After the tutorial, players can choose one of four classes from Pryomancer to Trickster. With those criticisms aside, Outriders does have some promise thanks to its ability system, even if that too feels like a throwback. It’s a game that seems like it’ll resonate most with that one friend who still maintains that Xbox 360 was the best video game console. Its basic shooting mechanics, story, and characters all feel a little stock in this short snippet. If all of this sounds like a vague description of the game, that’s because the game itself is a bit vague at times.

The flat voice acting and vague sci-fi story feel plucked from an era where video games struggled to figure out what it meant to be “cinematic.” Characters talk a whole lot without saying much of anything and big-budget explosions light up cutscenes. We don’t often use the retro label to describe 3D games, but Outriders truly feels like a period piece that teleports players back to their best friend’s basement.Īll that wall-sticking gameplay isn’t the only thing that feels dated.

When Mario hit that milestone, old NES games like Super Mario Bros. The first Gears of War game came out in 2006, meaning that the franchise is already 15 years old. Its game design feels dated to the point of retro, which is weird to think about. It’s the kind of game where players walk into a room, see a bunch of walls just high enough to duck behind scattered around, and think “Oh, another fight is about to start.” The shooting itself feels as fun as any competent game of that era, which is important considering that the demo provides a constant stream of action.

Outriders demo pc download