Outlaws (1997)

Outlaws (1997)

"Where are you Marshall?”

"Damn it! I told that fool doctor, stealing your kid, weren't going to be good for anyone's health.”

“It's a shame he didn't listen.”

-Outlaws (1997)

    One minute, one minute. It is remarkable what one minute can do. A single moment in time can encapsulate an entire world and open the door to cinematic and interactive experiences you never knew before. In an instant you are brought from ignorance into the joy of knowledge, this is not a discovery of a lack, but a finding of something deep within. What we find is the connection between the story and its audience.
    As I write these words, it strikes me yet again: the capacity of a choice to affect our wonder and capture our imagination. As a 9-year-old you really don't have the wherewithal to appreciate the connective power of a single image or story. That is to say, my dad gave me, my brother and four sisters a tremendous gift, by allowing us to experience storytelling in all its forms, interactive or otherwise. He showed us that narrative art is not a singular pursuit but a powerful expression of connection and empathy for the struggles of others.
Empathy, maybe a bit wide of the mark, in this case, justice, may hit closer to the target. Justice. Yes, that's the word that describes the wide, yet precise artistic intent of Outlaws. Upon its release in 1997, this interactive LucsArts Western was a mainstay in the Quense household. Save for the high seas adventures of a wannabe pirate or the travails of a reluctant Jedi Knight, I can't remember a night that year when our PC disc drive wasn't playing host to the parental fortitude of Marshall, James Anderson. As he attempted to rescue his daughter from the clutches of a dastardly land grabbing mogul
Homage is what makes Outlaws, Outlaws. This echo of so many Western tales is a case study in the strength and purpose of characterization and style. Yes, Outlaws borrows quite a bit from its inspirations, and this holds true from its first person shooting gameplay, down to the composition of its musical score. However, a story is not crystallized by its fragmentation, but by its synchronization. Developer LucasArts defines the interactive American Western with Outlaws. Even taking Ex-US Marshall, James Anderson as the quintessential expression of all the cinematic Western protagonists before him, Outlaws never stumbles into parody or repeat. Marshall, James Anderson is always uniquely himself. A law man, born out of his love of family and the strength of his fatherhood.

Thanks dad for opening so many doors for us kids. In our imaginations and beyond, you showed us that possibility is only a few steps away. All we need to do is push through the open door. Love you dad.

Happy Father's Day weekend.to all The dads out there.

Rated T for Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence

I found Outlaws Remastered to be visually enthralling, thematically rich, mechanically engaging and altogether deeply meaningful. I hope in some way you do too.

Outlaws Remastered can be purchased digitally on Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, as well as Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.

If you wish to explore over 170 film reviews and multimedia essays, my blog archive can be found at this link: Hour 21

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