All of the deep gnomes. Most major characters, "non-binary" is even a gender choice when creating your character. It's not just the product of player choice - most NPCs are programmed for specifically LGBTQ relations in the story. The only obvious representation I see for a non-LGBTQ couple is the tiefling pair with the child in the druid camp. Beyond the ideology-saturation, it's a generally entertaining game if you're into heavily story-oriented turn-based RPGs. It is slow moving at times, and for action gamers like me I took a break for a month after I bought it because I couldn't get into it - but after trying it again it's not so bad. It's also gruesome at times, from the very start, so not for the squeemish.
Tips for those who are starting... Mine and sell copper, buy the cheap jerky for food, use sneak to avoid enemies, and stay near towns until stronger/better equipped. Once you nail down these foundational steps, you'll figure out the rest and be able to play however you want. I got frustrated and quit playing this game because it is unforgiving and literally throws you into it with no explanation. I gave it a second chance, used the tips above to get started, and eventually built an autonomous base with an army, found all technology, and completed/killed every major boss and in the world. It is now one of my favorite games, super fun. It's doable, just give it a chance, and watch an instructional video on Youtube to get started if you get stuck.
This game works fine now, whatever bugs people are complaining about at launch seems to have been fixed as of late 2024. You need a powerful computer to run it at full potential. This game has beautiful colorful scenery, but apparently can't handle HDR (it's a known problem online, I didn't know that at time of purchase). Still looks good without HDR, but it requires a powerful computer to run graphics at full potential. Scenery is the BEST part about this game, so I don't recommend compromising on graphics much. The story is kind of shallow and not engaging, but there is mild humor here and there. Mildly entertaining, but it gets old and repetitive really quick. I found myself feeling like "why am I here, what am I doing, why do we care?" a lot - not because instructions weren't clear - the story just lacks "purpose," depth, and gets boring. Pick up random quest, go complete task, return and turn in the quest - repeat, repeat, repeat... Characters are likewise shallow and lack personability or relationship depth - they're just kind of "there." Go to new place, meet new character, abruptly invite this new personality onto your ship... get quest, do quest, turn in quest - repeat, repeat, repeat. I played this game on another console years ago and hated it - It got boring, and I hated the corporate theme because I didn't want to feel like I was at work while I was playing a game. This time on GOG the "corporate theme" didn't bother me as much for some reason, but it's still kind of boring. Graphics are better than I remember them, I think that's all that's really changed.
This game feels very artsy, and the whole point is finding and redistributing color to various entities for survival (it sounds weird, but it makes more sense in game). It's kind of slow. It has nudity, but it's not "sexual," and it's more of an artsy or "Adam and Eve" kind of vibe. It has some creepy areas reminiscent of a nightmare, but it's not a horror game with stuff jumping out at your or anything - just creepy environment. Lots of using the "color" you harvest to draw different shapes on screen for different effects as you progress through the game. I got this game to help practice my Russian, but honestly if I didn't understand Russian I don't think this game would be my cup of tea. I'm more of an open world RPG, good story, occasional action kind of player - this game is bizarre, but for some it may be worth trying once just for the experience.
This is one of the best games today, if you go into it with accurate expectations. This is a mature cinematic style open world RPG with a mostly linear story and a bunch of side missions that plays very similar to GTA 5 in a lot of ways. It is a mostly cinematic and linear story with some little side decisions along the way. Lots of interactive dialogue and interactive cutscenes. Interactive open world kind of like GTA V. Environment is very immersive with side conversations, etc., but you can't directly talk with a lot of non mission-essential NPCs. The graphics are beautiful, night city is cool (wish I could turn off some of the inappropriate ads though, my wife sometimes thinks I'm looking at "adult content" because of the noises she hears from the in-game commercials on tv, etc.), and the story is interesting. It was advertised as "choices matter," but choices don't really matter that much outside of the expansion... but if you go into this expecting a mostly linear cinematic style story action-game in an open world setting (with some small choices/consequences here and there, okay), you won't be disappointed. My biggest gripe is no Russian language for The Phantom Liberty expansion. I use video games for professional language study, and having to switch between Russian and English for that expansion is jarring and disappointing. This game had a rocky start, but with the updates and expansion since then, it is now hands down one of the best - almost perfect. I want more... just with Russian audio next time.
