[Note: All footage is from a work-in-progress alpha build.]
Having finally seen The Outer Worlds 2 for myself, it's clear that developer Obsidian has prioritized enhancing the game's RPG elements. While the first game offered a more streamlined approach to character development, the sequel encourages players to embrace diversity and experiment with unconventional playstyles. The Outer Worlds 2 isn't just about complexity for its own sake; it's about fostering creativity and allowing players to specialize in unique ways, even if it means making some quirky choices.
"We're looking for ways to incentivize the player to experiment with different builds, either traditional or non-traditional," design director Matt Singh shared during a discussion on the revamped RPG mechanics. He emphasized the team's focus on creating synergies between player Skills, Traits, and Perks to craft engaging builds that interact with other systems. This was evident in our exclusive 11-minute gameplay footage, which highlighted new gunplay, stealth mechanics, gadgets, and dialogue. For this segment of our IGN First exclusive coverage on The Outer Worlds 2, we delve into the intricacies of these revamped systems and what players can expect.
Rethinking the Skill System ---------------------------"We often saw characters becoming proficient in everything, which diluted the personal experience with your character by the game's end," lead systems designer Kyle Koenig reflected on the first game. For the sequel, Obsidian is shifting away from the grouped Skill categories to individual Skills with more distinct differences. "We wanted to ensure each level-up and investment felt significant. By separating Skills and not grouping them, it allows for more specialized character builds," Koenig explained. This approach helps players focus on specific Skills that align with their desired playstyle, whether it's excelling in gunplay and medical devices or another combination.
Singh added, "There's more than just traditional builds like stealth, combat, or speech. There's a lot of blending of concepts, playing with other systems to create a broad, yet unique, range of player profiles." He highlighted how certain Skill investments, such as Observation, can reveal hidden elements in the environment, like secret doors or interactive objects, leading to alternative paths.
The Outer Worlds 2 Character Creation - Screenshots
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This shift might seem standard for an RPG, but The Outer Worlds 2 uses the revised Skill system to enhance character build diversity and open up new possibilities, particularly in conjunction with the revamped Perks system.
The Perks of Getting Experimental
Obsidian aims for specificity and unique gameplay avenues through the Perks system. "We've significantly increased the number of Perks to over 90, each requiring various Skills to unlock. As you invest in Skills, it influences your Perk choices, leading to diverse paths," Koenig explained. He cited the Run and Gun Perk, ideal for those using shotguns, SMGs, and rifles, allowing firing while sprinting or sliding, and synergizing with Tactical Time Dilation (TTD) for bullet-time action. Another intriguing Perk, Space Ranger, offers dialogue interactions and damage boosts based on your Speech stat. "We designed Perks to modify different gameplay modes and actions," Koenig stated.
The Outer Worlds 2 encourages creativity and specialization, inviting players to embrace unconventional choices. "We have many Perks tailored for non-traditional playstyles," Singh noted, mentioning a build for players who eliminate every NPC, supported by Perks like Psychopath and Serial Killer, which provide permanent health boosts. "Especially in an Obsidian game where you can kill anyone, the game adapts, and you can still complete it. It's a fun way to play in subsequent playthroughs to explore its limits," he added.
For more conventional playstyles, Koenig described builds leveraging elemental combat, such as using plasma for burning and healing, shock damage to control automechs and enemies, or corrosive damage to strip armor and ensure critical hits.
Singh highlighted other experimental avenues, including opting into detrimental effects to enhance other aspects of your character. "How do I create a build where taking damage benefits me, allowing me to do other things effectively? I love those creative builds that convert negatives into positives," he said. This design philosophy, present in the original, is now a core driver for The Outer Worlds 2, especially concerning Traits and Flaws.The Positive and Negative Traits
"One of the things from The Outer Worlds, inspired by Fallout, was the ability to have negative attributes in exchange for extra points," Koenig mentioned. In the original, this was implemented through the Flaws system, where players could accept permanent effects based on their in-game behavior for an extra Perk point. In The Outer Worlds 2, this concept is expanded with a system of Positive and Negative Traits, where choosing a negative trait allows you to select an additional positive one. Examples include Brilliant, granting extra Skill points during character creation, or Brawny, enabling you to knock down targets by sprinting into them. To gain more positive traits, you might choose negatives like Dumb, locking you out of five Skills, or Sickly, reducing your base health and toxicity tolerance.
The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay - Screenshots
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While I'll cover the revamped Flaws system in more detail later, it's clear that The Outer Worlds 2 is getting more creative and clever with Flaws. In the original, I often rejected Flaws as the trade-off for extra Perk points wasn't compelling. Now, the game monitors your behavior and habits, offering Flaws with both positive and negative conditions based on your playstyle. These are optional but become permanent once accepted, adding another layer to the Traits system.
Guiding Players and Ditching Respec
With many new elements in The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian has focused on making these features accessible and clear through in-game explanations and UI elements. "From character creation, we wanted to highlight the differences and effects of Skills," Koenig said. This includes not just help text but also short videos demonstrating gameplay impacts. A notable feature is the ability to mark Perks as favorites before unlocking them, aiding in planning your progression path or build. The requirements and icons in the menu clearly indicate a Perk's playstyle and related Skill.
"We're looking for ways to incentivize the player to experiment with different builds, either traditional or non-traditional,"Obsidian wants players to think carefully about their choices, especially since there's no respec option after the introductory sequence. Once you invest in a Skill, Perk, or Trait, your character is committed to that choice throughout your playthrough. "By removing respec, we really encourage it to be your unique experience," Koenig stated. Singh added, "Philosophically, we believe all choices should have meaningful impacts on gameplay. This is one way we're asking you to make a choice, stick to it, and see how it unfolds in fun and interesting ways."
