Grade: B
With “Sunset Overdrive,” developer Insomniac Games has incorporated the jumps and rail grinds of the “Tony Hawk” games into a zany, oversaturated zombie apocalypse.
FizzCo, a massive beverage company, introduces a new energy drink called OverCharge, but the product’s launch is a disaster, with the first tasters turning into mutants hungry for nothing but more of the orange beverage.
Anarchy reigns in the streets of Sunset City, as the mutants, called OD, fight against the remaining human bandits and FizzCo’s own in-house security robots.
Your job is to find a way to escape Sunset City and tell the rest of the world what has happened, as FizzCo has blocked all communications in and out of the city.
This rather simple setup may sound trite, but the manner in which the game takes it — wacky, over the top, complete with tons of gratuitous vulgarity and goofy humor — makes for a truly comedic experience.
Characters frequently break the fourth wall, often fully aware they are in a video game.
However, the missions revolve around fetch quests and point defense missions a little too often for comfort.
“Sunset Overdrive” is a third-person shooter with platforming elements.
The mechanics work well, but given the game’s unusual movement, it can take some getting used to.
The game also eschews a cover system in favor of quasi-parkour mechanics along with rail grinds, bouncing off of cars, umbrellas, dumpsters and wall running.
While the controls are very tight, it is still loose enough that the player character may not always bounce or grind the way one would expect, and far too many functions are assigned to the X button, making it all the more frustrating when the occasional unintended action occurs.
As this is an Insomniac game, outrageous weapons with unexpected abilities and punny names are standard operating procedure.
To give an example, Captain Ahab is a harpoon gun that fires a pool of OverCharge energy drink at the ground, distracting OD and clumping them together.
This then allows you to take them out with the TNTeddy, which fires dynamite-stuffed teddy bears.
You can carry eight weapons and are free to slot in other guns from the wide variety of zany tools at your disposal.
“Sunset Overdrive” certainly makes the case for itself as a quirky, over-the-top shooter.
Undaunted by a few minor control issues, the fairly stock missions and some texture pop-in mishaps, this game is a rollicking fun time for anyone who has an Xbox One.
Too bad it’s not the killer game some might be hoping for.
