The Outer Worlds 2 Made Me Feel Dumb—And I Need More of It [Hands-On Preview]

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As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t contain my excitement as October 29th approaches! That’s when The Outer Worlds 2 is set to launch, marking Obsidian Entertainment’s third game release this year following Avowed and Grounded 2 (in Early Access).

Obsidian has always been a standout in the realm of narrative-driven compact RPGs. In an industry flooded with open-world AAA RPGs, they manage to deliver immersive experiences that are digestible and engaging. While they’ve dabbled in other genres from time to time, it’s clear they shine brightest within their specialty. So, buckle up fellow gamers, we’re in for a fantastic journey!

Thanks to Microsoft, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the opening sequence of “The Outer Worlds 2” three times over. Generally, prologues can be challenging to assess as they primarily serve as an introduction and tutorial for new players. However, I’ve found myself without any complaints after playing this one. Despite any potential issues, I’m genuinely excited to revisit the prologue once the game officially launches.

One aspect that stood out to me was the variety of paths available within the game. To my surprise, the prologue offered several different routes to explore, and while I could have delved deeper, I decided to hold back some directions for the release. The game’s menu also adds an enjoyable element, though I encourage players to discover that on their own.

Among the aspects I enjoy most about Role-Playing Games (RPGs) is when the dialogue choices seemingly read my mind, and during a crucial story event, this occurred. As the NPC spoke, my thoughts mirrored the options presented, causing me to exclaim in excitement, only to find one of them marked with my “Dumb” trait dialogue-quite amusingly appropriate!

Character Creation is Fun

In my enthusiastic perspective, The Outer Worlds 2 might not claim the crown for the most exceptional character creator in RPG history, but it definitely delivers more than enough to satisfy. What strikes me as peculiar is the dedicated slider for moles and their placement, while other distinctive features like scars, burns, or under-eye bags seem to be grouped together. Regardless, there’s a diverse array of slides and options at your disposal, covering everything from hairstyles to backstories.

During the process of crafting my initial character, I found myself scrolling through each option like a kid in a candy store until I stumbled upon what I consider the most extraordinary hairdo ever conceived within the digital realm-the mullet. And voila! DurtE, my inaugural Outer Worlds 2 character who, interestingly enough, couldn’t spell “dirty,” was brought to life.

Towards the final stages of character setup, players have the option to select either one beneficial attribute or two positive ones coupled with a negative aspect. Being intrigued by the potential mishaps that stem from my decisions, I opted for the ” dim-witted” flaw for DurtE in anticipation of navigating The Outer Worlds 2‘s Arcadia galaxy in a similar fashion to Joe Dirt. Since persuasiveness was one of his traits, I figured he could bluff his way through various situations, but I didn’t realize that I had essentially created a brawn-over-brain character, or what some might call a “himbo.” I chose the Gambler background for him and even thought it amusing that he’d utter “Never tell me the odds,” as he would fail to grasp the concept of odds.

In my game, the second character I created had a Professor background and strongly aligned with Earth Directorate. Meanwhile, DurtE wasn’t particularly invested. She had the Sickly trait, making her vulnerable in battles, which turned out to be a less-than-optimal decision as I opted for an aggressive playstyle. The third character was once an Inmate and harbored strong anti-Earth Directorate feelings, mirroring the attitudes of a high-ranking Earth Directorate commander. To test how this influenced the gameplay, I selected Very Hard difficulty level for that character. Once characters were set, it was time to dive into the main storyline.

No Backup was Coming – Story Impressions

In the cinematic sequences of “The Outer Worlds 2”, I was amazed by the quality and unexpected yet fitting retro sci-fi aesthetic. The opening scene showcases the Earth Directorate pledging to shield people from corrupt governments, malevolent corporations, and alliances between the two. What followed was my team’s arrival in Arcadia on a crucial mission concerning Skip Drives. However, we encountered a challenge: we were to meet with Forward Agent DeVries, but received no assistance for this mission. Additionally, we discovered that the Protectorate, which rigidly enforces rules and exhibits nationalistic tendencies (or perhaps galactic ones), was also present, and there were rifts in time and space to contend with.

The Earth Directorate typically takes between 6 months and 10 years to respond, a fact that reflects the real-world nature of their operations.

As I delved into The Outer Worlds 2, I noticed distinct guiding signs that led my journey, yet they whizzed past me so swiftly that before I knew it, I was stealthily infiltrating a Protectorate Space Station. Remarkably, I managed to cross paths with two captivating companions from The Outer Worlds 2 – the cunning Earth Directorate agent Niles and the resourceful automech support drone Valerie.

It wasn’t long before my honed skills were put to the test, as they proved instrumental in overcoming obstacles early on in the game. For instance, two of my characters skillfully navigated a difficult door, while poor DurtE struggled to grasp the concept and had no choice but to slip through an air vent instead.

Throughout my adventure, there were occasional tutorial mission prompts, but for the most part, The Outer Worlds 2 immersed me immediately in gameplay with limited guidance, allowing me to sink my teeth into the experience right away.

Initially, we had an opportunity to persuade a Protectorate Agent to deactivate the Space Station’s automated defense systems by presenting ourselves as allies. DurtE charmed the agent successfully, whereas my professor skipped this step and went directly into combat. My ex-convict found it difficult to convince the agent, and later in the prologue, these interactions proved somewhat significant. Interestingly, each character had a couple of opportunities to showcase their unique traits or backgrounds, making the scenario engaging. For instance, DurtE struggled to comprehend a chalkboard explanation, but my professor easily grasped it all.

Throughout our exploration of the space station, there were a few unexpected turns and decisions to be made along the way, but I’ll keep the suspenseful parts to myself. To put it simply, I didn’t spend much time with Niles and Valerie, yet every interaction with them was intriguing and enjoyable. Of course, DurtE’s lack of intelligence provided plenty of laughs during my playthrough of The Outer Worlds 2.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed about this RPG is when the dialogue choices aligned perfectly with my thoughts. During a significant story event, this happened – just as I was thinking it, the option appeared in the dialogue, causing me to exclaim in excitement. This moment, marked by my ‘Dumb’ trait, left quite an impression on me.

Let me tell you, The Outer Worlds 2 managed to humble me a bit, much like it does with its satire. However, I fear that I may never fully recover from this experience. But guess what? I can’t wait to give it another chance when it’s released, especially since the Dumb Mullet Himbo character will be back.

What’s more, my roleplay options seemed to swing between extremes throughout the game, yet they still managed to deliver amazing moments like this during the prologue. This has me genuinely excited to see what the full game offers.

Just A Case of the Mondays…

The Gameplay Had Options

From my perspective as an enthusiastic gamer, diving into The Outer Worlds 2 has been a delightful journey, even though its gameplay mechanics aren’t entirely groundbreaking. Throughout my gaming sessions, the choices I made determined whether I started with a pistol or later acquired items like a shock rod, a knife, or a repeating rifle.

The Tactical Time Dilation feature, a returning element, allowed me to slow down time, providing an edge in intense combat scenarios. Additionally, my character had the ability to heal up when equipped with meds for the trusty inhaler.

However, as I was still in the tutorial stages, I didn’t get to fully explore the capabilities of the companions. It’s evident that there’s plenty of potential for the gameplay to expand and evolve. Despite this, I appreciate that the developers haven’t felt compelled to ‘fix’ something that isn’t necessarily broken-a decision for which I’m grateful.

The game truly excelled in offering diverse playstyles within the tutorial itself. It presented several story-driven decisions affecting gameplay, including a branching path, and there were numerous hidden areas to discover. DurtE, with his keen eyesight, spotted some unconventional vents and paths that my other characters couldn’t reach. My professor opted for a brash approach, contrasting sharply with DurtE who preferred dialogue, while my ex-convict had to proceed cautiously due to the difficulty increase in enemies. Each character allowed me to explore different routes, making each playthrough feel unique. Although there were more like 2.5 distinct approaches rather than three completely separate ones, that’s not the most intriguing part. I encountered at least 2-3 areas that remained inaccessible because none of my characters met the necessary requirements. While they may not have provided unique paths through these sections, one or more of them potentially could. This has me eagerly anticipating the complete gaming experience.

In The Outer Worlds 2’s toughest setting, I found myself needing to adopt a more strategic approach and choose battles wisely – quite a shift from my playthrough with DurtE or my professor. Essentially, enemies became like tough-as-nails targets that required several rounds of ammo to take down. In contrast, on Normal mode with DurtE and the professor, most enemies succumbed with just 2 or 3 shots. This made me rely heavily on the game’s stealth mechanics rather than charging headlong into combat. It may not offer anything groundbreaking, but it certainly knows how to create an enjoyable spinning wheel of strategy!

The Outer Worlds 2 is a Lot of Fun

In essence, my initial take on The Outer Worlds 2 is that it’s a blast from the start, offering engaging story and gameplay elements that remind me of Obsidian Entertainment at their peak. With an impressive portfolio boasting games like Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Pillars of Eternity 1 & 2, Grounded, and Pentiment, I anticipate that The Outer Worlds 2 might join this esteemed list if it maintains the promise shown in its introduction.

The publication Game Rant was provided with a Steam key by Microsoft for the purpose of this early review. In the coming days of October 29th, The Outer Worlds 2 will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X platforms.

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2025-08-27 16:31