Outward - Preview @ IGN

IGN checked out the open world RPG Outward:

Outward's Open-World RPG Makes You A Nobody…and Treats You Like It

Outward is coming to Xbox One, PS4, and Steam on March 26 from developer Ninedots and Deep Silver.

In the two hours I spent playing Outward, an upcoming open-world RPG from developer Ninedots, I got the feeling that this was the kind of fantasy game made just for me. It's not outwardly accessible -- no pun intended -- but that cryptic charm is something that I tend to really appreciate about the games I want to really dive into. In addition, Outward is completely playable with a friend, in online or local cooperative multiplayer.

There are a number of things I like about Outward, mostly because I'm a huge fantasy nerd and love games that make you work for it, and that marriage is immediately evident in the opening hours. The premise of Outward is thus: rather than being The Chosen One, or The Inquisitor, or The Dovahkiin, you're just a normal schlub.
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To combat this, you're able to drop your backpack with the push of a button, and then once you've won, or retreated, you can go back and pick it up. But the catch is you're essentially trading quick access to everything in your backpack for the sake of being more nimble, or vice versa. But knowing what's worth carrying is harder than it sounds, because items you pick up don't have values attached to them. You think that sword you looted is probably worth something, but it weighs 25 pounds, so is it worth more than 25-pounds of the other stuff you've already collected? The only way to know for sure is to see what a trader will give you for it. That's pretty cool to me.

It's those sorts of little design elements that I really appreciate in Outward - like the fact when you're "killed" there are a number of different, dynamic outcomes that could happen to you (like your "killers" looting your body and leaving you for dead, as you awake hours later alone in the dark trying to get to safety).

I'm intrigued in what Outward seems to be. And it's really delightful to see something like this come from a small, relatively unknown developer. I'm eagerly waiting to pull up a couch and jump in with a friend when it's out in a few months.

More information.

More previews that's all as I gave my opinion on this game already.

PC Gamer

I'm 12 hours into fantasy RPG Outward when I travel to its second region, visit the city of Berg for the first time, and buy my first proper backpack. Strange to say that buying a backpack feels momentous, but dammit, it really is. I feel triumphant to discard my primitive satchel and shoulder a real pack on my back. Not only does it fit more loot, but I can hang a lantern from it too, so I can have both hands free and still see in the dark. That's the kind of game Outward is, one where the things you take for granted in other games feel like a real accomplishment.

Windows Central

Outward, despite its flaws, is one of the most interesting open-world RPGs I've played since Divinity: Original Sin 2. With some work to the way combat feels and the much-needed addition of a minimap, I think Outward has the potential to shine when it's released.

PC Invasion

There are a lot of things I like about Outward. But it seems a little too intent on not being user-friendly to its own detriment, even if its challenges can definitely be overcome. I’ve had a fair amount of fun with it, but also a large amount of frustration. Enjoying it will hinge on how hard the individual is willing to work to learn the game and push through its less user-friendly design aspects. Anyone who doesn’t like handholding will probably get the most out of it.

And what was your opinion ?

Originally Posted by Couchpotato
More previews that's all as I gave my opinion on this game already.

Originally Posted by you
And what was your opinion ?

My thought exactly. Sounds kind of interesting to me?

Missed this one…. Looks somewhat interesting, I suppose.

"Makes you a nobody and treats you like it." I cannot help but be inspired by that line, it will be my go-to mantra while I'm stomping through this world, once the game is fully released. Assuming it will be available via either great old games or steam, of course.

Is this game that one with lotsa backpacks ?

Yes, backpacks, large weapons.

Bit over the top with that, but I'd still like to see them make something good out of it.

Originally Posted by henriquejr
Is this game that one with lotsa backpacks ?

A its the backpacker game

Not into games like this but I am happy to see it made in the sense they are trying something different. I am just not masochistic enough to get into this style of game play anymore than I was with Dark Souls.

This is currently my most anticipated title. It takes elements from Kenshi and puts it into a 3rd person open-world, full of danger, ruins to discover, hunger and thirst to manage and a real world to try and survive in any way you can. Sounds really good.

Originally Posted by you
And what was your opinion ?

Check the other news-bits it wasn't positive. As some members over-hyped this game to much and I responded. One member even blew a gasket at my reply. Hilarious really.

It sure sounds pretty good IMHO, rather ambitious even. I definitely have my eye on this one.
The one thing I am not entirely keen on is the fact there's only an auto-save (and no manual saving) and no actual "deaths".

Originally Posted by Carnifex
Assuming it will be available via either great old games or steam, of course.

Whoa, what? Is there some other way to distribute computer games?

Originally Posted by screeg
Whoa, what? Is there some other way to distribute computer games?

Epic, Discord, GOG just to name a few.

Wait a minute Deep Silver is the publisher so probably Epic.

Sarcasm aside, I've been on Discord to talk to developers but I honestly didn't know it was used to distribute games.

And don't forget itch.io! That's one other platform I've actually used.

I haven't used itch.io in a while. Bought a few indie RPGs for a few dollars.

I've also not used itch.io in a while, but it was the first online gaming shop that I really liked. Once I progressed to great old games, I guess itch.io lost my business, but I would use them again.

This game reminds me a lot of Kenshi (which I love). But I'm a little bit concerned about the combat, to be honest, what I saw of the combat looked like shit.

I hate games where you have to dodge and roll and all that other garbage. Still, I'll keep an eye on it. Maybe they'll improve the combat before release.

Check the other news-bits it wasn't positive. As some members over-hyped this game to much and I responded. One member even blew a gasket at my reply. Hilarious really.

That's the level of discourse I'd expect on the RPG Codex, good job defaming me out of the blue after being equally condescending as you were in the first place because I had the audacity to have an opinion that differs to yours and have a keen interest on an unreleased game you furiously dislike so I could articulate an opinion and the reasons behind it. That was too much and ridicule worthy and blowing a gasket while you being a jerk for absolutely no reason is sane, logical, expected and unlike my crazy ranting fanboy ways. Yikes. This is the first thread he references for those who care:
https://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41830

A its the backpacker game

Not into games like this but I am happy to see it made in the sense they are trying something different. I am just not masochistic enough to get into this style of game play anymore than I was with Dark Souls.

It's a CRPG, the backpack is just a cool visual, games without visual backpacks have inventory management, CRPGs tend to have large inventories, having it show is just neat and part of its visual identity, it's not what defines the design. I find it cool. If my character in Gothic or Elder Scrolls had a visual backpack that wouldn't have changed their gameplay design (just examples, I'm not an Elder Scrolls fan these days). I'm worried about the hunger stuff in the game as I usually don't like such elements but if it's not too frequent or the resources are plentiful and/or fun to go after it should be alright…

Hunger should be fine to manage. In Kenshi you just put food in the backpack and they eat automatically when hungry. I like in Outward how you have to manage your various aspects outside of combat to survive. I've been waiting on a 3rd-person version of Kenshi and this seems like it, although it's just a singleplayer and not squad-based game. But I think managing things in this game will be half the fun, surviving in a harsh world where it's difficult to, using whatever means you can muster, etc.. I honestly can't wait for this game to come out.