August 10, 2001
BoneStormer

Outtrigger (DC) - Interforce Handbook v.1.4

Let me start by saying, if you go into Outtrigger (OT) looking for a FPS along the lines of Quake ]|[ Arena or Unreal Tournament, you WILL be disappointed. Even calling it an "arcade FPS" isn't quit accurate. Really it is an arcade shooting game (like The Grid), it just has many elements of a FPS. Does this mean OT is a bad game? Hell no! In fact, it being so different is what makes it so much fun, especially online. Give the game some time, and you'll be hooked! If you're looking for a review, check out Grimfull's. This is mainly a guide to introduce you to the world of OT, off and online. If you have experience with other FPS games, you can jump right into OT and do well, but I'm getting ahead of myself...

Overview: Basic OT gameplay is very simple, and hence there isn't as much strategy to this game as most FPS (but don't fool yourself, it does require strategy). Pick a character. Pick 3 weapons to battle with: a machine gun, a bomb, and a special weapon. Then enter the arena with up to 5 other players online, 3 others offline.

Once the game begins, it's kill or be killed. When you die, it takes about 5 seconds to respawn. That may sound short, but you could miss out on a lot in that time. With such small levels and the fact you start with your weapons, the frag count is high even though the game time is short (thank goodness for the short load times:). The game moves quite fast, even faster than Q3A (so camping never works:). You can play teams (and you can have more than 2), but in this case make sure to not shoot teammates (your sight will be white). If you do, you lose FOUR points. Yes FOUR! None of that one less frag garbage of other FPS. If you happen to kill yourself, you lose TWO points. I really like these added penalties:)

There is something different about this game you will notice right away: coins. After you die, you leave behind a coin that can be picked up by ANYONE to add a point to their score. Some may gawk at this 'vulture' like behavior, but I think it helps separate OT from the rest. If handicap is on and you kill the current leader, they drop a gold coin worth two points (that's more than the one you just got for killing them!). This can really help keep the game close. Grabbing coins plays a major part in determining the winner, but be smart about grabbing coins though. Don't die in the process or else you give someone a free frag plus the coin you drop. Try and kill whoever is running towards a coin (since you know exactly where they are headed), and then pick up both coins:)

Personally I suggest playing with a mouse since it seems to play better this way, but only with Assist off and Sensitivity way up. Sure if you play enough you may get good with a controller (at least with the Turok type D setup, all the others seem useless), but why go through that hassle?:) On the other hand, Assist is a very nice feature that is really only practical with a controller (among other things it gives you low health/ammo warnings, auto-switches weapons, a larger sight with your special, and an auto-aim feature). Also, play with the third person perspective. It allows you to see your character which makes dogging rockets and jumping easier. Plus it increases your peripheral view (like increasing POV in Q3A). With all the action going on (and all the freaking words they flash on-screen), you need to see as much as you can. Listen too! Often you can hear something before you can see it.

Besides that, just bring along your skills acquired from other FPS games and you'll do just fine. Keep on your toes, and strafe always (especially to avoid being hit). Rarely should you be walking in the exact same direction as you're looking. Always be looking into the open area around you. Try to jump to high up places (while technically there is a 'rocket jump', it doesn't seem too useful). You have an advantage over players below you, and there may be some nice goodies up there. Jump to shoot over objects or to avoid attacks too, but don't go nuts or else you won't be able to aim. Plus if you fall from too high a height you'll take damage and become stunned for a second. Since this game moves so fast, don't try and run away from a battle to get health back. It usually won't work (unless you can use a teammate's fire as cover). Stand your ground (or throw some mines:) and then when it's clear pick up more health/armor. Also be sure to be on your toes as you respawn after you die, there may be coins you can grab including the one you just dropped! Right when you come back you can't be hurt (or move as you drop onto the arena), so if you see someone respawn you need to wait a second before you shoot (online, lag should take care of that for you:).

