"11 Minutes of The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay Revealed - IGN First"

Welcome to our latest IGN First, where we're dedicating the entire month of April to exclusive coverage of The Outer Worlds 2. This is your first glimpse at real-time gameplay, featuring a quest where you infiltrate the N-Ray Facility. This showcase not only introduces several new features and mechanics but also highlights how the game is reimagining level design. One of the most striking aspects is the game's enhanced depth as an RPG, with developer Obsidian drawing from its rich history and taking inspiration from immersive sims like Deus Ex and Dishonored.

The Outer Worlds 2 builds on the first-person RPG genre with more sophisticated systems than its predecessor. It introduces a true stealth system and enhanced tools to support this playstyle, including effective melee weapons and skills for silent takedowns. A notable feature is the purple-colored health bar above enemy heads, indicating the potential damage from a stealth attack. This helps players decide if a one-hit kill is possible or if engaging the target is even worth it. Moreover, enemies can detect dead bodies and alert others, but players with the right skills can quickly dispose of the evidence by disintegrating bodies on the spot.

The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay - Screenshots

25 Images

As the quest progresses, you acquire the N-Ray Scanner, a device that allows you to see through walls to locate objects, NPCs, and enemies. This tool is essential not only for solving complex environmental puzzles but also for stealth and combat strategies. The N-Ray Facility is home to cloaked enemies who are invisible to the naked eye but can be detected with the scanner. Failing to use this tool diligently can lead to unexpected encounters, showcasing how gadgets introduce new strategic elements to the gameplay.

The game features several interlocking systems that enhance the RPG elements, allowing for diverse character builds. Stealth and immersive sim mechanics are just part of the expanded gameplay. Obsidian has also focused on improving gunplay, taking inspiration from Destiny to ensure satisfying firearm mechanics. While The Outer Worlds 2 isn't transforming into a full-on shooter, the game's approach to firearms feels more refined.

During the N-Ray Facility infiltration, you can opt for a guns-blazing approach. The game's movement mechanics have been adjusted to complement gunplay, allowing for more agile actions such as sprint-sliding while aiming down sights. The return of Tactical Time Dilation (TTD) enhances the bullet-time experience, making it a key component of combat strategy. Additionally, throwables like grenades add another layer to your arsenal, enabling tactics such as tossing a grenade, activating TTD, and shooting it midair to detonate it on enemies.

While details about the story are sparse, and the context of the N-Ray Facility quest remains undisclosed, the gameplay video reveals tweaks to the conversation system. For instance, an interaction with an NPC named Exemplar Foxworth, who has survived a cultist takeover, allows you to aid her based on your Medical stat or respond according to your Guns or Melee stats. This segment also introduces a new companion, Aza, a former cultist with a frantic demeanor, joining your cause to rectify their past actions.

Although many elements from the original Outer Worlds are present, The Outer Worlds 2 aims to fully realize the vision that was laid out in the first game. My early look at the game, coupled with discussions with Obsidian, shed light on its new features and the driving vision behind the sequel. The game embraces Obsidian's RPG roots, drawing parallels with Fallout, particularly Fallout: New Vegas, which the developers frequently cited as a touchstone during development.

This is just a glimpse of what's in store for The Outer Worlds 2, and what we'll be exploring throughout this month's IGN First. I'll be delving into character builds, the new flaws system, the array of unique weapons, and the expansive scope of this sequel through interviews with key figures like original Fallout developer and creative director Leonard Boyarsky, game director Brandon Adler, and design director Matt Singh. Stay tuned to IGN all April long for more in-depth coverage!