your bike down a street seems like a waste of time today, back then we could relate to this game as a lot of us kids had our own paper routes to take care of every morning (how else do you think we afforded all these games?). This allowed us to live out some additional fantasies that we couldn’t actually do in the real world. Wanted to throw some papers at your neighbors? Go for it! Wanted to bike through a construction site on your way to the next set of houses? As long as you took some sweet jumps you could do that! Paperboy was one of my favorite games to play, but probably also one of the more confusing games to my parents. Grab your bag of newspapers and hit the streets in Paperboy!

21.   Gauntlet (1985) Atari Games

Originally, Gauntlet existed as an arcade cabinet and could be found in countless arcades all over the world. This game let you explore dungeons and fight an endless supply of monsters to become the most powerful adventurer you could be. Choose from a Warrior, Wizard, Valkyrie, or Elf character to play and fight your way to the exit of each stage. The difficulty will ramp up incredibly steeply as you progress so keep your wits about you and your friends close as you attempt to reach the end of Gauntlet!

22.   Earthworm Jim (1994) Shiny Entertainment

Earthworm Jim was one of the first games I experiences as a 3D-ish side scrolling adventure. The game was so creative and thoughtful that you could even use your worm head and body to fight or grapple up ledges. Earthworm Jim was a challenge to make your way through, but it made it so enjoyable that you would find yourself playing for hours at a time. Always remember your ray gun and just keep jumping as you platform your way to the end of each level and take on a boss!

23.   Lode Runner (1983) Broderbund

Lode Runner was a platforming puzzle game where you had to sneak, trick, and trap the level’s guards while you moved through the level using the ladders and zip lines to collect all the gold available.  Lode Runner broke the mold for platform/ladder computer games when it came out. It touted an impressive catalogue of 150 unique levels for the player to navigate, it even had a special version of the Lode Runner 1 disk version that included a level editor where you could build and test your own challenges, and challenge your friends. Don’t forget you can run on the heads of the guards and get every last piece of gold you can find!

24.   Final Fantasy (1987) Square Enix

Final Fantasy was the flagship for one of the highest played game franchises in the world. Going on to span 15 titles and a handful of spin off titles, this RPG has touched so many lives and the stories have helped shape a generation of gamers. Innovative in so many ways, it brought strategies and tactics into the realm of the RPG and let us build the character exactly how we wanted it. Square Enix certainly brought light to our lives with Final Fantasy and the numerous other stories tied to the Final Fantasy name. Whether you are a warrior or a mage, never go into battle unprepared for a challenge!

25.   Final Fantasy VII (1997) Square Enix

Where Final Fantasy brought us the beginning of the story, Final Fantasy VII really captivated and gripped us and brought us into a fully fleshed out world. Final Fantasy VII had so much to show us and so much to offer. Often times taking nearly 40 hours just to complete the main story and that was only the tip of the iceberg, if you wanted to experience everything the game had to offer you were looking at 80-90+ hours of time. The game was challenging and the story kept the player on the edge of their seat the entire time. Don’t forget to use your Matera and take the battle to the Shinra Corporation in Final Fantasy VII.

26.   Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven (1998) 3DO

Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, was a gem of a game from the nineties. It brought Dungeons and Dragons style gameplay into a 3D world. It allowed you to fly through the air over deserts and forests fighting all kinds of fantasy creatures to discover the secrets of The Mandate of Heaven. With a surprisingly robust story there was a ton to do in this game, and with an element item randomization and multiple different parties to form and fight with, you could find yourself lost in this game for days, as I sometimes found myself in my younger years. Be careful when you visit the Dragon Sands as you could find yourself staring down the barrel of a loaded dragon. Fight for the light in Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven.

27.   Metal Slug (1996) Nazca Corporation

Metal Slug was an arcade side scrolling shooter game, similar to some others but making itself stand out slightly with the differences in art style and introduction to 4-player action. You could team up with your friends around the arcade cabinet and play till you all died to the waves of enemies then play it all over again. Don’t forget to hop into the tank and take down the boss in Metal Slug.

28.   Contra (1988) Konami

Contra is a military style side scrolling shooter where in the distant future an evil organization has setup a base near New Zealand, with a plot to wipe out all of humanity. Our protagonists Bill Rizer and Lance Bean take the fight directly to the bad guys in a series of guerrilla warfare attacks against the enemy forces. Collecting power ups to make your weapons stronger and facing a number of bosses to get to the end on Contra is a task but certainly doable. Don’t forget to aim up and take down the Red Falcon Organization in Contra.

29.   Metroid (1987) Nintendo

Metroid, a fantastic space themed side scrolling shooter, where to take control of Samus the protagonist fights their way through waves of alien enemies trapped on a ship that they must reach the end of in order to bring an end to the biological weapons they were creating out of Metroids. Fantastic gameplay with plenty of challenges and powerups to aid you on your journey. Don’t neglect your arm cannon and take the fight to the mother brain in Metroid.

