Outer Wilds

[Len]

I never took it off as too risky and the trees of course.

[donpeartree]

I played the whole game under the assumption that I wouldn't be able to breathe on any of the planets except the home planet. Suited up everywhere. Your mobility is much better in the suit anyway.

[BitterToad]

Yep. Also you can't enjoy boosting around planets a little too much and smash yourself to shit and jam if you're not wearing the suit, so it's better to wear it.

[alex3d]

Okay, I have a problem. Justdashroll.com writes in its review: "Hopefully, you’ll have gained a little bit of knowledge in the previous playthrough that you can use."

 

My problem is I don't really have "play throughs" because I die every few minutes due to slips or crashes or following into black holes and being stuck in the middle of the Galaxy without my ship nearby or due to cyclones or any other oddity the game throws at you. That is quite frustrating I must say. Am a bit surprised to experience such things in this GOTY contender. Hope I can get better or used to it... 

[Mogster]

You do need to be a bit careful as you go, but it's rare to find yourself without any way forward. Even after falling through black holes.  

 

 

[Ketchup]

2 hours ago, alex3d said:

Okay, I have a problem. Justdashroll.com writes in its review: "Hopefully, you’ll have gained a little bit of knowledge in the previous playthrough that you can use."

 

My problem is I don't really have "play throughs" because I die every few minutes due to slips or crashes or following into black holes and being stuck in the middle of the Galaxy without my ship nearby or due to cyclones or any other oddity the game throws at you. That is quite frustrating I must say. Am a bit surprised to experience such things in this GOTY contender. Hope I can get better or used to it... 

 

Start with your home world, theres lots to find out there and it's fairly safe. Then your home world moon, thats pretty safe too. Then maybe the hour glass twins. That should get you on your way with knowledge and these planets are fairly safe in that you can just casually walk around them without dying too easily. Always wear your suit and if you fall just push A and right trigger (i think) to slow your descent at the last moment. You will have play throughs where you die after minutes of nothing due to your own fault, that's fine and part of the fun. Just take it slowly at first and soon you'll get to grips with it all and will be whizzing around in no time.

 

Oh and on your home world mess about in the Zero G enviroment (it's at the top of the walk ways down a mine shaft, it's fairly well sign posted) thats a great area to learn and practise flying in space in your suit.

[alex3d]

I extensively explored the planet I woke up in, including the zero-g cave. However, what/where is "home planet moon"? I only seem to see the planets with certain names ("Giant abc" etc.). Do you mean Attlerock? 

Also, the cyclones planet (Giants Deep) is where the small explosion happens after I wake up - so doesn't the game want me to go there first?

[PeteJ]

I've just started the game and so far I love it! I've heard people talk about it so some of the surprise may be lost however I've seen very little actual footage previously. 

 

Loving the flight controls too, on my second trip I managed to land perfectly on the little astroid and then onto a to y space station. I didn't really know what I was doing at these locations and I'll need to return but it was very satisfying

 

I'm finding the suit controls tougher but it's fun flying around the planets and taking loads of risks. 

 

PS - I thought the game signposted that you should visit the moon (attlerock) first. 

[Mogster]

4 hours ago, alex3d said:

I extensively explored the planet I woke up in, including the zero-g cave. However, what/where is "home planet moon"? I only seem to see the planets with certain names ("Giant abc" etc.). Do you mean Attlerock? 

Also, the cyclones planet (Giants Deep) is where the small explosion happens after I wake up - so doesn't the game want me to go there first?

Small explosion? 

 

It's possible to complete the game in a single twenty minute run if you know what to do, so there's nowhere you're ever physically blocked from going. It's all about learning stuff in order to progress.

[BitterToad]

4 hours ago, alex3d said:

I extensively explored the planet I woke up in, including the zero-g cave. However, what/where is "home planet moon"? I only seem to see the planets with certain names ("Giant abc" etc.). Do you mean Attlerock? 

Also, the cyclones planet (Giants Deep) is where the small explosion happens after I wake up - so doesn't the game want me to go there first?

 

Go to the Attlerock first, the game basically tells you to do this but it can be easy to miss. My first playthrough of the game was exactly what you're writing about, but if you go to the Attlerock and follow the breadcrumb trail you get there you'll be fine. 

[JPL]

What’s the point in doing multiple play throughs? I finished it last week and while I loved it for the most part, I don’t see much reason for another run.

[BitterToad]

I didn't finish it on the first run because I kept dying and fucking hated it. 2nd run I loved because I followed where you're supposed to go and it's now my GOTY. 

[JPL]

Ah right. It is a great game, but so easy to bounce off at first, due to being so obtuse in its explanation of what you’re supposed to be doing. Obviously all the clues are there and those eureka moments are great as you get further into it and start unravelling its mysteries. It all does ultimately make sense, but they could have done with making the beginning a bit more obvious.

[Ketchup]

6 hours ago, alex3d said:

I extensively explored the planet I woke up in, including the zero-g cave. However, what/where is "home planet moon"? I only seem to see the planets with certain names ("Giant abc" etc.). Do you mean Attlerock? 

Also, the cyclones planet (Giants Deep) is where the small explosion happens after I wake up - so doesn't the game want me to go there first?

