The following contains spoilers for Secret Level's Outer Worlds 2 episode.
Since Tim Miller's Secret Level is an anthology of standalone short stories based on several video games and franchises, gamers who plan to watch the show may get to see one of their beloved franchises represented in a way it hasn't yet been. Included in Secret Level's short stories is one based on The Outer Worlds 2, the upcoming sequel to Obsidian Entertainment's 2019 action RPG, but it might twist the knife a bit on a highly requested feature its predecessor forewent.
The feature in question is romance, which has been known to be present in other choice-driven games created by developers like Bethesda and BioWare. Romance isn't a universally-requested feature, however, as some find the lack of romance in The Outer Worlds refreshing. Nevertheless, those who want The Outer Worlds 2 to include the feature that its predecessor chose to exclude may feel the pain of its likely exclusion in the sequel when they watch Secret Level's episode based on the game.
Concord May Be Dead, But Its Secret Level Episode Lives On With A New Trailer
Amazon has released a new teaser for its Concord-centric Secret Level episode.
Secret Level's Outer Worlds 2 Episode Hints at the Game's Lack of Romance
The Outer Worlds Lacked Romance as a Gameplay Feature and Its Sequel Will Likely Follow
Unlike many modern choice-driven games today, The Outer Worlds lacked romance as a gameplay feature. While it was possible to flirt with characters and start what seemed would eventually become a romantic relationship, it never turned out that way, as Obsidian chose to exclude the feature because it felt that adding romance would have required a significant investment to ensure both romantic and platonic paths felt equally fulfilling. Obsidian's upcoming fantasy RPG Avowed also excludes romance between the player character and their companions, which means The Outer Worlds 2 will more than likely tread the same road.
Secret Level's Outer Worlds 2 Episode Seems to Shut the Door on Romance in the Game
Without delving too deeply into spoiler territory, fans of The Outer Worlds who are now looking forward to playing The Outer Worlds 2 should know that Secret Level's episode based on the game unabashedly reinforces the fact that the sequel will most likely not include romance as a feature, just as its predecessor didn't. While it hasn't been outright confirmed by Obsidian, now that both The Outer Worlds and Avowed lack romance due to the developer's desire to focus more on meaningful, story-driven relationships, it's likely The Outer Worlds 2 will follow suit, and the game's Secret Level episode suggests that as well.
Obsidian's upcoming fantasy RPG Avowed also excludes romance between the player character and their companions, which means The Outer Worlds 2 will more than likely tread the same road.
Secret Level's Outer Worlds 2 episode isn't all about romance, as it actually focuses more on the inner-workings of one of the first game's darkest corporations. That being said, for the main character of the episode, it most certainly is about romance. Throughout the episode, the main character devotes himself to the pursuit of a woman who repeatedly rejects him, though not openly, as it seems like she is aware of the hold she has on him and yet never acknowledges his feelings. By the end of the episode, this pursuit proves futile for the young man, although a significant perspective shift might suggest otherwise.
Overall, it's a painful reminder of what the first Outer Worlds game lacked, and what the sequel is likely to lack as well. It's almost as if Secret Level wants to intentionally remind Outer Worlds fans of what they will presumably be missing out on in The Outer Worlds 2, and that, even though they may pursue a romantic relationship with a companion or two, it will never amount to anything but a close friendship in the end. At the same time, perhaps Obsidian will reconsider romance as an option in The Outer Worlds 2 and Secret Level's episode based on the game is a way to throw fans off the scent. However, that is more than likely the wish of someone who is very out of touch with reality.
Secret Level premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10.
- Release Date
- December 10, 2024
- Network
- Amazon Prime Video
Cast
-
Pilot -
Parry ShenMC (young) -
Ping WuMC (Old)
-
Lydia LookLi
Amazon Prime Video's Secret Level is an animated series that explores different gaming worlds, telling short stories within them. Some of the featured games include Armored Core, Sifu, Unreal Tournament, Concord, Ghost of Tsushima, Pac-Man, and The Outer Worlds.
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
- Production Company
- Blur Studio, Amazon MGM Studios
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Creator(s)
- Tim Miller
