Outer Wilds Review (Vasharal)
The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you. - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Sum-Up
In-depth analysis further down.
🟩 Pros
🟥 Cons
• An incredible world to explore and learn
from.
• A unique and immersive space simulation
experience.
• Fascinating stories and deep lore associated
with each planet.
• Does an excellent job of piquing curiosity
and keeping you engaged.
• My only complaint is that I wish it had
voice acting for the characters.
🟨 Bugs & Issues
🔧 Specs
⚙️ Settings & FPS
Nothing game breaking to be honest.
The game ran perfectly fine with no
issues whatsoever.
• CPU: i7-12700K
• RAM: 32GB DDR4
• GPU: 3080 10GB
• SD: SSD
• RES: 1440p
Settings: Ultra
FPS: 75
🌌 Content & Replay Value
The game is an interesting space simulator, capable of allowing you to play the game however you wish. You could very easily beat the game, if you know what you're doing in less than 22 minutes, but you'd miss out on exploring and learning the world. It's worth trying to understand the world better with each loop.
💵 Is it worth buying?
Yes. It's a big yes from me. If you love exploration and mystery, this game is packed with that.
🎮 Steam Deck Compatibility
For a period of time I've played this game both on controller and on Steam Deck to test it out. The game runs perfectly fine and is well-optimized with controlls..
🧾 Verdict: Masterpiece
Rating Chart Here
Outer Wilds differs significantly from any space exploration game I've experienced. While it may not boast hundreds or thousands of planets like some other titles do, the quantity of planets it offers, along with their fascinating and rich lore accompanied by unique surfaces, makes it an incredible game to explore. The game doesn't hold your hand; instead, you're required to figure out what needs to be done. Yet, when you finally accomplish your goals, the sense of achievement is akin to winning the lottery. It's a definite must-play.
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In-depth
⚔️ Gameplay & Exploration:
Outer Wilds is a puzzle and exploration game where you assume the role of an alien astronaut navigating the world around you. You utilize various tools that aid in traversal, exploration, and interaction with the environment. These include a sound scanner, a probe capable of serving as a light source, taking pictures, and launching into tight or hazardous spaces for testing purposes, and your jet suit, aiding in overcoming obstacles and navigating the surroundings.
Finally, you employ a decipher scanner to identify and comprehend the world around you, gradually amalgamating all gathered information to understand what the world offers and strategize on how to overcome its challenges.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3051995192
😄 Fun:
This game can be completed in a much shorter time, but the exploration aspect is incredibly enjoyable. It offers a unique experience that is definitely worth exploring.
🏞 Visuals & Presentation:
The game has fantastic visuals and is incredibly immersive, whether navigating your spaceship or learning about the planets and interacting with physics. The concept is fascinating, and the DLC provides additional incredible visuals that are worth experiencing.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3051995275
🔊 Sound & Voice-Acting:
The soundtrack is catchy, and it contributes to a good overall vibe. The quality of sound effects is amazing. However, I do wish the aliens were voiced, as it felt rather lonely reading their text.
📖 Story & Writing:
The most captivating aspect of the game involves discovering the world, understanding its workings, and finding solutions to navigate the time loop. From my understanding, no one desires to spoil the explorative aspect, so I'll refrain from divulging further details. Engaging in the game blindly, without extensive knowledge about the world, characters, and events, is a worthwhile experience.
Stay focused on comprehending the messages conveyed by the world and utilize your scanners to discern the connections between the world and its characters.
The DLC is a great addition to add clarity and a new layer to the story.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3056928584
🧵 Length & Difficulty:
The game is quite lengthy to complete 100%, but it's not overly challenging. It doesn't force you beyond the time limit of the loop, allowing you to explore for a short period before starting over from the beginning. Surprisingly, it manages to avoid becoming entirely dull and motivates you to delve deeper and learn more.
⭕️Verdict:
Outer Wilds is an incredible and masterfully crafted game that I would recommend to anyone interested in space sims or a captivating space adventure with an incredible lore to explore. The rich world, characters, and locations are worth delving into blindly. Once you discover the underlying message the game conveys, you'll truly understand how special it is. I highly recommend giving this game a try.