The expansion is okay, but the switch from Cyberpunk into the expansion is abrupt and uncomfortable. It feels like an entirely different game rather than an "expansion." Cyberpunk is a linear-story with optional side tasks that takes place in a dystopian big city. The theme is survival, V's developing story, with various optional quest chains with key NPCs. Phantom Liberty is similar but in an area that looks like an artillery shelled junk-yard in some places, and the story has more of a "political bodyguard" kind of feel. It reminds me of Fallout in some ways, but with less freedom and radiation. It's not bad, but I wish it was a little better integrated with the main game, and expanded on the game. Instead, it's a sideways departure from the main game into what feels like an entirely different game. I'm also disappointed they don't have all the same language support as the main game has, so dialogue switches between the target language and English. I use video games to maintain my language skills, and the change is so jarring I think I'm going to have to abandon alternate languages in Cyberpunk.
The graphics and concept behind this game are interesting. The gameplay is similar to Fallout or Oblivion. There is a humor aspect to some of the content, particularly as it relates to a corporate world... ...but the last place I want to be after work in real life is "at work" in a game. I played through numerous hours, but I just couldn't do it anymore... If they had other language audio/voice-over options I'd consider giving it another shot for language training purposes, like Russian audio, or Greek audio. For reference, I am an avid Skyrim fan (10/10), I love the Witcher 3 (10/10), and Fallout 4 is likewise one of my top 5 (9/10). I like games with deep character customization, story-altering decisions, and an engaging story. Outer Worlds is a solid 6/10 stars for me, and it's now collecting dust on the shelf.
I am playing this game on a top of the line gaming laptop and have had almost no technical problems, so I can't speak to that complaint. This game has gotten a bad rap, but I consider it generally fun and interesting, albeit with a few weaknesses. I've played through twice so far, once as a Nomad and once as Corporate... Pros: - Detailed and very immersive open world environment. If you can appreciate scenery, this game has it. - The story itself is interesting, at least the first time. - I think the gameplay generally handles well - the weapons system and vehicle system feel very similar to Grand Theft Auto. Cons: - This game is "open world," but it lacks "freedom" that good open world games have. You pretty much have to follow the story, or do an occasional side quest, and that's it. There are no options to join a faction, to make choices that drastically change the story, to destroy competing factions, etc. - If you don't like listening to story and dialogue, you may hate this game. I've been playing in a foreign language to help my language skills, so I am deliberately listening to (and enjoying) almost all dialogue... a normal player may not feel the same way. - Overuse of raunchy content unnecessarily. I get it, this is supposed to be a futuristic cyber degenerate society, but the raunchy content throughout is a little too much. The mustache guy with the woman's rear end in his face just gets annoying after a while. If I could change one thing about this game, it would be to increase the freedom of gameplay. Give the option to join the Corporation, and take over the city - or join the police and rid the city of gangs, or join a gang and destroy the police and other gangs. Give more romance options, and create a way for true character customization - not just appearance and talent points. Let me get a gun arm (FF7 Barrett style), a jet pack, or an electric whip - just imagine what you could do with the virtual environment. That's what's missing.
To compare, this game is like Skyrim with a little less freedom, but a way better story with great character development, and your actions have consequences later on throughout the game. There is a slight learning curve with the crafting system, but once you get it it's easy and intuitive. I love the twisted dark fairy tale theme throughout as well, sometimes comical, sometimes grotesque, always interesting. Con: This game is very violent, has a lot of foul language, and has numerous sex scenes, sexual inuendos, topless women (lower genitalia wasn't programmed in), street prostitutes, a few brothels, a nude sauna scene, and a steamhouse which all show topless nudity and scantily clad women, and opportunities for sexual encounters. This game may not be appropriate for family environments, so heed the 18+ rating. Beyond that, for a mature audience, this game is easily one of the best ever made in my opinion.