Don't forget you have three weapons either. You will mainly use your special weapon, but your gun is good for up-close fighting and you can even shoot down rockets and bombs with it. Your bomb is good to chuck off ledges to unsuspecting opponents below or peppering the level with traps:) Rockets and similar weapons can cause 'splash' damage, but it's not much. You can use this to hit opponents off walls and objects, however most splash just seems to hit you if you're too close to your target. Don't forget to use these walls and objects as cover too. You should always use your surroundings to your advantage.

Normally you would want to play the part of the PreySim and go after the weak opponents you have the best chance of fragging, however if handicap is on you may want to go after the leader since they drop that gold coin worth 2 points. If you're the leader and have a nice lead, keep an eye on the clock and don't die since you drop a valuable coin. Make sure you always know who you're trying to catch or who is closest to catching you (or closest to hitting the target point level), you definitely don't want to die at their hands and help them out:) In the end because of the simplicity of this game, the difference between the best players and the worst isn't nearly as big as in Q3A. But you won't care, you'll be having too much fun:(

• Index

Levels: There are 20 total levels after you unlock them all by playing through Mission Mode, but really only 12 different levels. There are 6 'dark' variations in which it's hard to see off in the distance (find the goggles or use a OICW weapon), there is a 'quiet' version of the Station that has fewer train cars and so is more open, and there is a smaller version of the Art Museum (S).

These arenas are small, but still very well designed (and like all the graphics in this game look amazing at 60fps with no slowdown off or online). The tiny sized levels like the Observatory and Coliseum are really just one room. They are about the size of Babylon in UT, only one level high. The medium sized ones are a little bigger, and have walls and various levels to increase the game area. The 'large' levels are like medium sized Q3A levels (like House of Pain), but again with many walls and levels to give it more area to walk around. Some levels are more open, while others can be quite confining (like the Busy Station where you will want to get on top of the trains to look around).

In the levels you can find a "Power-Up" that increase your fire power like a Quad Damage and also increases your speed like a Haste. You can also find armor that like GoldenEye, takes all damage until it runs out (you'll hear the sound of 'breaking glass' when someone's or your own is gone). It's almost like doubling your life meter, so you can see how important this can be:) Goggles that either let you see where enemies are through walls or light up the 'dark' levels can be found too. There are also a few weapons lying around, and while useful, it doesn't make much sense since once unlocked you can pick to start with these weapons as your 'Special'. While ammo and life can be found all over levels, it is important you find the location of any goggles and especially any Power Up or armor locations, and visit them often:) Just beware of people camping around them.

• Index

Characters: You start with 6 and can unlock more by completing missions (14 total). They very (slightly) in speed, jumping ability, defense, and power.

• Jay: All around player
• Alain: All around player
• Linda: Faster speed, but weaker defense
• Talon: Stronger power/defense, but slower
• Neil
• Tereshkova: Faster speed, but weaker defense
• Scarpin
• Siba
• Shinobi: Faster speed, but weaker defense
• Commander
• D.K.
• Proofer
• Salamander: The last boss, a large character (I suggest playing in first person), can jump very high
• Doctor-K

I personally like Linda since you can out run others to coins:) Salamander can be fun to play with, but can take some getting used to. Have him jump around to make it harder for others to hit you, just be careful since long falls do inflict damage.

• Index

Weapons: These are the various weapons you start with or can unlock by completing the missions of Mission Mode. There may be slight differences in reload speed/power in some weapons, but many are alike and differ mainly graphically. Also note that unless otherwise stated, the Bomb and Special weapon use the same ammo. (You normally start with 10 shots and ammo adds 5 shots unless you start with less than 10 in which case it adds 1.)

