The Outer Worlds 2 Enhances RPG Character Customization - IGN First

Having finally seen The Outer Worlds 2 for myself, it's clear that developer Obsidian has prioritized deepening its RPG elements. While the first game offered a more streamlined approach to character development, the sequel encourages players to embrace unique and unorthodox playstyles. The Outer Worlds 2 isn't about complexity for its own sake; rather, it aims to foster creativity and specialization in character builds, prompting players to explore a variety of choices, even the unconventional ones.

“We're looking for ways to incentivize the player to experiment with different builds, either traditional or non-traditional,” design director Matt Singh shared with me, discussing the revamped RPG mechanics. He emphasized the team's focus on creating synergies between Skills, Traits, and Perks to craft engaging and varied builds. This approach was evident in our exclusive 11-minute gameplay showcase, highlighting new elements like gunplay, stealth, gadgets, and dialogue. In this IGN First exclusive coverage of The Outer Worlds 2, we delve into the intricacies of these reworked systems and what players can anticipate.

Rethinking the Skill System

Lead systems designer Kyle Koenig reflected on the first game's tendency for characters to become proficient in everything, diluting the personal experience. To address this in the sequel, Obsidian has shifted from Skill categories to individual Skills with more distinct effects. “We wanted to focus on making each individual level-up and investment really important. There's less confusion on when I should invest in one Skill or the other,” Koenig explained. This change allows players to specialize more effectively, whether focusing on guns and medical devices or other unique combinations.

Singh added that the new system encourages a blend of concepts, integrating various game systems to create a wide range of player profiles. He mentioned how certain Skill investments, like Observation, can reveal hidden elements in the environment, offering alternative paths and enhancing gameplay depth.

The Outer Worlds 2 Character Creation - Screenshots

This approach may seem standard for RPGs, but The Outer Worlds 2 uses its revised Skill system to foster greater diversity in character builds, particularly in conjunction with the revamped Perks system.

The Perks of Getting Experimental

Obsidian's focus on specificity and unique playstyles is evident in the expanded Perks system, which now includes over 90 Perks, each requiring specific Skills to unlock. “As you invest in Skills, it changes how you can invest in Perks and leads you down many different paths,” Koenig explained. He highlighted Perks like Run and Gun, which enhances mobility with certain weapons, and Space Ranger, which boosts dialogue interactions and damage based on Speech stats.

Singh noted that many Perks cater to non-traditional playstyles, such as those that reward players for eliminating NPCs, like Psychopath and Serial Killer, which offer permanent health boosts. “Especially in an Obsidian game where we allow you to kill anybody – the game's going to respond, it's going to roll with it, and you're going to still be able to complete the game,” he said, suggesting these paths could be fun for subsequent playthroughs.

For more traditional builds, Koenig discussed leveraging elemental combat, such as using plasma to burn enemies while healing, or shock damage to control automechs and paralyze foes, or corrosive damage to strip armor and maximize critical hits.

Singh also highlighted the potential for experimental builds that turn detrimental effects into advantages, such as mechanics that reward players for taking damage to enhance other aspects of their character.

The Positive and Negative Traits

Koenig drew parallels between The Outer Worlds and Fallout, noting the original game's Flaws system, which allowed players to accept negative attributes in exchange for extra Perk points. In The Outer Worlds 2, this concept is expanded with a system of Positive and Negative Traits. Players can choose traits like Brilliant for extra Skill points or Brawny for physical impact, but may need to balance these with negatives like Dumb, which limits Skill investment, or Sickly, which reduces health and toxicity tolerance.

The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay - Screenshots

While a deeper exploration of the revamped Flaws will be covered in another article, it's clear that The Outer Worlds 2 introduces more creative and impactful Flaws. These are now tied to specific in-game behaviors and offer both positive and negative effects, adding another layer to the Traits system.

Guiding Players and Ditching Respec

With the increased complexity of The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian has focused on making these systems accessible through in-game explanations and UI enhancements. From character creation, players are guided on the impact of Skills through help text and short gameplay videos. Additionally, players can mark Perks as favorites to plan their progression path, with clear requirements and icons indicating playstyle and Skill associations.

The absence of a respec option post-introductory sequence underscores the importance of player choices. “By removing respec, we really incentivize it to be your experience. It is a part of your experience that no one else had, and I think that's really special about RPGs and something that respec tends to lessen,” Koenig stated. Singh echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that all choices should have meaningful impacts on gameplay, encouraging players to commit to their decisions and explore the resulting gameplay dynamics.