Wasteland shooter Human Element channels Borderlands, Rage

The most dangerous element of all

You hear a name like "Human Element" and learn that it's set 35 years after the zombie apocalypse and that it revolves around humanity fighting over limited resources - and it makes you think this is going to be a politically-charged experience. You know the score: man is the real monster and all that. However, based on the teaser trailer shown during The Game Awards 2014, that doesn't seem to be the case.

The trailer has a lot less social commentary and a lot more shooting dudes on motorcycles. It's a scene ripped straight from the pages of Borderlands or even Rage. The action looked fast, snappy, and violent, but the most striking aspect was the game's animations. Characters carried themselves with a sort of twitchy, kinetic energy that made the whole thing feel more comedic than, say, apocalyptic. You can expect Human Element to be released sometime late next year.

Spoiler alert: this lady gets shot.

...and so does this guy.

As for this guy, he turns into a zombie or something. The apocalypse is wild.

Maxwell grew up on a sleepy creekbank deep in the South. His love for video games has taken him all the way to the West Coast and beyond.