Outlander

Outlander was originally slated to be a Mad Max game, but the licensing rights fell through at the last minute, and the title and presumably some visuals in the game were changed to avoid lawsuits. The game isn’t hurt at all though, as the game is still what an ideal Mad Max game would be, only without the name. The core gameplay is split into two main parts: driving (which features gunplay) and side-scrolling shooting. The driving aspect is where the game truly shines.

Not only is this aspect of the game exhilarating due to all of the biker gang members terrorizing you from all sides, but you also have to avoid obstacles, such as roadblocks and roadside objects like rocks in order to keep your vehicle in drivable condition. If your car runs out of gas before you reach your destination, or sustains too much damage through enemy attacks, or the aforementioned roadside obstacles, then the game ends.

You’ll start out a given level rather easily, just bobbing and weaving through roadblocks, and then a group of bikers will come up at you. You can shoot at them in if they’re in front of your car, or to the side. If they’re in front of you, then your machine guns will blaze. If they’re beside you, then the game will open up a new gameplay window that takes up roughly 1/4th of the screen, showing your character’s arm out of the window with a gun in hand, if you line up your shots correctly, and hit an opponent, they’re done for.

You also have to be wary of the perils that lie ahead of you on the road, such as turns, roadblocks, etc. If you focus too much on the enemy, you’ll end up driving right through a turn and hitting some rocks, or you’ll try and react quickly, only to end up hitting a roadblock. Conversely, if you focus too much on the road’s hazards, you’ll be swarmed by enemy attacks. Finding just the right balance between the two is key to success in the game, and is rather enjoyable to do as well.

The visuals pretty snazzy in most respects the pre-game cinemas are full of life and detail, while the in-game visuals for the driving areas move by briskly and manage to convey a convincing sense of speed. Very impressive. The picture-in-picture stuff is done just as well, as the game never slows down to accommodate more action on the screen.

Imagine a post-holocaust world where mohawked motorists rumble across deserted highways in search of priceless fuel and water. If you think these sounds a little like Mad Max, you're right. And just like the movie, the game consists of two main activities — driving and fighting.

First you're on the road, trying to stay alive as you battle other blood-thirsty motorists. Killer explosions and massive wipe-outs are the trademarks of this game. Next you're on foot, engaging hand-to-hand combat with an assortment of questionable characters. We liked the graphics and the play control, but we don't recommend this one for the squeamish.

Last issue's Fast Takes included this title with (oh no!) the wrong ratings. So in fairness to our dedicated readers (who need to know the truth), the game's publisher (who needs the truth to be known) and our editorial staff (who just want to get on with their lives), we are running the ratings again. We apologize for the confusion. Imagine a post-holocaust world where mohawked motorists rumble across deserted highways in search of priceless fuel and water. Lots of killer explosions and massive wipe-outs is the name of this game. We rated this one high on Graphics and Overall Fun.