Outer Worlds 2 writes an enormous cheque it will soon have to cash: It's not just New Vegas-inspired, it's Deus Ex-flavoured too

A large face on a view screen — (Image credit: Obsidian Entertainment)

My opinion on The Outer Worlds 1 is that, you know, it was pretty much fine. It was a perfectly serviceable RPG and it was even pretty funny in spots. But it was sunk by the fact it came from Obsidian, which made some of the best RPGs of all time, and didn't necessarily have much to say with its hyper-corporate setting at a time when everyone was catching some very strong feelings about capitalism.

But I certainly didn't hate it and I like Obsidian a great deal, so I'm very open to (and hopeful for) the possibility that The Outer Worlds 2 will hit where the first game missed. Still, its creative director is certainly out there writing some very big cheques for the game. In a chat with GamesRadar, Brandon Adler not only namechecked Fallout: New Vegas as "a big inspiration for us," he also called out the Eidos Montreal Deus Ex games as an influence.

A person in sci-fi armor and a mask smiling — (Image credit: Obsidian Entertainment)

But with Outer Worlds registering at a solid 'fine' in the annals of videogame history, it's also a statement that has me sucking air through my teeth, like I'm watching someone limber up to leap the Grand Canyon who'd previously struggled at Bossaball.

I hope Obsidian pulls it off. In fairness, I had a jolly time with Avowed and the whole world seems very into that whole Grounded thing. The studio is on a bit of a hot streak at the minute. Maybe it'll really succeed at summoning all the ghosts of imsim past to make The Outer Worlds 2 truly special. Maybe.

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One of Josh's first memories is of playing Quake 2 on the family computer when he was much too young to be doing that, and he's been irreparably game-brained ever since. His writing has been featured in Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times. He'll play pretty much anything, and has written far too much on everything from visual novels to Assassin's Creed. His most profound loves are for CRPGs, immersive sims, and any game whose ambition outstrips its budget. He thinks you're all far too mean about Deus Ex: Invisible War.

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