Welcome to our latest IGN First, where we're diving deep into a month of exclusive coverage in April, all dedicated to The Outer Worlds 2. This is your first glimpse into real-time gameplay, taking you through an exciting quest where you infiltrate the N-Ray Facility. This showcase not only highlights several new features and mechanics but also demonstrates how the game rethinks level design. One aspect that particularly stands out is the game's deeper RPG experience, with developer Obsidian drawing inspiration from its rich history and even taking cues from immersive sims like Deus Ex and Dishonored.
While first-person RPGs have always embraced this DNA, The Outer Worlds 2 introduces more sophisticated systems than its predecessor. For instance, it now features a true stealth system and enhanced tools that make this playstyle not just viable but highly engaging. This includes effective melee weapons and skills that allow for silent takedowns. A standout feature is the health bar above enemy heads, which includes a purple-colored readout indicating the potential damage of a stealth attack. This helps you decide if you can achieve a one-hit kill or if it's worth engaging your target. Enemies will detect dead bodies and alert guards, but with the right skill, you can quickly clean up by disintegrating bodies on the spot.
The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay - Screenshots
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Later in the quest, you acquire the N-Ray Scanner, a crucial tool that allows you to see certain objects and NPCs/enemies through walls. This is essential for solving more complex environmental puzzles and is a vital asset for both stealth and combat strategies. The N-Ray Facility is home to enemies who can cloak themselves, making them invisible to the naked eye but not to the N-Ray Scanner. Failing to use this tool diligently can lead to unexpected ambushes. This is just one example of how gadgets add a new layer to the gameplay experience.
The game features several interlocking systems that enhance the RPG elements, allowing for specific character builds. Stealth and immersive sim sensibilities are not the only areas where gameplay is expanding. Obsidian has also focused on improving gunplay, taking inspiration from Destiny to ensure a satisfying shooting experience. While The Outer Worlds 2 isn't turning into a full-blown shooter, it aims to deliver a more refined first-person shooting experience.
You can see this in action during the approach to the N-Ray Facility, where you can go in guns blazing. Movement has been refined to complement gunplay, allowing for more agile actions like sprint-sliding while aiming down sights. The return of Tactical Time Dilation (TTD) enhances the bullet-time fantasy, making it an effective part of your combat strategy. Additionally, the inclusion of throwables adds another layer to your arsenal, enabling dynamic moves like tossing a grenade, activating TTD, and shooting it midair to cause an explosion among unsuspecting enemies.
While there isn't much to share about the story yet, including the context around the N-Ray Facility quest, we do see how conversations have been tweaked in the sequel. In the gameplay video, you encounter an NPC named Exemplar Foxworth, who has survived a cultist takeover. She's bleeding out, and you can help her based on your Medical stat or respond according to your Guns or Melee stats. This segment also introduces a new companion, Aza, a former cultist who joins you to help rectify past actions.
Many of these elements were present in the original Outer Worlds, but where that game laid the groundwork, The Outer Worlds 2 aims to fully realize Obsidian's vision. In addition to early gameplay access, I had the opportunity to discuss the game's new features and the driving vision behind the sequel with the team at Obsidian. They are keen on leveraging the studio's RPG heritage while exploring what a modern first-person RPG can be, often citing Fallout: New Vegas as a key influence. This has certainly raised my expectations for the game.
This is just a glimpse of what's in store for The Outer Worlds 2 and what we'll be covering throughout this month's IGN First. I'll be delving into character builds, the new flaws system, the array of unique weapons, and the expanded scope of the sequel through interviews with key figures like original Fallout developer and creative director Leonard Boyarsky, game director Brandon Adler, and design director Matt Singh. Stay tuned to IGN all April long for more exciting updates!
