Obsidian is one of the most prolific and respected game studios to date, releasing some of the best modern roleplaying games, and boasting a legacy that showcases a long line ofcompelling titles. Whether they’re revitalizing the CRPG genre withPillars of Eternityor harkening back to classicFalloutgames with their monolithicNew Vegastitle, there is a lot to love about this developer.
Among the pantheon of popular Obsidian titles,Outer Worldsstands out as a particularly engrossing and engaging sci-fi title, a first-person RPG that had lots of room for character growth and creation. With another first-person RPG,Avowed, set to hit the shelves early next year, here are a few things Obsidian should carry over from their space-faring marvel.
5The Companion Style
The Outer Worldshas some stellar companions, with the lovable Felix or the protect-her-at-all-costs Parvati numbering among many compelling, well-written characters the protagonist can take with them on their journey throughout the Halcyon Colony. The companions inThe Outer Worldsall feel like real, fleshed-out people with their own ambitions, goals, and lives outside of simply traveling along with the protagonist.
Avowedcould stand to take this same stance by making companions that feel like well-rounded characters and have their own agendas. Obsidian also shouldn’t be scared to double down on the lack of romance options inAvowed,asMetaphor: ReFantazioshows fans are willing to immerse themselves in high fantasy settings without this as an option.
4The Leveling System
Classless Skills And Perks Work Best
The Outer Worldshas avariety of perksthat range from helpful buffs to game-changing boosts that are useful in a broad range of builds. On top of this are the skills players can invest in on every level up, with specific skills being used in everything from combat to dialogue to crafting. In RPGs that have followed the same philosophyAvowedseems to be aiming for, classless gameplay (or free-form classes like in earlier TES titles) almost always trumps preset disciplines that frame the character’s experience in a rigid way.
Avowedcould stand to intensify this, offering more perks and even more skills for the player to experiment with. Playing as a shotgun-touting compulsive liar or armor clad juggernaut inThe Outer Worldswas amazing, but throwing magic into the mix givesAvowedan entirely new field of gameplay to explore.
3The Flaws System
Flaws Add Mechanical And Narrative Character
The flaws system is a sort of inversion of the perks system that characterizes the protagonist inThe Outer Worlds. Negligible debuffs orextreme detriments to gameplayare up for grabs for players who behave in a certain way throughout the game - with the benefit being that they get to select another perk to compensate. Use too many drugs? Gain the drug addiction flaw! Jump down too many platforms because the ladders are too slow? Broken legs!
Avowedcould not only adopt this system but broaden it considerably. It’s a great way to add some personality inThe Outer Worlds, but most of the flaws are just phobias of specific enemies. Flaws that more accurately reflect defects accrued over an adventuring career could be a great move for this upcoming RPG.
2The Sense Of Humor
Obsidian’s Biting Wit Has A Place In Avowed
Game Rant’s hands-on previewofAvowedshowed that, among other things, Obsidian was ensuring they returned to form with a signature sense of humor flavoring the dialogue of both companions and NPCs. This has given many fans high hopes that, once the game releases, it will be clear thatAvowedhas taken onThe Outer Worlds' same kind of charm and humorous style, albeit in a way that suits the setting a bit more, as thePillars of Eternitygames have always been a bit more serious in tone.
If any development team has the chops to make their more comedic sensibilities from a game likeThe Outer Worldstranslate over to a grittier fantasy setting like the one seen inAvowed, it’s Obsidian.
1The Reputation System
An Elegant Way Of Showing Conflicting Opinions
Showcasing in bothFallout: New VegasandThe Outer Worlds, Obsidian’s reputation system is an interesting twist on a binary good/bad system, seen in other titles like BioWare’s Renegade/Paragon paradigm in laterMass Effecttitles. Rather than simply having one scale that measures if a faction likes you or not,The Outer Worldhad two separate scales, one measuring how much of a good reputation the player had, and one measuring how much of a bad reputation they had.
This interesting twist on the formula changedhow players approach factions, and in an expansive setting like the one showcased inAvowed, it could be an excellent opportunity to give everything from minor villages to major kingdoms a reputation the player has to maintain or tarnish.
