Home Gaming How to get the most out of Sunset Overdrive

How to get the most out of Sunset Overdrive

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Sunset Overdrive is being released locally tomorrow. You may have already read my review and realized that I absolutely adore Insomniac’s Xbox One exclusive. Sunset Overdrive has a lot going on all of the time, which may make it a little difficult to grasp at first. But don’t worry, I’m here to help with that.

Here’s a few neat tips and tricks I picked up on during my review play through of the game, as well as the many hours I’ve spent with the game afterwards. Some are simple “of course I should’ve know that” pointers, while other will get you up to speed with the more intricate details of this movement-focused shooter before you even boot it up. Ready?

Don’t stop moving. EVER.

Sunset Overdrive doesn’t just emphasise movement, it hinges on it. Forget everything you know about cover shooters and sticking to the ground. Pull any of that here, and you’re going to die. Really, really quickly. Always look for a network of grinds and rails above, which can zip you around the entire battlefield in a flash. Alternatively, don’t under-estimate a few groups cars or bushes. Bouncing between them, between shots, will keep enemies confused and on the back foot. Better yet, combine the two for god-like efficiency.

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Forget about Fast Travel

Trekking long distances is made fun in Sunset Overdrive, so just forget about the game’s fast travel system. Instead, use this as a chance to polish up your movement prowess, so you don’t mess up when things are actually shooting at you. You also learn a few neat tricks.

For example, switch from un underground to an over grind (by tapping X) followed by a quick jump will propel you high into the air. The same goes for jumping just after a roll. Couple that with an Air Dash at the peak, and you’ll climb buildings in a snap. Just never forget about the ability to Wall Run either. I did for a long time.

Let it grow on you

Sunset Overdrive has a really terrible opening hour or two. It’s still fun, but the missions feel generic and the hand-holding is rather annoying. Don’t stress though, you haven’t just bought a dud. After the first few hours, Sunset Overdrive really hits its stride and lets you loose on its world. The missions also get increasingly better, so don’t worry about the first few.

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Always have one of each weapon

There are an overwhelming number of weapons in Sunset Overdrive, each with their own brand of damage. Some will set enemies alight, others will stun them with electricity. It’s always good to check which enemies suffer the most from a particular weapon, because you only have a few slots to juggle them around with.

You never know what you’re going to be up against at any given time, so a good idea would be to have a varied hand. Have a shotgun that breathes fire, and a firework launcher that chains lightning to stun enemies. Upgrading weapons with Amps gives them more versatility in this regard. Still, having one of each did come in handy most of the time.

Focus on a handful of weapons exclusively

It’s never a bad thing to experiment with a new weapon, but Sunset Overdrive is better when you have a few favourites. Guns level up as you use them, opening Amp slots, increasing damage and giving you more ammo. So have half your weapon wheel reserved for the weapons you can’t live without, and use the rest to upgrade or try out new ones. If they don’t work, you always have Plan B just a few swaps away. Personally, I never got rid of my TNTeddy. I heart it too much.

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Don’t worry too much about Badges

So there are two ways to change up your Sunset Overdrive character: Overdrives and Amps. Amps have more of a direct impact, while Overdrives are slight number changes to tweak your character. These are created using Badges, which are earned by simply playing the way you choose. The problem is that you’re constantly bombarded with new badges to convert into Overdrives, which all becomes confusing.

So just ignore them. I equipped six Overdrives early on in my game, and stuck to those six exclusively. I earned a ton of badges to keep upgrading those six, and never felt the need to swap them out. They made my style of play better, so why would I need to change it up? That’s where Amps are far more useful.

Only buy what you really need

The Awesomepocaylpse is not that different from the recession it seems. Instead of finding most of your weapons, you’re going to be buying them from the local tinker, who demands cans of the very drink that got you all into this mess. You’re going to be poor, a lot of the time, so it’s best to only buy weapons that you really think you need.

A shotgun with more of a kick, or an auto rifle with more sparkle. Trade like for like, and avoid buying all the single-shot explosive weaponry and neglecting the sweet automatic weapons you’ll need in an OD mob. But as soon as you can buy some explosive hair spray, do it. That puppy has POWER!

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Go OCD with those collectibles

Remember when I said Amps and weapons are a pretty important combination? Well, aside from waiting to get them for free, you can actually purchase new Amps at any point. Problem is you’re going to have to do a fair bit of hunting for the right ingredients, which makes up a lot of Susnet Overdrive’s collectible hunting.

Now I’m not the biggest completionist out there, so I often skim over these types of aspects. However since you’re going to be doing far more traveling around, there’s no harm in taking a detour here and there to pick up a few pairs of old sneakers, or toilet paper wrapped around lampposts. Who knows, by the time you reach your destination you could have enough for that Amp that creates mini nuclear explosions. You can thank me afterwards.

Play in the most stylish way possible

Playing with style not only activates all of your hard earned Amps in battle, it also makes Sunset Overdrive infinitely more fun. Bouncing to a grind and then jumping into a wall run while you fend off countless OD sounds like a chore, but the game’s elegant control scheme makes it easy. You’ll look and feel like a total badass as well, and have a few things to show everyone else online during Chaos Squad.

Sunset Overdrive gives you everything you need to create the perfect, balls to the wall action sequences. Don’t pass that up.

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Sunset Overdrive is out  exclusively for Xbox One tomorrow, and like I said in my review it should be a game that every Xbox One owner picks up. Feel free to drop your gamertags in the comments below so we can all link up for some mindlessly chaotic Chaos Squad fun, where hopefully someone can finally dethrone my perfect 1st place streak. I need a gauntlet to throw down right about now.

Last Updated: October 30, 2014

21 Comments

  1. Back when Destiny launched I gave a view of how to play it and get the max enjoyment out of it…. I was told that games should not have to be played in a certain way to be enjoyed and everyone was shitting on me for that comment…. Let’s see how this works out…. I bet you won’t get half the flack I did….
    Also glad you like it, I will get this when the slim X1 launches in 2016… Who am I kidding it is probably coming in mid 2015 at this rate!!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 30, 2014 at 16:01

      Popular opinion dictates what’s right and what’s wrong.

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        October 31, 2014 at 07:50

        And it is happening more and more!! People of this world are like sheep!! We follow the masses, no matter the cliff in front of us we will just all go over it together!!

        Reply

  2. Pieter Kruger

    October 30, 2014 at 15:49

    Picking it up for sure, going to be an awesome weekend!!! ????????????

    Reply

  3. Fnuik

    October 30, 2014 at 15:57

    As a ps4 owner I really wish this was also on ps4. I know most love their serious games but sometimes when my wife and kid eventually falls asleep after 10 I really want to play games for a hour or so, but never want to play something intense and serious. GTA v was the perfect game for that, but ever since I have not found a game to fill that void.

    Reply

  4. Matewis Jubilai

    October 30, 2014 at 16:00

    “Forget everything you know about cover shooters and sticking to the ground” … Aha so the balls is back in the quake/unreal veterans’ court!

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    October 30, 2014 at 16:00

    So if it’s played the prescribed way then it’s more fun and you get the most out of it? If you try to play it the way you normally would play any other third person game then it might not be as appealing. I keep getting the impression that everyone is chipping in to make sure that this game does not fail under any circumstances. I really don’t like to be told how to play a game or which way to play it to get the most out of it. You’re supposed to discover that for yourself.

    Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      October 30, 2014 at 16:03

      To be fair, if I see somebody playing tennis with the wrong end of a racket , I’m going to tell them about it. If they still want to play it that way, then “That’s cool man, that’s cool…” while slowly backing away…

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        October 30, 2014 at 16:04

        But gaming is supposed to be exempt from that. Especially sandbox games.

