Outtrigger review (Dreamcast)

Though the game can be played from a first-person or a third-person perspective, the game controls like a first-person shooter. There are several different control options, and it's really a matter of preference that determines which one is right for you. For the record, we found D1, a setup that closely mirrors other first-person shooter controls, to be optimal. The trouble with the control setup option is that it never tells you what each configuration does, so you're left to try each one until you find one that suits you. The game moves very quickly. Arenas are usually kept pretty small, giving each match an increased sense of urgency. In the arenas, you can pick up additional health and ammo, power-ups that enhance your damage or give you thermal or night vision, and additional weapons, such as a flamethrower or a photon cannon, which bounces its shots off of walls.

Graphically, Outtrigger looks great. The small arenas allow for a very fast-moving game, and the frame rate doesn't suffer as a result of the game's speed. The game is colorful as well, and the models look pretty good. The sounds are your standard gunfire and explosions, but they sound pretty nice. The music, however, gets pretty annoying, especially if you're chatting for extended periods of time.

In the end, Outtrigger earns points for being a simple, easy-to-play game, but it isn't for everyone. First-person shooter fans will still be better served by a more diverse game, such as Quake III Arena or Unreal Tournament. But if you're a broadband-adapter owner looking for something new that supports your woefully neglected device, Outtrigger fits the bill nicely.