The game isn't groundbreaking (pun intended), and I don't revere it myself. Hell, the reason I think most people like it is because we've been having a drought of these types of games.
I like thinking in my games. Not thinking like "should I use my potion now or save it for later?" or "how do I position myself for optimal cover?"
Things more along the lines of "can I bypass this thing that other builds can't?" or "how could I avoid working for this person without pissing them off?" or "Wait, these jerks have a point?"
Questions like these are common in isometric RPGs. In addition, the world makes sense. If all of those things are commonplace in isometric/top-down/turn-based/rtwp RPGs, why should you want Outer Worlds when the writing is, admittedly, just alright?
Most topdown RPGs feel a tad impersonal. Sure you have the splash art and topnotch voice acting, but I don't find it as effective as watching something make faces at you and gesticulate (in spite of the uncanniness). It's less looming over action figures and more having a conversation.
And combat is much more visceral in FPS games, which scratches an itch.
The problem is that those types are much more suited towards linearity. The story could be good and there is just enough branching, but the spirit of it is different. It doesn't feel like it's yours.
At its very worst, you get RPGs like Fallout 4. Meaningless choices that funnel into one resolution, homogeneous playthroughs only differentiated by your preferred weapon, and a world that falls apart upon any scrutiny. At least combat is good, right?
This brings me to the Outer Worlds. The setting is over the top and exaggerated, but the world is derived from it instead of using it as a background for your chicanery. Most every quest is related to the obnoxiousness of the system and people being forced to live in it or circumvent it.
Quests acknowledge what your character is and isn't capable of doing and provides avenues regardless, which is not something that can be said of most modern shooters. From a set of options, you can choose what you think is right for you. I like customizing my character, assigning a personality and just branding them as mine.
At the same time, the world is gorgeous, conversations feel personal and cinematic. You feel like you're a part of the world instead of just looming over it.
It combines the stellar world building, encouragement of alternative play styles, customizable characters, and self-reflection of your topdown RPGs but also the cinematography, combat, and immersion of action RPGs. It's a blend I've been aching for since OG Bioware and New Vegas. Even if I don't think it's the most amazing thing ever, I recommend it even just to incentivize making more games like this.
Something that's been missing.
The game isn't groundbreaking (pun intended), and I don't revere it myself. Hell, the reason I think most people like it is because we've been having a drought of these types of games.
I like thinking in my games. Not thinking like "should I use my potion now or save it for later?" or "how do I position myself for optimal cover?"
Things more along the lines of "can I bypass this thing that other builds can't?" or "how could I avoid working for this person without pissing them off?" or "Wait, these jerks have a point?"
Questions like these are common in isometric RPGs. In addition, the world makes sense. If all of those things are commonplace in isometric/top-down/turn-based/rtwp RPGs, why should you want Outer Worlds when the writing is, admittedly, just alright?
Most topdown RPGs feel a tad impersonal. Sure you have the splash art and topnotch voice acting, but I don't find it as effective as watching something make faces at you and gesticulate (in spite of the uncanniness). It's less looming over action figures and more having a conversation.
And combat is much more visceral in FPS games, which scratches an itch.
The problem is that those types are much more suited towards linearity. The story could be good and there is just enough branching, but the spirit of it is different. It doesn't feel like it's yours.
At its very worst, you get RPGs like Fallout 4. Meaningless choices that funnel into one resolution, homogeneous playthroughs only differentiated by your preferred weapon, and a world that falls apart upon any scrutiny. At least combat is good, right?
This brings me to the Outer Worlds. The setting is over the top and exaggerated, but the world is derived from it instead of using it as a background for your chicanery. Most every quest is related to the obnoxiousness of the system and people being forced to live in it or circumvent it.
Quests acknowledge what your character is and isn't capable of doing and provides avenues regardless, which is not something that can be said of most modern shooters. From a set of options, you can choose what you think is right for you. I like customizing my character, assigning a personality and just branding them as mine.
At the same time, the world is gorgeous, conversations feel personal and cinematic. You feel like you're a part of the world instead of just looming over it.
It combines the stellar world building, encouragement of alternative play styles, customizable characters, and self-reflection of your topdown RPGs but also the cinematography, combat, and immersion of action RPGs. It's a blend I've been aching for since OG Bioware and New Vegas. Even if I don't think it's the most amazing thing ever, I recommend it even just to incentivize making more games like this.