30.   Resident Evil (1996) Capcom

Resident Evil captured the hearts of many with its ability to scare us with the creative use of camera forced prospective, tank controls and limited supplies to work with. This game features numerous zombies and incredible difficulty as the zombies themselves change through the course of the game. While aiming can be a little lax at times, it all adds to the adrenaline pumping crawl through a seemingly endless mansion. It also took a fairly creative stance on differentiating between the characters you can play, something not quite apparent at a glance, but as you play through the game multiple times you notice the differences between Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Don’t forget to pick up the magnum and aim for the head in Resident Evil.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Think I left anything out? While this is not a complete list of my favorite games from the 80’s and 90’s these are the most front-of-mind games that I remember most fondly. Please let me know what your favorites were if you have experienced any games of the retro variety.

I mean you don’t expect me to mention the E.T. game, do you? Honestly, I am not sure what the developers or the play testers of that game were thinking, if indeed they were thinking at all.

Outriders a game to remember?

The Good

Outriders is one of the most hyped and awaited games of the 2021 spring release schedule. This game, produced by Square Enix, has captured a huge audience of returning fans as well as fans of the Over the Shoulder shooter genre. This game boasts a huge in-depth story with lots of loot, and classes each with their own specialty.

This game is mashing a number of ideas into one huge title. Forming a 4 person fireteam, you take on waves of enemies as you fight to protect the last of the human race from extinction by the Altered. This game ultimately feels very familiar as well as very new, drawing inspiration from games like Mass Effect and Gears of War, and adding elements of a MMO all into one fairly easy-to-digest package.

So far in my hours of playing this game, it has shown me just a fraction of the story and the depth of the characters. This game brings stunning shooter gameplay first and foremost, the feeling you get as you face down numerous foes with only your skills and guns on your side to best them is wonderful and challenging.

The Bad

So far, this game has been a wonder but there are always some things that could have been executed better or smoother. This game is no different with a couple of bumps in the road at release. There are a couple of visual glitches caused by the physics engine. Capes and clothing can spaz out randomly when caught just right by geometry. The servers were fairly unstable on launch day, causing many connection dropping issues and issues with re-authenticating to the servers.

Also, the lack of a “single player” or “offline” mode for this game meant that while these server connection issues persisted, the game was completely unplayable. Many users had taken to Twitter to voice their frustration with developers releasing imperfect games and causing strife within the player base.

This game seems to have been very well fleshed out. But a little bit more time could have been spent of testing the very limits of the game. Some of these bugs seem very obvious to the player and I am surprised that they were not caught or addressed before release.

Games these days seem to focus only on the game breaking bugs in order to get the game out as quickly as possible. Less and less games are being delivered fully fleshed out and playable on day one.

The Speculation

I am having a blast playing this game, even with all the issues it has had, the gameplay is incredibly enjoyable and engaging. Having been a huge fan of the Gears of War and Mass Effect titles I am feeling fairly nostalgic with this gameplay.

The gameplay feels rewarding and engaging, the graphics are fantastic so far, and I am thoroughly enjoying the multiplayer aspect, mixed with the Highest World level, brings another angle this game brings to the table. Working together with friends to beat seemingly unbeatable odds is what this game is about.

All the loot, currency, crafting and customization can get a little overwhelming at times but a lot of it feels familiar and is very easy to understand if you take the time to go through it once. I am loving the look and feel of the weapons, so far they feel gritty and heavy.

This will definitely find a place among my favorite games, though perhaps not one of my all-time favorites. Until a lot of the bugs and glitches are patched out there are just too many unpolished bits to this game that are unpleasant or unflattering.

My personal favorite part of this game comes from the gritty cover to cover system of a classic Third Person Shooter like Gears of War. Running and gunning while keeping a tactical position is crucial to success, which keeps the fights engaging and brings the teamwork requirement to a new threshold.

The Closing

I would definitely recommend this game to my friends, and I might have already done so. This game is captivating and engaging, it had familiar elements mixed with brand new ones. It has a wonderful loot table and is rewarding every step of the way. I will keep coming back to this title for at least the next year, if not much further into the future.

I would love to see teases of an expansion or DLC for this game. I want to see harder challenges and perhaps full-blown raids to take down some spectacular foes. I don’t think that would be too farfetched though only the game developers can really tell what the future of this game looks like. But we can always hope.

This game will continue to impress and captivate their audience as long as they can deliver on their promises. I know I will be paying attention to the future of this game. Will you?

Remember to keep your weapons close and your friends closer, they will be key to your survival Outriders!