Outriders! A Looter-Shooter Where You Can Literally Punch Your Enemies to Death

Welcome, fellow gamers, to a world teeming with bizarre anomalies and pulsating with a thirst for blood. Outriders, People Can Fly’s cooperative looter-shooter, throws you into the ravaged wasteland of Enoch, a planet once brimming with hope but now struggling against monstrous creatures and the unforgiving grip of an untamed anomaly storm.
The Story: Humanity’s Last Gamble?
Enoch holds the key to humanity’s survival, offering fertile ground for colonization after Earth’s resources dwindle. The Outriders, elite explorers equipped with advanced weaponry and bio-engineered augmentations known as “powers,” are tasked with establishing a foothold on this alien world.
You awaken decades later, your memories fragmented like shattered glass. The initial colonization attempt has gone awry, leaving behind a scarred landscape plagued by unpredictable storms that warp matter and reshape reality. Your mission is clear: uncover the truth behind Enoch’s catastrophic transformation while battling monstrous creatures and warring factions vying for control.
Classes & Powers: Bending Reality to Your Will
The four playable classes in Outriders are each intricately designed, offering unique gameplay styles and powerful abilities. They are:
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Trickster: Manipulates time and space, warping enemies into vulnerable positions or teleporting behind them for devastating close-range attacks.
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Pyromancer: Wields fire with deadly precision, incinerating hordes of enemies with explosive flames or summoning blazing walls to decimate the battlefield.
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Devastator: A heavy hitter who manipulates seismic forces, crushing enemies beneath boulders, creating shockwaves, and tanking massive damage.
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Technomancer: A master manipulator of technology, summoning automated turrets, deploying debilitating traps, and unleashing a barrage of toxic projectiles to cripple enemies.
These classes offer tremendous flexibility and allow for diverse playstyles. You can focus on pure DPS (damage per second) by choosing the Pyromancer or Trickster, embrace the tank role with the Devastator, or specialize in crowd control and support as a Technomancer.
Outriders’ Gameplay Loop: Grinding Gears Towards Perfection
Outriders adheres to the core loop of the looter-shooter genre: completing missions, earning loot, and upgrading your gear. However, it distinguishes itself through its relentless action and engaging combat mechanics.
The game encourages strategic positioning and tactical awareness. You can utilize cover effectively, flank enemies for critical hits, or unleash devastating combos with your powers.
The loot system is rewarding and diverse. Weapons come in a variety of rarities, each boasting unique stats and modifiers that significantly impact gameplay. You’ll discover everything from rapid-fire SMGs to explosive shotguns to powerful sniper rifles capable of obliterating enemies from afar.
Armor sets offer similar benefits, granting resistances against specific enemy types or boosting your power output. Experimenting with different gear combinations is key to finding a build that suits your playstyle.
The World: A Desolate Beauty marred by Chaos
Enoch is a stunning visual feast, showcasing both the raw beauty and destructive force of nature. Lush forests give way to arid deserts, towering mountain ranges pierce the sky, and decaying urban ruins stand as haunting reminders of past failures.
The game utilizes Unreal Engine 4 to deliver impressive graphics and smooth performance, even on consoles. From the intricate details on enemy models to the sweeping vistas that punctuate exploration, Outriders immerses you in a world both captivating and terrifying.
Endgame: The Grind Never Stops
Once you complete the main campaign, the real challenge begins. Outriders boasts a robust endgame experience with numerous challenges and activities designed to push your skills to their limits.
- Expeditions: These are self-contained missions with escalating difficulty levels that reward powerful loot and offer unique gameplay modifiers.
- Legendary Weapons & Armor: The endgame offers access to the most coveted gear in the game, allowing you to fine-tune your build and achieve peak performance.
- World Tiers: As you progress, you can unlock higher World Tiers, which increase enemy difficulty and loot quality.
Outriders embraces the “grind” with open arms, offering endless opportunities for players to refine their builds, conquer challenging content, and acquire the ultimate arsenal.
Should You Dive into Outriders?
If you crave a fast-paced, action-packed experience with deep customization options and satisfying gunplay, then Outriders is worth exploring. The game delivers on its promise of thrilling combat encounters and rewarding progression.
While it may not reinvent the wheel in terms of genre conventions, it offers a polished and engaging looter-shooter experience that will keep you hooked for hours. Just be prepared to face relentless hordes of enemies and embrace the chaotic beauty of Enoch’s shattered world.