(*2*)
In a pleasant shock for Grounded followers, Obsidian took to the stage on the Xbox Video games Showcase final weekend to disclose an sudden sequel merely dubbed Grounded 2.
Obsidian has shared that Grounded 2 will take cues from its predecessor by equally launching into early entry and rising over time with the help and suggestions of the group. That early entry launch is quickly, too; subsequent month, to be actual. I bought an opportunity to play just a little little bit of what gamers will probably be shrinking into subsequent month on the Xbox Video games Showcase in Los Angeles over the weekend. And my general impression, which I say as a full-throated praise, is that yup, that is just a little bit greater Grounded all proper!
It is admitedly exhausting for me to say a lot in regards to the methods through which Grounded 2 differs from the primary Grounded simply based mostly on the small, small snippet I performed. I used to be given the choice to leap right into a later part of the sport, however I opted for the tutorial to refresh my Grounded abilities, which have gotten just a little rusty.
Thus, a lot of what I noticed via that tutorial was, pleasantly, extra Grounded. It is the identical youngsters (albeit two years older now) shrunk right down to ant dimension because of the shady dealings of an organization referred to as Ominent. As soon as shrunk, they undergo from a contact of amnesia that leaves them with little reminiscence of what they had been doing pre-shrinking, however fortunately, our teenagers do keep in mind the gist of their final tiny yard journey, even when they have to reacquire most of the abilities they developed the primary time round. Crafting, as an illustration – you may nonetheless be analyzing each merchandise you come throughout, studying new crafting recipes, and slowly constructing new items of armor, weapons, instruments, and different objects that will help you survive. Otherwise you’ll be scrounging across the early areas for meals (mushrooms, in my case) and drink (dewdrops) so you do not starve to loss of life. Or possibly you may be combating bugs or different critters, poking at them nervously with a crudely-made stick spear. All the basics are nonetheless in Grounded, acquainted and ready for everybody who simply wished extra of what the unique was promoting.
What’s new right here was rather less apparent in a brief, early-game pattern, however I did get a style of a few of it. You may get a brand new Omni-tool, as an illustration, that mixes your whole instruments into one for simple use with out taking over stock house. I did not get to experiment with its myriad makes use of a lot, however I did use it to hack away at some huge grass blades rather than an axe. One other new mechanic is the addition of a dodge button in fight, which slot in so easily I briefly forgot dodging wasn’t part of the primary sport. Each of those examples are comparatively small quality-of-life options, however they appear poised to easy out a number of the wrinkles within the general expertise long-term. It is wild that the primary Grounded did not have a dodge button prior to now!
The largest new piece of Grounded 2 that I really bought some first rate hands-on time with was the Buggy system – primarily mounts. I used to be capable of journey proudly astride a giant ol’ ant. It…kinda dominated? It is enjoyable to journey a giant bug? Galloping round on my ant steed apart, the Buggy really comes with fairly a number of different fascinating options packed in. You may dash, or you may swap to a a lot slower gathering mode that can have your Buggy acquire any assets it runs into as you cross them, eliminating the necessity for time-consuming harvesting. Buggies can even struggle in your behalf, or chomp down on blades of grass or different choppable objects to hack them down. At one level, I skittered via a nest of mites, gripping a glowing mushroom torch and letting my ant do the soiled work of munching away each mite that threw itself at me.
I used to be instructed in an interview after our preview session that it is these Buggy mounts that primarily necessitated Grounded 2, albeit alongside different components. The primary Grounded was by no means designed for the pace at which mounts can cowl floor. Consequently, the map was too small for Obsidian to ever implement Buggies as an actual, helpful function for anybody. The one method to get the oft-requested rideable bugs into the sport was to make the sport a lot, a lot greater.
And that is what I am instructed has occurred right here. Grounded 2 takes place not in a yard, however in Brookhollow Park, which Obsidian says is roughly thrice the dimensions of the yard from the primary sport. I believe I noticed, like, possibly the teensiest, tiniest, earliest-gamest nook of that park – the great, easygoing house that is supposed to acclimate each new and returning gamers to the world of Grounded earlier than sending them off on an ant-riding journey into the unknown.
I nonetheless have much more questions on what Grounded 2 is bringing to the picnic desk that can justify a wholly new sport versus simply increasing the prevailing Grounded. Mechanically, I am not totally positive rideable bugs goes to promote me on it. Then once more, Grounded is closely story-focused, and Grounded 2 opens the gate to a model new story. It lets Obsidian age up its protagonists, progress Ominent’s nefarious nonsense, and develop the world. And it stays true that the primary Grounded was fairly dang enjoyable simply because it was. So positive. I will take extra of it, plus bug driving. Experience just like the wind, bugs-eye.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You’ll find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Obtained a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.