I came late to the Fallout series. I tried the first two when they released, but never gave them more than a couple hours to get immersed. I played the third a bit more, but a friend 'borrowed' my copy and I didn't see it for two years. By that time, I had moved on. The fourth, however, became an instant obsession for me. I enjoyed everything from the character creation down to the combat and story. Even building a base became enjoyable, and I felt a part of the game universe in a way not many titles can achieve. I played the expansion packs, but it didn't take long for me to move on. I still, howver, miss that game. It had an environmental feel that stayed with me even after I played it. I remember its portrayal of post-apacolyptic Boston as if I actually visited.

No doubt, I was excited when The Outer Worlds was announced. This amplified when I saw Obsidian attached to it. They created some great games over their time, and they have a habit of latching on to a series (Fallout, KotOR, NWN, etc) so I thought they could certainly make a spritial sequel to Fallout 4. Though their pedigree leans toward New Vegas, I had my hopes up after the dismal Fallout 76, which, like the Rocky series, proves 4 sequels is too much. I wanted to dive in. Then, I got distracted and forgot the game was even coming out. What a surprise when I went to Gamestop and they alerted me I had a game on pre-order. It was The Outer Worlds. Awesome.

Right from the beginning, you do get that Fallout feeling. Many say this is more New Vegas and I see that, but I think the graphics with the bright colors point more toward Fallout 4. Either one makes for a good comparison, so I am sure there are few complaints in this regard. Character creation is detailed but not nearly as immersive as Fallout 4. Still, for this genre, Obsidian did a fine job and gets you started quickly while feeling like you have some customization options.

Plot/Characters
This is where the game shines. The NPCs and group members have a lot of depth and this comes out slowly, as it would in real life. I felt one with the people of the game, and as I traversed the universe, I saw relationships between character traits and the environments from where they came. This is a great element of RPGs and The Outer Worlds delivers. Without giving away plot, I'll just say that the people who join your party contribute in several ways. This smacks a bit of Mass Effect and a little of Planescape:Torment in that you talk to your characters to reveal their personality. Doing so offers a rich backdrop to a complex game. Your partners will tell you how they feel about your decisions, and how you act shapes the world's response to you. It's engaging and enjoyable.

Gameplay
This is where the game takes a bit to get moving. Part of this has to do with the plot and what you have to do to start out, the other is the wide variety of weapons matched with a somewhat lack of ammunition. In a word, the game is a bit hard at first, and the navigation is a tiny bit wonky. This can cause a bit of confusion in the early going, which might prevent some players from getting immersed. My advice is to stay with it for a bit, maybe watch a quick tutorial, and then get back into the action. You won't be disappointed.

Combat is dynamic with several different elements. You can choose to fight more of a scientific battle like Bioshock or make this more of a run and gun affair. I would not suggest the latter too often, as I previously mentioned the scarcity of ammo in the beginning. Still, both paths are enjoyable, and the interaction with partners makes this a strategic affiar most fans of the genre will recognize and enjoy. Twitchy triggers can cause big problems, so I suggest if your looking for a shooter, this may not be for you.

Graphics, Sound, Etc
The graphics make the game, period. The screenshots I've provided here give a mere glimpse at how the game looks. Crank it up to 4K on an Xbox One X and you are really in for a treat. This is the sort of game that justifies the purcahse of a mid-cycle console upgrade and 4K TV. It still looks great in 1080P (and even 720p) but dialing the graphics up certainly has its rewards. I've long criticized this generation's graphics, as the intial transition from the last did not impress. This game, coming so late in the life cycle, shows what these new consoles can do. I found the game playable and enjoyable on a base Xbox One, and it even looked great streaming to my PC.

The ambient sounds here are fantastic. The music as well. This is why we play games, to get immersed, and the sounds bring us there. Character voices are excellent and sync fairly well with their mouth movements. I found this better here than in Fallen Order. I don't mean to knock that game (it's great) but instead just want to offer a contemporary comparison. Played through a stereo or good headphones, the game comes alive through its sound and that's really what this element of a game is supposed to do.

Streaming Note

I suggest a little caution when streaming. First, you need a good connection for The Outer Worlds to look and play right. A Hard-wired console is recommended. Also, streaming to the phone works well, but sometimes things get a bit too small. This game benefits from a big screen, especially during exploration.

Summing It Up
Crawl out through the fallout once again. That's what this feels like. But, don't get me wrong. The game stands on it's own. It just feels good to play a game so similar to one I loved. Some might not get that connection, and I think that's the goal. Make a Fallout-esque game without remaking Fallout. I get it. It works. Enjoy!