TL;DR
Sunset Overdrive blends Ratchet & Clank's wild weapons, Jet Set Radio's parkour, and Infamous's open world into a hyper-energetic, colorful shooter. You'll battle mutated energy drink drinkers through a vibrant city, using insane weapons and non-stop movement. Expect a self-aware, humorous story filled with pop culture references, extensive character customization, and a killer soundtrack. While the frantic gameplay can sometimes be overwhelming and a bit imprecise, the overall experience is a visually dazzling, adrenaline-fueled blast. Ready to dive into this chaotic, stylish adventure? Read the full review to see if it lives up to the hype.
Insomniac’s Xbox One-exclusive action title has long been considered a potential system seller – but does it deliver on its promise?
It’s well-known that the team at senses.se are fans of Insomniac Games, particularly the Ratchet & Clank series. While their FPS, Resistance, didn’t quite resonate with us, the news that the iconic duo is returning exclusively to PS4 (reportedly as early as February 2015) is exciting. Interestingly, Insomniac is also delivering a format-exclusive action experience to Microsoft Xbox One this fall with Sunset Overdrive.
Sunset Overdrive feels like a blend of several classic games. It incorporates a weapon wheel reminiscent of Ratchet & Clank, filled with creatively exaggerated and powerful weapons that level up with use. The gameplay evokes the frantic energy of Jet Set Radio, with its emphasis on traversal via grinding and jumping. Finally, the open-world structure recalls Infamous, encouraging exploration of vertical spaces and the completion of missions and side quests. Imagine all of these elements combined, fueled by an excess of energy drinks, and you have a good idea of what Sunset Overdrive offers. The game doesn’t hold back on vibrant colors, a driving soundtrack, or edgy language to create an intense, often humorous, and undeniably wild experience, although it exhibits a few rough edges. More on that below.
The narrative of Sunset Overdrive centers on a protagonist (playable as either male or female, with the game making inclusive attempts to address gender and ethnicity, albeit with some reliance on stereotypes) who despises their job of cleaning up after parties. However, this year’s celebration, marking the launch of Fizzico’s (a thinly veiled reference) new energy drink, Overcharge, takes an unexpected turn. Consumers of Overcharge mutate into extremely fast and violent OD monsters (Overcharge Drinkers), quickly overwhelming the city and terrorizing the remaining uninfected. The player must cooperate with other survivors to understand the OD outbreak and expose Fizzico’s potentially malicious (or simply accidental) plan.
The developers’ affinity for pop culture references is apparent throughout Sunset Overdrive, with nods to Ratchet & Clank, classic films, and skate/punk subcultures. The game demonstrates a self-aware irony and sarcastic humor, even bordering on parodying hipster culture. Character customization options allow players to outfit their avatars with everything from turquoise mohawks to layered clothing ensembles that would be the envy of any urban trendsetter. The graphics are richly colorful, with a high level of detail. The visual spectacle is most impressive during chaotic moments, such as nighttime base defense raids against waves of ODs, complete with vibrant explosions and confetti. The environments are meticulously designed, creating a palpable sense of scale and freedom. While the character models are not cutting-edge, the game can display a large number of ODs simultaneously, although their designs are somewhat repetitive, with the exception of the more visually distinct mini-bosses and major bosses.
The sound design is excellent, featuring strong voice acting and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack spanning lighter rock to hardcore punk. The audio is impactful and well-balanced. Loading times were also relatively short (tested from hard drive).
Sunset Overdrive’s core gameplay philosophy is: “never stop moving”. Players must constantly jump, grind, slide, and vault to maintain momentum while simultaneously aiming and firing at enemies. Remaining stationary leaves players vulnerable to being quickly overwhelmed. The game offers a high-intensity experience, arguably suited for those with shorter attention spans. While the fast-paced gameplay is often engaging, it can also become chaotic and difficult to control. Despite the ability to grab onto surfaces with ease, the intensity of combat can lead to imprecise movements, resulting in frustrating moments where the player is unsure where they will end up after a grind. This can make certain sequences unnecessarily challenging, leading to a desire for a slightly more deliberate pace, with less emphasis on constant speed boosts and multipliers for performing tricks. While the core mechanics are enjoyable, the chaos can detract from the overall experience at times, making some sequences more frustrating than they should be.
Due to limited pre-release access, comprehensive multiplayer testing was not possible. However, the multiplayer component appears promising, featuring both free-for-all modes and team-based challenges. A unique feature is the community-wide challenge every 14 days, where players collectively accumulate points without needing to play simultaneously. This aligns with current trends in social gaming and virtual communities.
We enjoyed our time with Sunset Overdrive and are eager to return to it. Upon its release on October 31st, we anticipate engaging in some exciting online multiplayer sessions. In the meantime, we will continue searching for collectibles to unlock additional overdrive perks.
