In a 12 months the place Obsidian launched a pair of RPGs, its finest recreation was an early entry survival romp
Obsidian has been one in every of my go-to RPG studios ever since its first recreation, Knights of the Outdated Republic 2, got here out in 2004. And between 2004 and 2018, it launched 12 video games, eight of which completely belong in each RPG lover’s library. We’re speaking Alpha Protocol, Neverwinter Nights 2, New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity and its sequel, Tyranny, and sure, even South Park: The Stick of Fact.
That is an unimaginable checklist of video games, and whereas a few of them are trying a bit lengthy within the tooth lately, I am unable to convey myself to not suggest each single one in every of them—and that is not simply because PCG information author Josh Wolens would curse me if I badmouthed Alpha Protocol.
The Outer Worlds and its sequel, together with Avowed, have loads of defenders. They reviewed nicely—together with right here—and have their followers. However they’re lacking what made Obsidian’s earlier video games so absurdly compelling: the best-in-class writing, the massive dangers and quests that keep on with me years later.
It seems like its acquisition by Microsoft has taught it to be cautious and boring, similar to its risk-averse proprietor. Nevertheless it’s wild that its greatest swings occurred at a time when it was flying by the seat of its pants, continually being burned by publishers. Now it has the complete help of an astronomically enormous and rich writer, and it is simply been enjoying it protected.
At the least on the subject of RPGs.
Its finest recreation this 12 months is one other protected guess, a trend-chasing survival recreation, one thing I actually could not think about Obsidian doing exterior of Microsoft. However Grounded 2, similar to its 2022 predecessor, is a brilliantly artistic co-op survival romp that I would a lot quite play as a substitute of Obsidian’s fashionable RPGs.
The place Avowed and Outer Worlds presents us with stale settings, Grounded works magic with an earthly world that it is recontextualised. Within the first recreation, a backyard, and now a small neighborhood park. These areas are by some means extra magical than a mysterious fantasy island. A messy picnic desk turns into a gargantuan mountain that should be cautiously scaled; an overturned ice cream cart turns into a frozen hellscape filled with scorpions; just a little decapitated robotic turns into… nicely, a really large decapitated robotic.
Even Grounded 2’s fight is extra enjoyable. Sure, I mentioned what I mentioned. It is much more slight, positive, missing as it’s a massive RPG’s weapon selection and broader vary of mechanics. However density does not equate to enjoyable. The Outer Worlds 2 may, on the floor, have extra interesting homicide instruments, however I am unable to bear in mind a single struggle that I really discovered entertaining.
20 minutes into Grounded 2, I used to be combating for my life inside an ant hill, attempting to flee with an egg that will ultimately develop into my mount. It was darkish and I used to be going through a complete military of critters. I’ll or could not have left my girlfriend to die after we went in numerous instructions. Each struggle was terrifying. However I wasn’t simply combating generic hostile enemies. These are animals with their very own units of behaviours, which will be exploited.
And every journey, large or small, is bolstered by the potential for brand spanking new discoveries. Killing somebody in The Outer Worlds 2 may web you some ammo, or perhaps a brand new weapon when you’re fortunate, however there is a good probability you will get nothing in any respect, apart from a tiny little bit of XP.
Killing one thing in Grounded 2, in the meantime, may provide the capacity to craft a complete new set of armour, a model new weapon, constructing supplies on your fancy home, or one thing much more unique. With each kill, your gear and makeshift base advantages straight. There is a level to all of the demise. It is for science! You are continually build up your toolkit, discovering new objects to analyse and turning all that carnage into constructing tasks.
You may have an actual journey in Grounded 2. An arduous trek all the way in which throughout the map, combating off spiders and ‘roaches and scorpions, culminating in a vertigo-inducing climb up a bin, the place on the prime you may discover some supplies that may successfully offer you magical powers. It feels such as you’re actually delving into the unknown and taking dangers.
Even Grounded 2’s companions are higher. Certain, your pet ant is not precisely chatty, however I would a lot quite have a one-sided dialog with a bug than spend any extra time attending to know my fellow adventurers in one in every of Obsidian’s new RPGs. And so they’re really useful! They are not simply meat shields. My ant can enlist different ants to assist us in our struggle in opposition to nature. It might additionally help me with my constructing tasks, or just function a mount, gallivanting everywhere in the park.
Are you able to journey… erm I’ve simply realised I am unable to bear in mind the title of a single companion from The Outer Worlds 2. Oh! Val! That is an individual. Or perhaps a robotic. OK. Are you able to journey Val? No you can not. Sorry Val, you are not so good as an ant.
Grounded 2 does not really feel like a basic Obsidian recreation. The writing and quest design aren’t the standout options right here. However in contrast to Avowed or The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian has discovered one thing to interchange them with: a setting that feels novel, and a world teeming with difficult adventures the place you are wrestling with a dwelling ecosystem.
Obsidian may not be making my form of RPGs anymore, however at the least it is making my form of survival video games.