Innovative and tough
This game could be called a precurser to Giants: Citizen Kabuto in that it was a third-person sci-fi shooter that required a combination of run & gun and some very frustrating precision jumping, made slightly more bearable by the inclusion of a rocket pack. You could also choose a small mech suit for each mission, a decision based on whether you wanted quickness, ample jetpack fuel, or heavy artillery. The plot was so flimsy and generic that I remember none of it besides the gruff, faux military briefings for each level. Still, I had never played anything like it, especially on the PC. The levels were filled with strange alien monsters and, if I remember correctly, many contained alien nests to destroy. Level design was fairly interesting as well, including one series of floating islands, and another level with small targets perched at the tops of bizarre Dr. Seuss trees. Like I said, though, this game was pretty difficult, and it's one of the few that I liked and never finished. The last thing I remember was a giant, tooth filled hive queen that you had to fly inside of and fight through portals (organs?), rather like the final boss in the original Contra. Never did get through it.
I remember Outwars fondly, if only because it showed me that a new style of gameplay was available on PC, and mastering the keyboard and mouse combo that seems like second nature now made me feel pretty terrific at the time. If you can get your hands on an old copy of this game--I think it ran on Windows 95--you could do worse, but you could also save yourself the headache and go right for Outwars's great grandbaby, Giants: Citizen Kabuto.