Welcome to our latest IGN First, where we're dedicating April to exclusive coverage of *The Outer Worlds 2*. This is your very first look at real-time gameplay, showcasing a thrilling quest that involves infiltrating the N-Ray Facility. This demonstration not only highlights several new features and mechanics but also showcases how the game is rethinking level design. One of the most striking aspects is the game's enhanced depth as an RPG, with developer Obsidian drawing inspiration from its rich history and even from immersive sims like *Deus Ex* and *Dishonored*.
*The Outer Worlds 2* introduces more sophisticated systems than its predecessor, such as a true stealth system and enhanced tools to make stealth gameplay viable. This includes effective melee weapons and skills for silent takedowns. For instance, you'll notice a purple-colored readout on the health bar above enemy heads, indicating the potential damage of a stealth attack. This feature allows you to assess whether a one-hit kill is possible or if attacking is worth the risk. Additionally, enemies can detect dead bodies and alert others, but with the right skills, you can disintegrate bodies to cover your tracks.
The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay - Screenshots
25 Images
Later in the quest, you acquire the N-Ray Scanner, which enables you to see certain objects, NPCs, and enemies through walls. This tool is essential for solving complex environmental puzzles and is a game-changer for stealth and combat strategies. Enemies in the N-Ray Facility can cloak themselves, becoming invisible to the naked eye but detectable with the N-Ray Scanner. Failing to use this device diligently can lead to surprise attacks, illustrating how new gadgets add exciting layers to gameplay.
The game features several interlocking systems that influence your playstyle, deeply integrating RPG elements into character builds. Stealth and immersive sim elements are not the only areas of expansion; Obsidian has also focused on improving gunplay, drawing inspiration from *Destiny* for a more satisfying shooting experience. While *The Outer Worlds 2* isn't turning into a full-blown shooter, its gunplay now feels more in line with what you'd expect from a modern first-person game with firearms.
This is evident when approaching the N-Ray Facility with guns blazing. Movement mechanics have been refined to complement the gunplay, allowing for more agile actions like sprint-sliding while aiming down sights. The return of Tactical Time Dilation (TTD) enhances the bullet-time experience, making it a powerful part of combat. The addition of throwables, such as grenades, adds another tactical layer, enabling you to perform impressive maneuvers like tossing a grenade, activating TTD, and shooting it midair to create devastating explosions.
Although details about the story and the context of the N-Ray Facility quest are scarce, we do see improvements in conversational mechanics. In the gameplay video, you encounter Exemplar Foxworth, who has survived a cultist takeover. Depending on your Medical, Guns, or Melee stats, you can choose to help her or respond differently. The introduction of a new companion, Aza, a former cultist with a frantic demeanor, adds depth to the narrative as she joins your quest to rectify past mistakes.
While many elements from the original *Outer Worlds* are present, *The Outer Worlds 2* aims to fully realize the vision that was laid out in the first game. Through early previews and discussions with Obsidian, it's clear that the game is leveraging the studio's RPG heritage while exploring what a modern first-person RPG can offer, drawing parallels to *Fallout* and specifically *Fallout: New Vegas*. This connection raises my expectations significantly.
This is just a glimpse of what's to come in *The Outer Worlds 2* and what we'll be covering throughout this month's IGN First. Stay tuned for in-depth breakdowns of character builds, the new flaws system, the array of unique weapons, and insights into the game's expanded scope through interviews with key figures like original *Fallout* developer and creative director Leonard Boyarsky, game director Brandon Adler, and design director Matt Singh. Keep visiting IGN throughout April for more exciting updates!
