I It was a thrilling November for the Diamond family. All My favorite sequel has finally launched! The original Outer Worlds mesmerized us with its Art Nouveau hues, engaged us with clever dialogue, and drew us into a classic puzzle-solving adventure in a world of “dwarves versus malevolent corporate overlords,” which remains my top choice since Deus Ex. While the combat wasn’t groundbreaking, that hardly mattered. It was evident that a passionate team had carefully crafted this narrative, and we all became enchanted by it.
When I say “all of us,” I refer to myself and my three kids. My wife skipped out on playing The Outer Worlds because Crash Bandicoot didn’t feature in it. But the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed it, and the kids found it especially amusing that after struggling for half a day, I fled from the final boss fight and declared, “I did it.” Pretty much summed up the gaming achievements of a father with other responsibilities.
My son completed Outer Worlds 2 first. “What did you think?” I inquired.
“You’re going to hate it,” he responded.
What? How dare he assume he knows my gaming likes! If it weren’t for me, these kids wouldn’t even be into gaming. It’s bad enough they crush me in Mario Kart. Now they might take away my potential fun. I’ve decided to prove him wrong and give The Outer Worlds 2 a shot.
Reader: I didn’t enjoy it.
Much of the dialogue is filled with complaints about bosses… The Outer Worlds 2. Photo courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment
The combat is impressive, the character skill trees shine, and the speed and fluidity (on Xbox Series) are commendable.
However, the initial hour was packed with dull factional politics that make The Phantom Menace’s opening crawl seem engaging. Most characters lament their employers and personal mistakes. Everything feels broken; people suffer, are in dire straits, and medical resources are scarce. It’s practically 2025 but set in space, and the clunky, tedious dialogue reads like a LinkedIn comment.
“I was right, wasn’t I?” my son asked triumphantly as I conceded defeat after 20 hours on the third planet I explored.
“How do you know?” I challenged.
“Since playing FIFA online, I’ve never heard so much swearing during a game.”
“How did they miss the mark, son?” I probed.
“There’s no real passion or depth. They narrated the story over the phone.”
Thus began a meaningful discussion about role-playing games. We debated what succeeds and what falls flat, and what differentiates the engaging from the tedious. We concurred that a compelling RPG hinges on the storyteller’s commitment. This genre draws on the essence of Dungeons & Dragons, where imagination fuels incredible tales. For players, it can become mere number-crunching, but for storytellers, it’s pure artistry. World-building is equally vital, as seen in the sweeping vistas of Skyrim, the shadowy streets of Deus Ex, and the technomagical dystopia of Gaia in Final Fantasy VII.
Just like in tabletop D&D, graphics aren’t paramount. Years ago, I relished a month in a chaotic post-apocalyptic saga called Shin Megami Tensei, immersed in an entire world brought to life by tiny pixels on a Game Boy Advance screen.
My weak bladder and need for sleep were the only things separating me from the inhabitants of The Witcher 3. Photo: CD Projekt RED
There are bound to be characters within that world who pique your interest. My weak bladder and unfortunate need for sleep were the only barriers between me and the characters of The Witcher 3. Yet, they all felt eerily familiar. The unnecessarily dense and dreary dialogue distracted me from engaging with the game for more than five minutes outside of combat.
In today’s chaotic world, where “truth” is dictated by the wealthiest deceivers, and fairness is increasingly elusive, striving for success feels daunting. That’s why the true meritocracy present in RPGs appeals to me. In all video games, progress can depend on skill, but RPGs allow even those lacking natural talent to level up and earn achievements through hard work. In contrast with a harsh reality, where millions lag behind while a few thrive, RPGs present a vision of what a fairer world could look like, complete with shields, armor, and ideally, fast-travel points.
The Outer Worlds 2 was a letdown for me, but instead of escaping into the enthralling RPG I had hoped for, I found solace in an enriching exchange with my son about the game. I was reminded of the profound impact games have on our lives and how they strengthen our connections. Sometimes, even lackluster dialogue in games can inspire captivating conversations in the real world.
Source: www.theguardian.com
