The Oversight of “Overstrike”

Its the summer of 2010, the gaming industry is in flux. The releases early in the year were just full of sequels and remakes like Bioshock 2 and Pokemon HeartGold/Soulsilver. And what was there to look forward to? Halo: Reach, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and OMG a new Call of Duty! When suddenly a hero emerged, Insomniac Games announced that they were working on a brand new IP for PS3 and 360. Finally some new blood in the market. Something to look forward to, something to keep an eye on.

However we would have to wait. And then it happened, at E3 2011, “Overstrike” was revealed and the trailer shown was nothing less than charming and brimming with potential. The game was based around a squad of eccentric secret agents. The dialogue was witty and amusing. The animation style reminisced that of a Pixar film. The game looked to be a dark horse for the future. It isn’t just a another shooter. Its a 4 player co-op experience with likable and unique characters that, if done correctly, could grab the attention of the gaming world like “Team Fortress” or “Portal” did for Valve.

I followed the progression of the game, and I was looking forward to seeing more at the next E3. But E3 2012 came and went and no sign of this hidden gem. Then in late 2012, it was announced that “Overstrike” had been rebranded into “F.U.S.E”, a gritty action shooter with a team of misfit agents looking to prove themselves. When asked why this change was made, President and CEO of Insomniac Games, Ted Price, said that it was necessary to compete in the current market of shooters and they felt the game needed more “hard-hitting combat.”

However Insomniac Games lost the point. Combat wasn’t at the core of Overstrike. It was the perfect chance to show that big guns, and big explosions wasn’t the only way to make a game “enjoyable”. It was a chance to flip the Michael Bay style of game development on it’s head and get to a game that was driven by its story and its change of the current status quo.

Instead of a beautifully orchestrated mix of campy humor and Pixar art style, we were given generic shooter number 32 that would go unnoticed on the back counter or shelf of any store. “F.U.S.E” was finally released in May 2013 with mostly negative reviews, criticized for a confusing tone and uninspired style.

With just one trailer, the appeal of “Overstrike” went beyond the gameplay. It got us for care about the world and about the characters. As a message to game devs everywhere! This isn’t high school, fitting in should be the last thing you want. So please follow the clique. Trust your heart, not your wallet.