Why The Outer Worlds 2 Should Break One Obsidian Tradition

The Outer Worlds is one of the more recent releases in developer Obsidian’s long line of well-received Western RPGs. A studio quite beloved by fans and critics alike, many of its games are held up as model examples of excellently crafted and thoughtfully designed experiences. The 2019 original was seen as something of a return to form after Obsidian produced a handful of similarly acclaimed but somewhat more niche CRPG titles. The Outer Worlds 2 was announced in 2021 to much excitement, and fans have been since awaiting to see where the series would go in the sequel.

As a major component of its framework, The Outer Worlds had its fair share of satire, parodying corporate capitalistic culture and mindsets that extended into a semi-realistic sci-fi future approaching a dystopian breaking point. It was a satisfyingly fun adventure through the distant future filtered through present-day sensibilities. And though TOW offered a lot thematically and in gameplay, it was still missing an angle that many other Obsidian RPGs also don’t typically include. There is often a lack of dedicated romance options and storylines in Obsidian’s games. The Outer Worlds 2, though, has a good opportunity and reason to finally break away from this.

Why The Outer Worlds 2 Should Give Players Robust Romance Options

Obsidian Usually Shies Away From Romance

While portions of Obsidian’s catalog are highly regarded and praised as exemplary, romance quests and options have often been completely absent or merely cursorily included across a broad range of its games. Other adjacent titles, like Mass Effect or Baldur’s Gate 3, allow for a wide range of player choices and an interesting and diverse cast for fans to engage with romance options if they choose. Compared to such titles, it can seem striking that the romance aspect is largely absent from Obsidian’s otherwise meticulously formed characters, settings, and narratives.

In what is arguably Obsidian’s most-liked game, Fallout: New Vegas, there were a number of companions ripe with romantic potential, especially those with darker and tragic pasts, like Arcade Gannon, Cassidy, and Veronica. Having the option for players to be intimate with them should they choose to pursue it, bringing a measure of comfort and hope to their lives, would likely have been a welcome inclusion and layer to what were already engrossing characters.

This may not hugely or negatively impact all fans, but well-realized and likable game companions can increase immersion and investment in the story. This goes doubly so for those who are possible love interests for the player’s character and who might have enjoyed a romance option with their favorites.

The Outer Worlds 2 Could Easily Include Romances

Like New Vegas, some of The Outer Worlds‘ characters and companions felt like they would have made great romantic partners if the ability to woo some of them was a possibility. Well-written and performed, they breathed life into the world while providing a number of mechanically useful bonuses and buffs for a variety of play styles and skill builds. Their side stories added an interesting flavor to their histories and dispositions towards the player and their actions and choices during the plot. Fans could even play matchmaker for plucky engineer Parvati Holcomb, just not for themselves.

If The Outer Worlds 2 brings back a few previous characters as standard companions and/or introduces new ones, this would pave the way for Obsidian to finally open that particular door. If the sequel will perhaps allow players to explore and engage in specifically romantic personal quests with the NPCs and companions they might be most endeared to role-play as partners with, it would be a surprising and nice change of pace from not being a part of Obsidian’s titles for so long. The studio could solidify its status even further by finally including the romantic angles that many of its contemporaries have been offering for years.

The Outer Worlds Spacer’s Choice Edition

The Outer Worlds Spacer’s Choice Edition is a remastered version of the 2019 hit RPG. It features enhanced graphics, performance improvements, additional animations, and high-resolution environments, offering a more polished and immersive gaming experience.

The game includes an increased level cap, allowing for a more diverse character development through the seven branches of the skill tree. The Outer Worlds remains player-centric, with the narrative trajectory hinging on the player’s choices. 

Released

March 7, 2023

How Long To Beat

16 Hours

Metascore

78