The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds is a sci-fi action-RPG that lets players explore the Halcyon colony, a rich solar system packed with dangerous alien worlds and attempts at human colonization. Set in the distant future, you'll touch down at a variety of cosmic locations, learning the ropes as an interplanetary mercenary.

The game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and plays like a mixture between Fallout 3 and Mass Effect. As a new face in the bustling Halcyon system, your destiny is in your hands. Will you become a cold-blooded killer, a heroic adventurer, or something else entirely? Either way, The Outer Worlds lets you live out those sci-fi fantasies.

Main Game Features:

• Fusion of FPS and RPG genres
• Dozens of locations to explore and quests to complete
• Rich leveling system with lots of player freedom

Story

In The Outer Worlds you play as the Stranger, a customizable character who wakes up after decades of stasis-sleep.

As a passenger aboard the colonization ship called The Hope, the Stranger and the rest of the crew on the ship were mysteriously lost in space during their initial voyage to the Halcyon system. However, the ship is discovered 70 years later by a quirky scientist named Phineas Welles, who awakens the player-character and sets them on their adventure. Initially, players must explore Terra 2, a focal planet in the Halcyon system. However, they quickly earn their own ship and begin compiling a crew for a rescue mission to save the rest of the Hope ship survivors. This lengthy trek requires the Stranger to visit a variety of locations, gathering the tools and support they need.

Gameplay

Like other modern first-person RPGs, The Outer Worlds contains a balance of gunplay combat and narrative intrigue, with players leveling up their character as they progress. There are a number of locations to visit around the Halcyon system, including two major planets as well as several space-stations and asteroids. As you explore these various areas, you'll be tasked with helping out citizens with a huge array of problems. From bickering colonization factions to the mega-corporations that control Halycon, there are tons of characters to meet and problems to solve. You'll work out these problems in a few ways, revolving around your chosen play-style. In The Outer Worlds, you can level up your character as you see fit, investing in skills such as stealth, defense, melee and ranged offense, and more. Some players might choose to solve every issue with their fists and guns, while others might prefer talking their way through problems. As you level up, you'll also be able to unlock various perks that give you extra abilities and bonuses, further solidifying your approach to danger. How you choose to improve your character has a big effect on your strategic options as you explore Halycon, so it's best to pick a familiar path and stick to it.

Conclusion

Overall, The Outer Worlds is a lengthy and interesting sci-fi epic that puts a big emphasis on player-freedom and variety in gameplay. Although guns and weapons play a big part in the core experience, stealthy or charismatic characters can also solve problems with equal efficiency. As you make your way through the game's many quests and sub-plots, you'll team up with loads of characters, make new friends, and participate in some stunning stories.

Pros:

• Impressive storytelling and dialogue
• Lots of different gameplay styles
• Good variety of environments

Cons:

• Gunplay can feel stiff at times
• Some companion characters are mediocre
• A lopsided balance between action and narrative