While not a full-on RPG simulation, its design echoes Warren Spector's "One City Block" idea to a great degree: rather than exploration fixating on a wide, waist-deep pool, it's treated more like a deep subterranean tunnel. ![]() You'll quickly evolve into this peripatetic solar sailor, hopping and bopping between wonderfully-unique worlds for a jettisoned escape pod, crucial information about reaching a new area, or just saying hello to one of your fellow astronauts also camping under the stars. Where to go next is solely at your discretion and what background details you unearth typically lure you to another place. With a ticking clock in the background and the fetters of a 'final' death now gone, your intrinsic curiosity about these planets, their clockwork routines, their unique hazards, and so on, fuels you to uncover their secrets and subsequently that of a long-past alien civilization (The Nomai). The simplistic genius of Mobius’ design is that constant: the only progression is acquired knowledge, not character stats nor upgraded baubles. The only things left intact after every loop are your accumulated memories and your updated ship log. You've found yourself caught in a time loop. Instead of being permanently vaporized in a vicious heat death, you'll open your eyes again at the same campfire and redwood trees. Its sun is destined to go supernova after 22 in-game minutes. Once acquired, this unique galaxy is your oyster. Only the necessary launch codes are keeping you within this quaint village. Today's a big day: you're officially an astronaut. Another four-eyed, blue-skinned alien (called a "Hearthian") is chilling next to you roasting marshmallows. Your unnamed protagonist awakens near a campfire looking up at the stars. That’s at the beating heart of why Mobius Digital’s first effort is a landmark title. It compels discussions about storytelling and design philosophy, but won't court the same fervor or enthusiasm without your agency behind it. Churning out vague praises like "excellent design" will leave any reader unmoved, while specific descriptions could wind up counting as SPOILERS – even if that's not my intention. ![]() It's tough to evaluate a game like Outer Wilds when so much of its inherent value comes from the player's heuristic discoveries. By Lee Mehr, posted on 04 November 2022 / 4,320 Views
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