Summary
The introduction ofThe Outer Worldsbrought forth a fantastic sci-fi RPG from developer Obsidian, managing to set itself apart from the likes of other games in the genre. One of the main features that helpedThe Outer Worldsstand on its own was the incredible sense of humor that permeated the game’s world. From the opening moments, the game sets the tone pretty clearly, and it’s one of the most entertaining parts of playing the RPG.
However,the upcoming sequel toThe Outer Worldswill need to tread carefully when it comes to the game’s humor. A strong comedic backbone may keep the game’s world afloat, but it can be easy to get lost in the goofiness of such heavy-handed jokes, potentially distracting the sequel from becoming just as good as the first.
The Outer Worlds 2’s Humor Needs to Stay Balanced
The humor ofThe Outer Worldsis hilarious, but it’s not exactly subtle. The in-your-face approach to comedy helped the first game feel unique, but going too hard on this comedic approach could bog the sequel down in a heavy layer of silliness. The sequel shouldn’t put its humor to the wayside, but it also shouldn’t let jokes get in the way of evolving the franchise.
The Outer Worlds Has More to Offer Than Jokes
The world ofThe Outer Worldsis truly fascinating, and it deserves to be approached as a serious addition to the sci-fi RPG genre. It doesn’t have to be as grave and dark asthe likes ofCyberpunk 2077, but it needs to approach the mechanics and story in a way that demonstrates how the series is an important satire and not just silly.
AlthoughThe Outer Worldsis surrounded by an aura of humor, the game also tackles some serious themes.The Outer Worldstakes place in a version of the future that imagines what could happen if corporations were given full reign without any consequences. For example, there’s an entire townlocated on Terra-2called Edgewater that is basically just a community for Saltuna factory workers. This satirical take on towns centered around one specific way to make a living isn’t far from reality, and it’s important that the game’s humor doesn’t accidentally mask these important details.
Yes, the jokes put a spotlight on these situations, but they need to serve as highlighters and not as the star focus.The political satire ofThe Outer Worldsnot only holds a mirror to society, it also makes the world feel richer and lived-in. However, if the humor turns from on-the-nose satire into straight-up slapstick, this could create a huge distraction from the game’s deeper message.
A Sequel With High Expectations
After Obsidian proved that the studio could make a great sci-fi RPG withFallout: New Vegas, the developer’s own creation ofThe Outer Worldswas a further example of what the company is capable of. There are somebig expectations forThe Outer Worlds, and a strong focus on humor is to be expected, but Obsidian needs to demonstrate its confidence in the world as a whole and not just cheekiness. It may be a long time untilThe Outer Worldsbecomes a reality, but the game should be pushing the boundaries with all of its features and not just the laughs.