        Reply

        • Matewis Jubilai

          October 30, 2014 at 16:14

          I think it all depends on how you approach someone with it. For instance: last year I decided to finish the original xcom, and I naturally relaxed into a savescumming routine while playing, to such a degree that I loaded a save whenever one of my guys got hit. Before long the game became boring and I decided to start again, but this time without saving in the middle of missions. Suddenly the whole atmosphere of the game changed and I was totally absorbed into each level, as I started sweating about whether or not there was an alien behind random toolsheds. I then made the mistake of creating a gog forum thread where I said how I really didn’t think that anyone was doing the game justice with a savescumming playstyle.
          Yeah, that choice of words really did not go over well, with some (minority at leasts) people even taking offense, when all I really meant to convey was : I changed my playstyle, ended up having more fun, and perhaps you will also have more fun this way, so perhaps consider it, or not it doesn’t matter 😛

          Reply

        • Courtney

          October 30, 2014 at 19:56

          Honestly, you can play however you want to play. The game is very forgiving and there are plenty of missions where if you fall off a stuff the character says “thanks for not making me start over”. The aiming is very generous as it has mild lock on. Like the write said these are suggestion. If you want to run around on the ground (you will probably need to swing a melee weapon around to keep the OD off you) you can and you will probably die faster as the OD tend to cluster together and gang up on you, but that is your choice. In addition there really isn’t much of a penalty for dying which should encourage you to try to play a different way every time. The games motto is be who you want to be. If you want more success with the game follow the tips.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            October 31, 2014 at 08:14

            Yeah, I think I read to much in the article. I’m really happy that a new IP finally can be regarded as a success.

        • Wes

          November 2, 2014 at 17:53

          I set where you are coming from but of the mark on this one. Playing this like a traditional third person shooter is like playing Forza without ever touching the gas, or Halo on legendary without ever using a weapon. Just won’t work. Has to be played to be understood.

          Reply

        • Wes

          November 2, 2014 at 17:55

          What the writer is saying is the same as stating you should use the gas pedal to get the most out of your races in Forza.

          Reply

    • Alessandro Barbosa

      October 30, 2014 at 17:12

      You don’t have to play it in the way I describe at all (apart from that whole staying off the ground. Seriously, you’ll die). These are just some handy tips if anyone is looking for any.

      Do you have to hunt for collectibles in order to gets Amps that will allow you to finish the game? No. Do I advise you doing it so that you can buy other Amps. Yes. Not a requirement by any means 🙂

      Do you have to forget about fast travel entire? No. Is it better if you run to every mission by yourself? Well, based on my experience, yes. Again, not a requirement.

      Again, these are just some tips I came up with based on my experience with the game. Certainly not the only way to get any enjoyment out of it.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        October 31, 2014 at 08:13

        Thanks for clearing it up. I guess I’m still struggling with the concept of a nice,not to serious, fun game receiving such high acclaim.

        Reply

    • Vampirate

      November 1, 2014 at 12:02

      People can play it however they wish that’s what makes it fun. What he’s suggesting might not be as fun for others.

      Reply

  6. XenitXTD

    October 31, 2014 at 06:54

    I Pre-Ordered this Game before I got the Console LOL…

    This is a nice and fun game when You tired of all the online connected games and looking for something where its more casual fun and you can just enjoy your freedom… havent tried its online features yet… keep forgetting about it because i am just enjoying it and exploring the world… keep missing the Machines that you need to visit in game to start multiplayer…

    Yes people… you dont launch multiplayer features from a menu you actually have to visit a atm like machine in the game to start playing…

    Its Pretty awesome tho… Worth every Penny (oops i mean cent)

    Reply

  7. JBird

    October 31, 2014 at 16:20

    I have a random question. I haven’t started a game yet – but me and my girl both want to play. If I create a character will she also be able to create a character using my same Live name? or does she need her own account?

    IE can you have more then one character on a account?

    Don’t want to start a fight before I have to 🙂

    Reply

  8. Lefuld

    June 15, 2015 at 15:00

    < ?????? +lazy +*********….. < Now Go R­e­­a­d M­o­r­e

    16

    Reply

  9. Whosecter

    June 22, 2015 at 13:19

    < ??????.+ spectre+ ********* ….. < Now Go R­e­­a­d M­o­r­e

    25

    Reply

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