Out of Action Review – A Brutal Cyberpunk FPS for the Patient
Out of Action blends insane movement, hyper-stylish combat and vast customization, but a steep learning curve and thin initial content make onboarding rough. A must-try for hardcore movement-FPS fans; newcomers beware.
I jumped into Out of Action expecting a slick indie shooter and got something even wilder: a movement-heavy, cinematic PvP arena that screams 90s dark anime in neon. Developed solo by Doku Games LTD and out on Windows, the game mixes bullet-time, wall-running and katana shenanigans with a deep build system that rewards experimentation. It's fast, often unfair, and gloriously expressive — when you understand it. If you love mastering systems more than being gently guided, this will scratch that itch; if you want hand-holding, prepare to get stomped a lot.
Movement Is the Main Event
Out of Action feels like someone took the best bits of Titanfall, The Specialist and Neotokyo and then injected them with espresso. The core loop is a ballet of dives, slides, wall-runs and mid-air adjustments where movement is often the primary offensive tool. You don’t just peek corners — you dive through them, deflect bullets with a katana and chain a headshot while in slow-motion. Combat rewards creativity: juggling augments, toggling weapon mods and using shell-specific quirks can turn a losing fight into a cinematic comeback. Matches are fast and punishing; deaths are frequent but spawn-to-action times are mercifully short. Expect to die a lot while learning, and to grin like a maniac the first time you pull off a multi-action combo.
The Customization Web That Hooks You
What makes Out of Action unique is how many systems intersect: shells (think class-like frames), the Matrix progression tree, weapon mods, and augments all feed into your playstyle. There are hundreds of permutations — I made stealth-knife builds, jetpack glass cannons and pistol-heavy hipfire maniacs — and each feels legitimately different to play. Matrix upgrades give real power but also create a gulf between newcomers and vets; the progression offers long-term motivation at the cost of a rocky new-player experience. There’s an offline replayable mode to practice, which is a smart inclusion, but it’s not a substitute for matchmaking filters or a gentle tutorial. The combat is tuned around counterplay: almost everything has a trade-off, and figuring out those counterplays is half the fun and half the headache.
A Gritty Neon Package: Looks, Sound, Performance
Visually Out of Action leans hard into cyberpunk noir with slick particle effects, dramatic slow-mo cinematics and occasional jaw-dropping moments where the physics choreography steals the show. Sound design backs that up — weapons have bite, impacts sound crunchy, and the katana swings feel satisfyingly sharp. Performance is impressively stable on Windows; the game runs smoothly even in chaotic 12-player fights, which is vital for a twitch shooter. That said, art and menus are occasionally bare-bones and some animations (especially certain reloads or melee transitions) can feel a touch rough. Accessibility and settings are improving, but there’s still room for better onboarding, remapping and cross-region server options.
Out of Action is a bold, stylish and mechanically rich shooter that rewards patience and experimentation. As a Windows-only indie from a solo dev, it already shines in movement and combat, but onboarding, progression gaps and initial content hold it back from wider appeal. Buy it if you crave a high-skill, expressive FPS and plan to stick around for updates; otherwise wait for more tutorials, modes and matchmaking help.
Pros
- Incredible, expressive movement and combat depth
- Massive build variety through shells, augments and mods
- Cinematic moments — combat often feels like a highlight reel
- Runs well on Windows and is impressively optimized for an indie solo dev
Cons
- Steep learning curve and poor new-player onboarding
- Progression (Matrix) can create a gap between vets and newcomers
- Limited content at launch (few maps/modes) and some rough UI bits
Player Opinion
Players are split but consistent in what they praise and what they complain about. The community raves about the movement system, customization depth and the pure joy of stringing together crazy combos; many reviewers call it one of the freshest FPS experiences in years. On the flip side, multiple user reports echo the same pain points: a steep learning curve, a veteran-heavy playerbase that can feel punishing to newcomers, and a lack of tutorialization or beginner-friendly matchmaking. Several long-time players defend the design by pointing out server restrictions and learning tiers, while newer buyers often ask for better onboarding and more casual modes. Many players also celebrate the solo dev story and remain optimistic about updates and roadmap additions. If you like hard-to-master, expressive shooters and don’t mind getting your teeth kicked in while learning, you’ll likely love Out of Action.