The Outer Worlds - Review @ 3CR

3CR checked out The Outer Worlds:

Review: Outer Worlds is a Competent Bethesda-like RPG

I love the Fallout series, but I don’t love all of the decisions Bethesda has been making in regards to the Fallout series lately. There’s the controversy about Fallout 76, and before that, the much maligned Fallout 4. But I have a secret confession: I liked Fallout 4 and even enjoyed many hours of gameplay past what was required for my review for Fallout 76. I could play those games, despite their flaws, and enjoy the world that they occupy. Not just for the lore, and worldbuilding–but for the expansive openness of it, and the ability to go anywhere and see anything. That’s why, when I found out Pillars of Eternity, and more notably Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian was working on a new IP that would be sort of  like a spiritual successor to Fallout, I was super excited–and early reviews did nothing but accelerate my hype train.

I love the Fallout series, but I don’t love all of the decisions Bethesda has been making in regards to the Fallout series lately. There’s the controversy about Fallout 76, and before that, the much maligned Fallout 4. But I have a secret confession: I liked Fallout 4 and even enjoyed many hours of gameplay past what was required for my review for Fallout 76. I could play those games, despite their flaws, and enjoy the world that they occupy. Not just for the lore, and worldbuilding–but for the expansive openness of it, and the ability to go anywhere and see anything. That’s why, when I found out Pillars of Eternity, and more notably Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian was working on a new IP that would be sort of  like a spiritual successor to Fallout, I was super excited–and early reviews did nothing but accelerate my hype train.

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Would my opinion of Outer Worlds change if I wasn’t so immersed in the Fallout universe? I’m not sure, obviously. But I feel like most of what I enjoyed from Outer Worlds was because of Fallout, not despite it. Obsidian has done a great job creating a new IP, and making a decently fun role-playing game in it, but I can’t help but feel like it’s missing something overall. And I’m definitely missing the sense of wonder and exploration the truly open world gave me.

Score: 3/4