Confetti’s Cozy Corner: The Outer Worlds 2 preview
The Outer Worlds 2 has made significant improvements since its predecessor and upped the ante when it comes to the stakes between the player, its environment and companions. There are still consistent themes of capitalism, corruption, betrayal, and uniqueness that will be poignant considering the state of the world. Games like The Outer Worlds 2 are a stern reminder to players that the real world influences games with amazing story lines that aim to leave something with us after the credits roll.
When it comes to representation, there is a lot of diversity represented in the character creator, companion interactions and relationships. The character creator has a range of skin tones and hair styles. The ethnic hairstyles are very detailed on PC but those details do not shine on the console experience. There are NPCs that also have detailed afro textured hairstyles, that I do hope become available to the player eventually. Players also have the option to have prosthetic limbs and adjust them to the player’s desire. However, it would have been amazing to see more body diversity from the choices given in the character creator.
Diving deeper into the character creator, players will have the option to pick their background, traits and, if applicable, flaws. Initially, during my playthrough I did not choose any flaws; however, during an interaction with an NPC I was given an option of a flaw called Consumerism. Consumerism lowers vendor prices by -%15 and lowers sell vault at vendors by -10%. During my current playthrough, I found that having a flaw that was external to my character, meaning not directly affecting her health, was a flaw worth having. But the player can be presented with various flaws and it is up to them to choose what works best for their play style.
Companion interactions can range from normal, romantic, tense or hostile. There is definitely queer representation in the game; however, where I currently am in the game I have not run into any asexual representation like with Parvati Holcomb in The Outer Worlds. I am still holding on to hope that there is still asexual representation!
The conversations with both companions and NPC are as funny, intense and snappy as usual. The rawness of the characters and the range of personalities the player interacts with truly makes The Outer Worlds 2 feel alive. Gauging how a character will react to dialogue options was fun and often kept me on my toes. There are different factions throughout Arcadia that can affect companion relationships to be aware of who you align with.
My advice: explore every area and talk to as many NPCs as possible to get a feel of the intense state of affairs in Arcadia.
The combat has improved from The Outer Worlds to The Outer Worlds 2. While in the first game the gunplay felt rough at times, the sequel smooths out the kinks. The camera is stable in both first and third person, but for me my preference on PC is first person. The only time I used third person was to check out my character’s armor. There are settings that can make combat easier, however there is more of an opportunity to expand the accessibility options.
The conflicts, both major and minor, are nuanced and, based on the player’s decisions, can affect if your current companions stay loyal to you. This mechanic makes companions feel alive and more layered adding to the immersion to your adventure.
The stakes feel high in The Outer Worlds 2 when it comes to the decisions made as the plot moves forward. It’s important to pay attention to how companions react to get an idea of their morality lies. Players will get a warning before a companion will turn on them, so make your choices carefully.
For those unfamiliar with the first game, The Outer Worlds 2 may feel overwhelming. Automatically players are thrown into the world and presented with a lot of information. Taking your time, exploring and deviating from the main quest can definitely help immerse players more.
Like The Outer Worlds, The Outer Worlds 2 feels similar to Fallout New Vegas, in vibes and deep lore. I personally have sunk many hours into the game and still feel like I have barely scratched the surface. This game is layered and full of timely themes and motifs that should impact players and possibly challenge them to reflect on current issues in the world.
While many gamers play video games as a means to escape the harshness of reality, The Outer Worlds 2 serves as a strong reminder that while having fun, we can learn something and have our perspective challenged through the media we enjoy consuming.
The Outer Worlds 2 launches October 29 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, and Steam.
About The Author
