OUTLAWS

Outlaws, released in 1997 by LucasArts, is a cinematic first-person shooter that blends Western movie aesthetics with early tactical shooter gameplay. While it didn’t dominate sales charts during its time, it quietly became a cult classic, fondly remembered for its atmosphere, storytelling, and a phenomenal soundtrack that still resonates with fans today.

Set in the lawless American frontier, you play as retired U.S. Marshal James Anderson, whose life is upended when his wife is murdered and daughter kidnapped by a ruthless railroad baron and his gang. From that point, the game becomes a classic tale of justice and revenge. Anderson travels across towns, deserts, canyons, and outlaw hideouts in pursuit of the villains, driven by a compelling narrative told through beautifully animated cutscenes that evoke the style of classic Western comics and films.

While the Jedi Engine (originally used for Dark Forces) was technically outdated by 1997, Outlaws made up for it with clever level design and fresh mechanics. It was one of the first FPS games to introduce a sniper zoom feature and manual reloading, both now common in the genre. Gunfights were methodical and tense, with limited ammo and high damage making shootouts feel deadly and personal, especially on higher difficulties.

The game includes a set of "Historical Missions"—optional single-player levels that provide flashbacks to Anderson's earlier days as a lawman. These missions add meaningful depth and replayability, while the robust multiplayer mode added additional longevity. Multiplayer offered unique characters with different attributes and humorous game modes, like the infamous “Kill the Fool with the Chicken.”

What truly elevated Outlaws was its music. Composed by Clint Bajakian, the score is a sweeping orchestral homage to Ennio Morricone’s iconic Spaghetti Western soundtracks. The music dynamically adapts to the action, intensifying during shootouts and pulling back during exploration. It is widely considered one of the best video game soundtracks of the 1990s and earned multiple accolades.

Visually, the game’s sprite-based enemies and retro 2.5D graphics show their age today, but the stylized art and expressive environments maintain a certain charm. From saloons and train stations to high-noon duels, every area feels crafted with cinematic intent. It’s clear the developers were passionate about classic Westerns and aimed to create an interactive homage to the genre.

Though overshadowed by the likes of Quake and GoldenEye 007 during its release window, Outlaws has enjoyed a long legacy, especially among retro PC gamers. Fan patches and community servers kept its multiplayer alive well into the 2010s, and countless custom maps have extended its lifespan far beyond what its developers could have anticipated.

Today, Outlaws is considered abandonware, with no official re-release available on platforms like Steam or GOG. But despite its limited availability, it holds a permanent place in FPS history—not just as a competent shooter, but as a game with heart, soul, and cinematic ambition.