PC Software/Games - "Outlaws" (Lucasarts)

Released in 1997, Outlaws was acclaimed game maker LucasArts second foray into the world of First Person Shooting games. (1995's Dark Forces was their first).

The people at LucasArts are not dumb. They know, by and large, they are not going to compete with the Doom makers of the world for guts, gore, and glory. LucasArts greatest strength as a video game maker has always been their ability to give their games an almost movie like quality to them - So the player feels they are not simply playing a game - but going through a story.

And this is the story of Outlaws. Graphically, it even pales to other games of the same genre of the time - Such as Quake - But story wise - Outlaws blows those games away. And also you have to add in the originality factor - the Old West really just hasn't been done very much in video games, oddly enough.

A quick plot summary goes like this: You are Marshall James Anderson - and because of your lack of cooperation with a local gang, your house is burned to the ground, your wife is killed, and your daughter is kidnapped. Bad move on their part. You set off with nothing but revenge in mind - And will stop at nothing to get your daughter back.

Although there are only 10 missions, each one is buffered with a gorgeous animated cut scene to really keep the movie feel in place. And the variety is great. You'll ride a train, head into a fort, storm a house at night, and even succumb into mines. The soundtrack is perfect - Adding that western feel - And the authenticity of the scenery and weaponry really make the game FEEL right.

A Quick note to the would be player - While the game will pose an ample challenge on the medium ('Bad') level, I recommend for full enjoyment - Play at the hard ('Ugly') setting: This Is how I feel the game was truly meant to be played - taking full advatnage of the scenery and the movement options.

The challenge level is pretty good, you can't take more than a couple of shots before you are killed - As they say, be quick or be dead. The weapons are authentic, six shooter, rifle, shotgun, dynamite, and the far too little used stationary machinegun.

The sounds are decent, though the taunts from the computer players get a bit repetitve - And you'll find the levels to be large and detailed, and alot of fun to explore. There are secrets abound that are none too easy t o come across, and a good challenge factor.

Plus, after you defeat the game, there are several add on "Historical Missions" that are pretty large that you can tangle with as well for fun. Those too, are very challenging.

And of course, there is the Multiplayer mode. LucasArts took alot of flak for not having one on Dark Forces, and they were not about to make the same mistake - So here you get a good multiplayer game that is alot of fun. Nothing like shooting it out with your buddies at the OK Corral. ;)

Have fun - While the graphics themselves are a bit dated by today's standards - Classics are classics because they are good games, fun, with good stories. Outlaws has all of this, and more.

Mr_D