Board 8 > Go buy Outer Wilds

(+) Yeah! (+)

I got it on sale during the Epic Games sale last holiday and just sat on it until this past Tuesday. For the next two and a half days, I spent the majority of my time playing it to the end. On Friday, my 20 year old niece came over to stay the night and hang out, as she typically does, and I played it again from start to finish the past two days to show everything off, letting her input on where to go and what to do. She was enamored basically the entire time.

And so was I. Still. I spent my time lying in bed last night thinking about it more. Then I woke up this morning and finished watching a documentary online about its development. Did you know the inspiration behind this game came about because the creator was a huge Zelda fan, but hated what they did with Skyward Sword? It's true!

But that's beside the point. I don't think a game has ever quite resonated with me quite like this game did. Every once in a while, there is a game comes along that I beat and have to tell everyone about, because it hit every right note with me. Undertale and Return of the Obra Dinn come to mind as examples. But I don't think there's much to talk about with Outer Wilds. It's simply something you have to play yourself, because hearing about it or watching it just isn't the same.

This game is a fucking gem. It's such a unique experience; one that will just make you happy that you enjoy video games.

---

About a month ago I made a choice between this or Outer Worlds, and I chose the latter. Only played it for a few minutes and have yet to go back.

MrSmartGuy posted...

the creator was a huge Zelda fan, but hated what they did with Skyward Sword? It's true!

This def hooks me though

---

already got the platinum back in December

it was fine

---

Outer Worlds is also very good! I enjoyed that immensely as well, a solid 9/10 game. But Outer Wilds is definitely a 10 in my book.

And yes, the creator said his favorite aspect of Zelda games were its exploration, and in Skyward Sword, they made everything clunky and held your hand to lead you where it wanted to go. He specifically made Outer Wilds to be the anti-Skyward Sword; a game where the only benefit to exploring is learning more about the world and using that to explore even more.

---

The best hook is that it is a new Majora's Mask. There's more to it than that but it's the only game that, and it totally nailed every aspect. There are 0 boring minutes in the game. It's just an absurd achievement in game design. Definitely a top 3 GOTD, maybe even #1.

Only problem is that when it's over, there's nothing more. It took 5+ years to make (understandably) so there probably won't be any more, let alone an entire sequel. But I would love to have a yearly dose of it.

---

I didn't realize until I watched the documentary how many fundamental rules of game-making the game breaks. The development team just kinda made up all their own rules as they went along. Here's a link to the video I watched, btw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbY0mBXKKT0

The Skyward Sword segment is about 2 minutes in. They don't talk about anything spoilery until about 10 minutes in, and they give you a massive buffer to leave the video before they do.

---

My 2019 GOTY. And it's free on Xbox Gamepass!

---

I played it because of Giant Bomb.

It was very neat, but also massively overrated.

The Anglerfish almost ruined the entire game.

---

Response to Tony: Of all the lifeforms that will perish in the inevitable death of the universe, we will miss the anglerfish the least.

---

I loved those because it was an ultimate test of mechanical skill in the game. The core of the game is the lore but also equally important is the spaceship and movement. Both of those make up the exploration and there are puzzles involving each. It was a bit janky but it made the game feel way more complete and real and multidimensional. Otherwise what's the point of all the complex 3D movement? It could've just been a point and click game.

---

I will, but it doesn't release until June.

---

this game was just wonderful. it was full of wonders.

---

I played a very large chunk and was enjoying it, but fell off when I kept dying while trying to discover more big pieces of the puzzle and had to repeatedly restart, especially for things that took a bit of game time in the loop to reveal themselves. It got tedious and frustrating.

I still would like to see the ending myself which is why I haven't sought it out yet, but having to jump back in and reacclimate myself with everything is daunting.

---

I actually learned during my second playthrough that you can sit at any campfire and "Doze Off", and it speeds time along significantly. It gives you a timer, so if you know you're waiting for something that happens 15 minutes into the loop, you can wake up, take two steps to the campfire you're at, and doze back off for 13 minutes, then hop in your ship, and head over there in the next 2 minutes.

---

didnt really like it

---

this and obra jinn are two games i'll 100% play eventually, but i'm being a patient gamer

---

MrSmartGuy posted...

I actually learned during my second playthrough that you can sit at any campfire and "Doze Off", and it speeds time along significantly.

This would have been good to know, especially near the end. Those damn Ash Twins...

I feel like both that and the option to meditate should have been highlighted a bit better.

---

I have been playing this off and on for almost exactly one year. Eventually, I will get through it!

---