October 2019
The Outer Worlds
I really like The Outer Worlds and what it’s doing. It’s an Obsidian game so that’s already a plus, with their careful attention to crafting interesting stories, worlds, and characters on a limited budget. The Outer Wilds is semi-open world and because of this feels easier to approach as a player. Each major location is separated by a central hub (your space ship) and you travel to each, completing various main and side missions. The game is also on the shorter side for an RPG of this style, clocking in around 20-25 hours. Not bad! I don’t always have time for 50+ hour epics and while I appreciate them, there’s something refreshing about experiencing a well-told story in a condensed time frame. TOW isn’t a graphical stunner, but I love what’s here with bright colors amidst detail-filled environments. The voice acting and script is great, and the story is compelling to see through. Mostly though, I love the cast of characters. Obsidian created a group of friends and foes that are diverse, interesting, and likable. You come to care about them throughout the game, and each time you’re presented a decision you really think about how it might impact them. I can’t wait to see what Obsidian does next, with both Avowed and TOW2!
There’s a fair few incredible games this month. The Return of the Obra Dinn and Children of Morta are two of my favorites, but we also saw Worse Than Death, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Layer, Trine 4, Grid, Indivisible, Frostpunk, Baldur’s Gate 1+2 Enhanced Edition, Planescape Torment + Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition, Stela, PvZ: Battle for Neighborville, Eastshade, Lonely Mountain Downhill, Cat Quest II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Close to the Sun, Afterparty, Xenocrisis, and Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD.