(Image credit: Square Enix)

The Load Screen looks forward to scouring the world of Enoch in Square Enix’s third person looter shooter: Outriders. However, the game has been delayed until April 1st, according to the Outriders official twitter feed. The developer People Can Fly, promise a playable alpha available February 25th, which we are excited to try out. This article will cover what gameplay has been released of this Drop-In-Drop-Out multiplayer game, but that may change when the title is finally released on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Stadia.

In Outriders, play alone or with up to two others online after selecting from four separate classes. Each one has a unique upgrade tree with three paths and a wide range of powers. Depending on the chosen class the three categories change, so it matters if the player selects Technomancer, Pyromancer, Trickster, or Devastator. Each one can be built in ways that can benefit the whole team or solo action. Every class has healing options, but most will involve dispatching enemies with powers which keep the action rolling on. If the player is ever unhappy with the current build, Outriders allows the user to respec a character for no additional cost.

Players can upgrade a vast arsenal of weapons and gear as well as unique class abilities to vary up gameplay. Weapons will each have smaller enhancements that can be changed such as fire type or ammo type. This feature should provide subtle variance for each weapon that can be attuned to the user’s liking. Also, there will be legendary equipment that has unique set bonuses but those will not have random values. This makes hunting down unique weapons worth the grind since they will always have the same abilities.

The world of Enoch is full of wonders that will try to kill the Outriders as they advance further in. Corrupted creatures and humans lurk everywhere but attacking from a distance may be warranted. However, hiding from enemies with the expansive cover available will not often regenerate player health. Using the awesome powers of each class adds different visual affects such as the Pyromancers fire abilities or the Trickster’s instant kill blade.

Enoch is separated into different maps that are accessible once the player reaches certain Game Level for the current character. The actual difficulty for each map can be scaled higher or lower for more options. By setting it greater, the chances of finding better loot increases, as well as running into harder enemies. All equipment comes in a familiar four-tier rarity system, with exotic items having the best specs at the current level acquired.

The four classes give different personalities to the character playstyle that can be adjusted to ramp up the carnage. The visual effects, weapon depth, and customizability should be worth getting right for all players. If the developers need more time to get things in order, they rightly should. The Load Screen appreciates the developer for improving their product before final release. Also, adding a demo in late February is a great touch that will give players a better feel for Outriders. We look forward to playing the full title when it comes out on April 1st, 2021.

Outriders

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Developer: People Can Fly

• Publisher: Square Enix

• Release Date: April 1, 2021