Obsidian Entertainment has a long history of RPG development. The studio has worked on highly regarded titles such as Knights of the Old Republic and Fallout: New Vegas. So when they announced they were working on a brand new space-based RPG called The Outer Worlds, fans were understandably thrilled. The anticipation continued to grow when they revealed that Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky were working on the project. The pair originally created the Fallout series and therefore have a strong pedigree when it comes to this genre.
You can feel the strong connection Obsidian has with the Fallout franchise. Much of The Outer Worlds is inspired by the classic RPG series. Considering the firm’s connection to that property, this isn’t a huge surprise. The Outer Worlds is essentially Fallout in space. However, this title is a much more focused experience. With a much tighter budget and smaller team, the developer hasn’t been able to create something on the same scale as Bethesda.
History
The Outer Worlds takes place in the future. Humanity has advanced to a stage where it is able to colonize planets and expand into the galaxy. However, it is also set in an alternate version of the story. The big corporations dominate everything thanks to the fact that Theodore Roosevelt never became president after the assassination of William McKinley.
The player takes on the role of an inhabitant of the Hope ship. Its faster-than-light engines malfunctioned, leaving all crew trapped in suspended animation. With no one interested in recovering the ship, the thousands of people aboard are apparently abandoned. That is, until a mad scientist named Phineas Welles wakes you up. You are then given the task of traversing a variety of planets to find a way to rescue your colleagues.
As a basic premise, it works well to introduce you to the world and provide initial motivation. The real meat of the story comes from meeting new characters. It is very easy to get completely absorbed in the game because of the people you meet. While the main story may not get you emotionally involved, side missions do. Some are heartwarming missions, some are really fun, and some are downright morbid. The vast majority of them require your attention, however, and will keep you captivated as you progress.
Game
Many of the core game mechanics are very similar to those of Fallout. Still, they feel refined and enhanced. For example, the VATS version of The Outer Worlds is Tactical Time Dilation. Despite the fact that TTD mostly works the same way, it’s generally a far better experience. It requires skill and the player is more involved in the process than simply choosing a goal. These types of changes are welcome additions, as you gain a greater sense of accomplishment in combat.
On the other hand, shooting and fighting are still not great. The improvements make it better but not great. Where The Outer Worlds excels is in other areas. You have access to your base of operations in the form of a personal ship. In it, you can talk to your mates and learn more about them. It’s like Mass Effect and helps you engage with those around you. The same companions also have uses outside of just being a pack mule. They interact with your abilities and perks, giving you new options depending on who you take on the missions.
Player choice is probably the best I’ve ever experienced in a video game. The developers have foreseen practically every decision a player might make. This is one of the reasons The Outer Worlds is shorter than many other RPGs. But it’s more than compensated for by being a much tighter and more focused game. The team put quality over quantity so that your choices truly impact the world. While the final outcome of a quest may not change dramatically every time, tackling them in different ways remains fun.
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