By Adele Chapline Smith | Catholic News Service
NEW YORK (CNS) — Unique combat abilities, an engaging storyline and stellar graphics make the futuristic adventure looter-shooter “Outriders” (Square Enix) fun for adults but intense mayhem and other elements render the game unsuitable for kids.
After various calamities devastate Earth, the last vestiges of humanity flee to the stars in search of a new home. What they discover there, however, is not what they were hoping to find.
The last surviving colony ship lands on the planet Enoch, a venue chosen for its resemblance to our own world. Yet a specialized squadron called the Outriders quickly discovers a strange storm making Enoch inhospitable.
It’s too late to stop the other passengers on the vessel from disembarking, though. So they take shelter in a valley. The violent weather, it turns out, has the capability of tearing people apart — or endowing them with superhuman powers.
A mysterious signal is detected indicating that the newcomers aren’t alone. The gamer’s goal is to overcome both factional infighting among the other colonists and the potentially fatal weather to reach the source of this sound, the last hope for help and survival.
Players have access to an arsenal of weapons and gear to outfit their Outrider. There are also four specialized classes to choose from, enabling them to master either technology, fire or time — or to bring on seismic activity.
Combat is graphic and frenetic, accompanied by blood splatters and occasional dismemberment. Some scenes display corpses of indigenous inhabitants, humans or animals. In addition to some vulgar dialogue, moreover, there are also references to prostitution.
Enoch is a dark and desolate place, despite the lush greenery of its woods and hills, and the violent content corresponds to such a desperate environment. While rough around the edges, however, the gamer’s persona does maintain honorable ideals amid a broken society. These include a determination to save humanity, even if doing so will require the ultimate sacrifice.
Thus, while Enoch is predominantly populated by those who have embraced their own self-interest, the player is dedicated to the altruistic pursuit of the common good. For grown-ups at least, such positive underlying values help to offset the grittier ingredients in “Outriders.”
Playable on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia and Windows PC.
The game contains graphic combat violence with bloody effects and gruesome images, occasional rough and some crude language as well as mature references. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is M — mature.
Smith reviews video games for Catholic News Service.