I like Talon's strong gun with its ricocheting shots or the OICW gun since you can use it to locate enemies through walls. The bomb I usually use is either the Life Bomb (great when playing newbies:), or my favorite, the proximity mines. They are weak, but they are also hard to see since they are so small, great for setting traps:). Talon's mines are also decent. For the special, just pick a rocket launcher of your choice. I like Talon's "railgun" or the Enemy Rocket 2. The unlimited Enemy Rocket is nice for small levels, just remember its shots are much slower and so it's not good for cramped or large levels. Do not use the SPAS12, a very hard weapon to get results from (except point blank). I also don't suggest the Guided Missiles. They sound good, but are so slow that they are easy to avoid or shoot down.The Enemy's Cannon is for novelty purposes only:)

The Photon Cannon is a very good weapon, but you start out with too few shots to be one of the better choices, unless you're good at being an ammo hog (if you see it lying in a level though, be sure to pick it up). Use a bomb with unlimited ammo if you do use it. The Sniper Rifle can be quite a good weapon online once you get used to it. Its one-hit kills can help you rack up the frags (shoot as close to others as you can, there's no splash damage:). However, if the others are smart and realize you're using a Sniper all they have to do is simple strafe dodging and jumping and it makes them too hard of a target to hit. Plus like the Photon, this gun has limited ammo. As for the Flame Thrower, well, I'll get to that in the online portion of this guide.

• Index

Arcade Mode: Like most of this game, this mode isn't very hard if you follow the "Keys" to the game. The only advice one can give is be sure to pick up the time bonus (+5 seconds) that EVERY enemy character drops when you kill them. Pick it up fast before the CPU does! Try not to die too much since you don't respawn for about 5 seconds. Also keep an eye on the radar so you can quickly find enemies to take down. You want to always be shooting at someone. I find close up shooting gets the best, and quickest results. Arcade Mode is all about getting into a 'zone'. If you start off on the wrong foot, you're dead:)

You can see your high scores from this mode if you watch the demos that play if you sit at the title screen long enough. (Protip: Hit Start every time the Sega logo shows to skip the opening movie and only see the game demos.)

If you beat Arcade Mode on the Intermediate or Advanced levels with one of the starting 6 characters, you will unlock new colors for that character (orange, 'purple', white, black). Can you earn a 'S' ranking though? Try to do it with Neil or Tereshkova on Advanced and you may get a nice surprise:) (Protip: Look in Character Edit to see if you unlocked any new colors for them...)

• Index

Mission Mode: This is where you unlock all extra characters, levels, and weapons. It's really not very hard and should take an average FPS'er with a mouse less than 3 hours to complete all 45 missions (most levels you'll beat your first try and at worst will take 2 or 3 tries:). It can be fun though, while it lasts. Here are a few tips:

• Kill XX terrorists within the timelimit: Just be sure to grab the time bonuses the enemies drop and you'll be fine.
• Kill a terrorist within the timelimit: Simple, grab the Power Up when it appears and finish him off.
• Collect all Coins: There are 2 of these on the Advanced missions. They try to trick you by making some of the coins bombs. Just switch to your machine gun and shoot every coin before you try and pick it up.
• Destroy all of the Bombs: These can be tricky (and frustrating). Keep an eye on your radar and move slowly close to a red dot. Look all around for the flashing dot, these bombs are quite small. It may take a few times before you find them all (without you tripping them:), but you have plenty of time and really isn't as hard as it first appears.
• Dodge or shoot the guided missiles and survive: Just stay away from the hostage (the missiles just go after you). Stand on the outer edge of the arena looking inward to see when and where are the missiles. Then either just run away around the edge or shoot them.
• Kill 8 terrorists with consecutive combo attacks: Load up on ammo and hang around the Power Up. Try and kill about 3 in a row then grab the Power Up to get the rest. Turn around if none are in front of you (use the radar as a guide).
• ...Rescue the hostage: In these you have the Photon Torpedo and can't shoot the terrorists directly (if they see you, you're dead). Bounce your shoots off walls, ceilings, and other objects to hit them around corners (grab the goggles to see where they are). It's simple geometry really:)
• Highest point total wins using the PSG-1: This level is annoying since the gun you're given is basically a weak sniper rifle. Get up close to an enemy and hit fire fast. Play the vulture and grab as many coins as you can:) Once you get a nice lead, concentrate on not dying.
• Kill 7 terrorists within the time limit (advanced): This is a sniper training course. Learn the locations of the 7 enemies (they don't move, only fire rockets when they see you), then grab the goggles (there are 3) so you can see them and take them out.
• Kill a reinforced terrorist (last level): This one will take a few tries actually:) Kill the first guy on your own, don't grab the Power Up. After you kill the first, quickly refill ammo/life before the main guy gets there. Stay as far away from him as possible and now grab the Power Up when ever it appears. When you knock him over take that opportunity to refill ammo/life. When he stops and bends over, beware! He'll shoot a couple of 'blue' shots that are instant death. Strafe sideways away from him when he does this and if you were far enough away from him at that time, he shouldn't hit you.

