![]() The tracks serve as a warning to end your exploration, as well as a gorgeous backdrop to the sun’s supernova, should you find yourself gazing out into space at the end of a loop. The way the game uses the tracks “ End Times” and “22 Minutes” to signal the end of the time loop is indicative of Outer Wilds' unique sound design. These moments feel even more impactful, as the rest of your exploration takes place in relative quiet, with just the sound of your own thrusters and breathing to keep you company. Certain locations have their own background tracks, and specific events can trigger other songs. Exploring major Nomai ruins and learning key pieces of information can trigger a haunting melody. Each of your fellow explorers either whistles or travels with an instrument, and you can listen to them with your signal scope, or by hanging around within earshot. Much of the music in the game comes from NPCs. As much as the planets can each be a visual feast, the true genius of the game lies in its use of sound. However, the real gem of Outer Wilds isn’t the satisfaction of solving a mystery, or exploring new worlds, or even the pride of solving difficult, planet-spanning logic puzzles. And there’s always a certain joy in watching the sun implode in real time from any vantage point. The different planets each have several fascinating locations that you can experience (and find new ways to die in). Between roasting marshmallows and chatting with your fellow explorers, there’s enough cute entertainment to keep you occupied for at least a few loops, simply sitting at campfires and listening to some catchy tunes. Untangling the mysteries of the universe isn’t the only reason to keep playing Outer Wilds. Essentially, you chart the course of your own salvation. You set the cadence for your own exploration, and once you have the key parts of the mystery solved, you can either stick around or head straight to the end. Truthfully, you don’t need to know everything to complete the game in a satisfactory manner. As such, there’s no reliable way to know when you’ve missed information. And, unless you consult a guide, there’s only a small note on key entries that alerts you to further discoveries. That's because every piece of information you uncover is connected in some way to the Eye of the Universe.Īs Outer Wilds is entirely self-guided, with all content theoretically available at the start of each loop, that rumor web evolves for each player in a unique fashion. The more information you pick up, the larger and more entangled the web becomes. The web functions as a story component, a handy part of the game’s user interface and a mechanical set piece, all at once. ![]() And like any good rumor tracker, Outer Wilds gives you a good old-fashioned conspiracy theory web. For an in-depth look at what you’ve learned so far, the rumor window is the more useful component. You can read your ship’s log entries on the “planet by planet” map screen, or through the rumor screen. To support its nonlinear structure, the game relies on a tracking mechanism in the ship’s log. Thus, the story unfolds in a nonlinear fashion through ancient Nomai writings and recordings, as well as dialogue with non-player characters (NPCs). In the Outer Wilds, you'll learn the plot through your own experiences, and through finding clues about the Eye of the Universe. This combination of exploration, clue-gathering, and puzzle-solving makes for an addictive adventure that you won’t want to put down. ![]() Outer Wilds is not a game you can brute-force your way through, so it forces you to stop and observe your surroundings. As such, most of the puzzles are exercises in logic rather than traditional video challenges with keys, pressure plates, or levers. The game has no combat, and your exploration tools are limited to a translator, a scout camera and a signal scope.
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