Insomniac Studios released the latest Xbox-one exclusive title Sunset Overdrive. We tested the game for you.

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Sunset Overdrive’s story focuses on an energy drink called ‘OverCharge‘. At the beginning, FizzCo celebrate the launch of his new energy drink. And the evil takes his run. The apocalypse breaks out of nowhere. OverCharge turns its consumers into mutants, known in-game as the OverCharge Delirium Drinkers. A countless number of people fall victim to the Ods, leaving only a few freaks and our hero behind. The goal is clear: Get out of Sunset City! Sunset Overdrives biggest recognition feature is the great humor and how it is placed in the cutscenes.

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Sunset Overdrive is an open-world game. This means we are able to move free around the whole city area. Players can use the grind system for a quick move forward. Our hero is extremely agile. He is able to slid on rails or power lines, can jump on cars and other objects to gain height and he is capable on running on walls. Thanks to that you are able to travel stylish about a long distance, without touching the ground.

The missions in Sunset Overdrive are varied like the freaks. Unfortunately, the goals are repeated too often.

 The player has a lot of loony weapons to dispose. You can get new weapons by trading in the Overcharge, which is the main source of currency to obtain weapons. You can use the amps to upgrades your items. However, most amps need to be cooked by our buddy Floyd and that’s the reason why we have to collect some ingredients. During the preparation we need to play a tower defense game.

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After an acclimatisation period of some minutes we were able to handle the controllers very well. And that’s great; because of long combos we are able to fill a style bar, which allows stronger attacks.

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A dynamic time of day or weather system is not included in this game. Because of this, Sunset City gives us the feeling that the City is not being alive. But the city has a wonderful comic look and dozens of fine detail and effects to show. During the battles all hell breaks loose on the screen without getting lacks. The great punk and rock soundtrack fits always and supports the action orgy.
We also enjoy the funny effects and sounds of the weaponry.

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Who won’t only fight alone against Ods and Scabs can shift over into the multiplayer mode. Chaos Squad is the games’ only multiplayer component, which offers different modes within it. Play with up to seven other players a small mission, until you enter Night Defense, a wave based tower defense like final round. The full Chaos Squad sequence takes around 20-25 minutes and it is a lot of fun!

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Sunset Overdrive definitely contains elements of games like Saints Row. Because of the great setting, the terrific monsters and the very creative missions, Insomniac succeeds to give this game its own identity.

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After settling in we had a lot of fun to fly through the city and perform one combo after another. We also like the humor in this game. Sunset Overdrive is definitely more than worth a look, but you shoud not expect too much. It is not that big exclusive title we have been waiting for, but – still – we like it.

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Tested and written by Pascal van der Meer & Marcel Krafczyk

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