That wasn't so bad now was it:) Don't forget to go into Options and watch the movies you just unlocked!

• Index

Network Play: The bread and butter of this title. Again, I suggest using a Dreamcast mouse. The control with a controller seems to be a joke (but if you ask me playing any FPS with a controller is a joke). If you have a mouse I suggest you try playing with a mouse/controller setup. This way you use the d-pad on the controller to walk/strafe. Just make sure you turn OFF Assist in the control options and turn up Sensitivity (15). With it on, moving the cursor is soooo slow and it even limits how high or low you can aim. If you do use a controller (Type D:), make sure Assist is on for the help it affords you (like auto-aim:).

There is a significant, but not fun ruining, lag online. It can take almost a full second for your shots to fire after you have hit the fire button. Using a broadband adapter may help, plus there is no way to tell who is using one:). Be sure to always take lag into account when shooting and trying to avoid being killed. Lead your targets (i.e. shoot where you think they will be by the time your rocket reaches them), and never walk straight towards an enemy (it makes you an easy target). At least the framerate stays a constant 60fps so aiming never becomes a problem. Beware of the 'warping effect' though. This is when, due to lag, a character suddenly disappears or 'warps' from one place to another. There is nothing you can do expect curse your wasted shot and move on:)

While you won't be hit with bouts of bad lag nor any of those "Connection Interrupted" notices, occasionally you may get disconnected. While in the lobby I experienced a "server error". Whether this really was a server issue or my lost connection I'm not sure. If it happens during a game, the game will suddenly end saying "Time's Up" even though it's not. Some nights there's no problem, others there is. Hopefully Sega really is working on these issues as they claim:) Lastly, if you ever see someone standing around and when you shoot them, nothing seems to happen; this player either disconnected (a no-no) or was disconnected. Don't waste your time with them. You can no longer kill them:(

Do to the lag online, your best bet online is to pick the fastest weapons you can. Don't under estimate your machine gun either. For up close fighting, nothing beats it (the spray of the bullets almost acts the the spray of the flame thrower:). Proximity mines or any of the Trick Bombs (Coin, Life, Ammo) are the bombs to use online, and don't forget to use them! If you're about to die, chuck these around and you may find yourself earning points while laying dead on the ground:) Just be careful, this is also the easiest way to kill yourself. For your special just go with your trusty Talon's Railgun or Enemy Rocket 2, but also try using the Photon Cannon and Sniper Rifle to see what kind of results you can get from them. You may want to be reserved with your shooting and make your shots count.

