SDCC 2014: ‘Sunset Overdrive’ Infects Our Hearts

From the start of the presentation, Sunset Overdrive was a game steered toward a direction where players could be who they wanted to be in a post-apocalyptic world where rules didn’t exist.

After a new energy drink infects all who attend said energy drink’s release party thrown by the fictional company Fizzco, the protagonist goes from being a garbage man to, well, you know:

The world is inhabited by different variations of monsters, each with their own tactical advantage and yearn for your death. The only thing they desire more than killing you is more of Overcharge Delirium XT, the Fizzco energy drink that started this whole mess. Players will be able to set traps using this energy drink to distract enemies and string together awesome combos. The game plays like a cross between your fun arcade shooter and Jet Set Radio. It would seem that players who stay on the move, and have proficient acrobatic skills, will have an easier time staying alive.

Aside from the monsters, Sunset Overdrive’s world is also inhabited by “Scabs.” These are the guys who, rather than band together with other survivors, would rather steal from other groups. Speaking of other groups, players will also run into other bands of survivors, each with their own comedic origin story as to how they survived the initial outbreak.

First, we have the Fargarths, who at the time of the outbreak, were role-playing in their own little world. Second, we have the Troop Bushido. These guys are composed of boy scouts who fled to a Japanese samurai museum you see below.

Online play will feature 8-player cooperative modes that will allow you to gain XP that can be used for both multiplayer and single player abilities. With each mission, the mode culminates into a “Night Defense” gametype in which you and your peers protect an objective from hordes of enemies.

Sunset Overdrive is due for an October 28th release date in North America, and October 30th everywhere else on the Xbox One!