By home planet moon i do mean Attlerock yes. Your right the explosion happens by Giants Deep, but with this game you can go anywhere you want. Basically the only way the story is fully complete is by visiting everyplanet and finding every bit of key information. So whilst you can go where ever you want, as it won't affect the story, the places i've suggested visiting first are more to ease you in with the controls as there isn't cyclones to deal with or the planet crumbling into a black hole. Attlerock is also great to ease you in with the story as well as theres just one guy there and one other place to visit on a small surface area.

 

The game feels huge at first but the more you play it the more you realise how small each area actually is.

[alex3d]

Okay, thanks, I'll keep playing then.

[alex3d]

Adventures in Outer Wilds: directed the auto pilot towards Brittle Hollow. The ship crashed into the sun. Fell for the third (edit: fourth time. This is starting to get old.

Spoiler

At least I have found White Hole Station. 

) time into a black hole 

[donpeartree]

I love this game, but I found falling into the black hole in Brittle Hollow for the 10th time in a row frustrating. It might be worth taking time to visit one of the other planets first and digging into the lore there (maybe the home planet if you haven't explored it yet). There is no intended path; wherever you go, threads will lead you to other locations anyway. 

 

Also,  something that helped me reduce black hole falls immensely was working out that you can boost jump with your thrusters (R2 before you jump), just in case you missed it. 

[alex3d]

Okay, I'm 4 hours into the game and I have to ask: 

Spoiler

Who will tell me about the time loop (in game)? I just haven't met this NPC so far. I feel like it's time to get some grip on the story for reasons of staying motivated. 

 

[donpeartree]

2 minutes ago, alex3d said:

Okay, I'm 4 hours into the game and I have to ask: 

  Hide contents

Who will tell me about the time loop (in game)? I just haven't met this NPC so far. I feel like it's time to get some grip on the story for reasons of staying motivated. 

 

Nobody will tell you, but you will discover why.

 

The mystery is pieced together by finding out more about certain things the nomai were working on and finding out why this is all happening in the first place.

[alex3d]

Thanks. 

[alex3d]

I'm totally frustrated. Why isn't there ANY support for players whatsoever? With oxygen and fuel almost gone I desperately try to drop into the White Hole satellite, but it's so freaking difficult to maneuver with DS4. So end I end up being dead once again and have to make my complicated way to Hanging City for the 20th time. Yes, there is exploration and yes my landings have improved. But I'm really angry and frustrated. Giving players quick save or fast travel options would have worked wonders. 

[Benny]

And fundamentally broken the spirit of danger in the game in the process.

[alex3d]

Maybe, yes. But there needs to be a balance between hassle for players and spirit of danger. 

[Ketchup]

Yeah, this isn't like most games where you are given way points and levels to feel accomplished. I get the frustrations if you want to feel like your 20 minutes wasn't a waste but that isn't the game. The accomplishment comes once the story all ties together. It's certainly not a game you can play and expect to get a lot out of in 20 quick minutes or one you play chatting to friends over a head set. Much like is actual publisher, its more an art house for a lack of a better term game compared to a summer block buster.

 

I found loads of fun in running out of oxygen or fuel and having to scrape by, maybe just barely making it back or failing spectacually (like the time i used too much of the last bit of fuel, and escaped the gravity with no fuel to just nudge me back down) or in some cases just find a way to restart time. Sometimes you do have to do things 2 or 3 times as you need to plan in advance for them and often you can't do that without the prior knowledge. The game does have its down falls for sure, like the start of the game needing more guidance on how to begin but like Oxenfree or Shenmue it's very unique and is a slow methodical burn of a game.

[Orbital2060]

The map in the ship pretty much told me where to go next, with up to several points to explore at any one time. If you are not «done» with a place you should go back and have another look. Along the way the pieces started to come together for what you were supposed to do. Its kind of fascinating from a scientific point of view how they managed to base some of the stuff you need to figure out on quantum mechanical principles, albeit on a very basic level.

 

As has been noted above, a little bit of curiosity goes a long way.

[alex3d]

As I made clear, I appreciate the game's exploration-based focus and to some extent I am still curious.  Its mechanics and controls and obstacles for players, however, are frustrating so far. 

[Orbital2060]

Just use a guide if youre stuck. I did that a couple of times, like towards the end of the cycle where I knew where to go and what things to do, but not the exact order in which to do them.

 

Im curious why some people have issues with controlling the ship, that felt like second nature to me. Using autopilot and the landing cam and all that. 

[alex3d]

Yes, I'm using the Polygon walkthrough. However, due to the sometimes confusing level design I find it very hard to follow. Which one did you use?

[Orbital2060]

I cant remember, I just googled the bits I was stuck on and found some stuff here and there. Right after launch of the game. Some of it on Reddit.

[PeteJ]

I don't play many games these days but this is becoming one of my favourites in years. The sense of discovery is so compelling and the world(s) design is outstanding. 

 

Sure it could have done with more polish - I've lost a few runs due to getting stuck and I had a hard system lock at one point - but they have rarely detracted from the experience. 

 

I must have put about 7 hours into it yesterday, I haven't done that since Skyrim was first released!