The flamerthrower is by far the cheapest weapon in the game online. This is only really true because of the lag. Just hold down fire and aim near your opponent. Normally you have to account for the lag when you fire, but since the flame is so wide, even if the player moves you'll still probably hit and kill them. See, cheap. They shouldn't have allowed you to unlock this weapon to start with. It should of stayed as an in game "power up" only (which is acceptable to pick up!). When you play, find out who these 'flamers' are and stay as far away as possible (which is easier to do on the more open levels). The flame has a limited reach and uses up its ammo fast. That's when you strike:) Don't be a "flamer" yourself. Use something different, it's more fun this way:)

Be careful when playing teams. I don't know how many times I aimed at an enemy, waited for the lag to release my shot, only to see a teammate appear on the screen and walk into my rocket, -4:( Stay as far away from your teammates as you can to avoid hitting each other, but you can also use this to your advantage. Say you're outnumbered 2-to-1. Run close to one of them, and if the father away opponent shoots at you, he'll probably kill both of you. +1 for your kill, +1 or 2 for the coin you drop (if they can get it), -4 for killing his teammate. No matter how you add it up, you make out on the deal:) Limit the use of your bombs since your teammates will fall for any traps too.

Unfortunately, it seems some people have discovered a glitch in OT that allows them to get unlimited ammo. If you see someone using like the Photon Torpedo and they seem to be shooting it off way more than that gun's limited ammo allows, they might be cheating:(

• Index

Online Lobby: Before you logon it has you pick your character, but don't worry you can change this at any time online. Once online you pick a name (which you can't change unless you logoff) and a master server (kage-bootstrap.dreamcast.com). Then you pick a server (right now there is just one) and then a main lobby. There are many to choose from here, but most play in the first couple "beginner" lobbies no matter what their skill level is (50 players max per lobby). You can chat in the main lobby, but you must join or make a room to play the game (similar to ChuChu).

When you make a room you can password protect it and select the max number of players, up to 6, allowed. You then become the room leader. Only the room leader can change game settings (level, timelimit, point target, handicap, team game) and is the only one who can start the game. If the leader leaves, someone else becomes leader. So if everyone is yelling "Start!", and nothing is happening. Check, you may have become the leader:)

On the list of rooms you can join, it will say which require a password (P:), and the number of players (current/max). Please note that rooms listed in RED are of games currently in progress. It is net etiquette to NOT pick one of these. Either pick another or wait till they are done playing. When you pick a red room, their game pauses for a second with the message "Player Joining". The current room leader then has the choice to reject the player, or end the current game as is and let the player into the room. I'm not sure why Sega did it this way since it can be VERY annoying if some punk tries over and over to join your room (check the room log after a game to see who it was:).

When in a room you can change your Player Settings (pick a new character, weapons) at any time, and a message on screen tells when you're doing this. It's nice if the leader doesn't start then:) You can also get a list of everyone in the room, and pick your team if team play is on.

Use B or Esc to switch between the menu and the chat screen. The chat text in a room lobby looks like this:

NAME|INT>> TEXT

NAME is the name you made when you first connected, and INT are the initials you use to identify your current character (maybe 'NB'?:). If the >> is a color, then team play is on (otherwise it will be white). You must use these to figure out teams before you start play.

While you are playing you cannot chat. Therefore there won't be anyone complaining about 'chat fraggers', but you can't trash talk this way either:( Then again, this game is so hectic you wouldn't have time to chat anyway. Another annoyance is that once in a game, you cannot leave. Not a big deal since games are so short.

After a match and the winner is announced (I'm not sure how ties are broken at this time, there is no sudden death or anything), you are shown the match stats. You can see how many times you killed each of the players (including yourself:). Then it shows the number of points you earned from coins and the total number of points you had (subtract Medal from Total to see how many frags you had). After that it shows how many times you were killed (defeat).

All in all, not the greatest lobby system, but once you get used to it, it works well.

• Index

End Game: While OT is no Q3A, it's really not fair to compare OT to any other FPS. OT is its own thing, and better yet it's not a port of a PC game. It's good fun even if mindless at times. The people that don't like OT seem to fall into two main categories: 1) Those that tried to play it with a controller. 2) Those looking for a FPS like Q3A or UT. If you have a mouse (or even a broadband adapter), I HIGHLY suggest you check this game out. If you don't have these, you may want to try playing it first. It's a shame about the controls since this game is a blast online with a mouse. At the very least, it's something to play between Q3A or UT marathons:)