“Grounded 2”, the family survival game “does with the help of the players” again shrinks its heroes

Five years after the release of the first episode of the survival game, “Grounded 2” is available in early access from this July 29. Nevertheless, A title in the refining phase which sees greater. Meanwhile, more ambitious with its mini-heroes, but which also owes a lot to its large community of players.

“Darling, I re-recurrence the kids”. Furthermore, This is a bit of what comes to mind when attacking Grounded 2following the first survival. Furthermore, adventure game of the same name designed by Obsidian and released in 2020. In addition, As in the first opus. Moreover, there is a question of reduced characters at the size of an ant and forced to survive in front of a disproportionate fauna and flora which block their road (with a threatening company in the background). Moreover, A simple bis repetita? In addition, No, says Obsidian.

“It is much more than a simple extension. However, but an ambitious overhaul developed with the precious help of the community,” describes in Tech & Co Marcus Morgan, executive director of the game at Obsidian. Therefore, Grounded Largely exceeded the 15 million players who joined its concept of survival, exploration and combat. Meanwhile, “”Grounded 1 was filled as much as possible with “grounded 2”, family survival game what technology could offer at the time (with the Xbox One. However, editor’s note). Moreover, Go to Grounded 2is to get rid of the limitations. Therefore, to take advantage of Unreal Engine 5, and to guarantee the vast world that fans want, “explains the manager.

Always small in an even larger world – "grounded 2", family survival game

And it is true that the American studio. For example, also behind The Outer Worlds 2 et Avowedis more ambitious. It is always a question of building its base. of protecting it, manufacturing your equipment and exploring in order to find out how to go home, in normal size, while a threat rumbles. But everything climbs a level. even the characters to choose from with archetypes that will bring their own style (warrior, mage, put away, Rogue, etc.).

The play area also extends considerably. In the first opus, the characters were released in the house garden – as in “grounded 2”, family survival game the film. In the second, they are transported to a community park, Brookhollow Park. A change in scale and clear ambition. “We wanted a larger world. without loads, more fluid, and above all capable of welcoming a major novelty: buggies”, underlines Marcus Morgan.

These buggies, claimed by the community, are in fact companion insects to ride and develop. They will facilitate exploration and fights (one fact tank, the other remote attack), help collect resources. An element of design “essential to the new game”. thought from the beginnings of reflection, because it was technologically not possible to graft them in the first title. Among the first buggies available from this July 29 in early access, there is a red soldier ant and an orb-weaver. Their contribution will also modify the dynamics of multiplayer (in co-op up to four players). offer “more chaotic and fun situations”, he promises.

An “authentic nostalgia”

More fun. “grounded 2”, family survival game a refreshing atmosphere: these are the ambitions of Grounded 2 which relocates, but also changes from the time. Bye bye the 1980s. welcome to the 1990s with their multiple references which “pop” all over the park (a camera, a player, period foods, iconic objects, music, etc.). A symbolic choice too and an “authentic nostalgia” for developers who grew up at that time. “Our characters are more mature, we too,” laughs Marcus Morgan. “The aging of the characters also corresponds to the natural evolution of the players who grew up with the license.”

The game also gains maturity with richer and varied “2.0 fights”, the addition of dodges and counterattacks to become more strategic. Because. according to the obsidian teams, the game attracts three different profiles of player: the explorers who favor history and discovery; Survivalists who like boss fights; Obviously the manufacturers who appreciate the sandbox and creative side of the game. “The ambition of Grounded 2 is to satisfy these three profiles without forcing the player in a single way to explore the park. “insists the creative director.

And to also satisfy players with disabilities. the accessibility parameters have been reinforced with in particular an arachnophobia mode which makes spiders less impressive, even non-existent, of customizable subtitles, adjustments for daltonians, a reading mode out loud, etc.

Co-construction with the “grounded 2”, family survival game community

And it must be said that the sequel to the game. formerly exclusive Xbox/PC and now available on PlayStation like Nintendo Switch, has taken advantage of its community of growing players to enrich the returns of the latter. A real “co-construction” assumed and accepted by Obsidian. “It is super important. We have seen how the game is enriched by developing it with the community. which really influences the feeling of the gameplay, the creatures to be added, etc.”. insists Marcus Morgan who explains that the teams took advantage of the teachings of the first game to adjust the frequency of updates, the choice of mounts or a more solid narrative approach (and from the start of the game!) Depending on the game!) Admittedly. the players did not decided on the main lines of Grounded 2but the balance was easily found between the “elements open to co-creation” and those “more protected” “grounded 2”, family survival game to preserve “a strong and coherent narrative vision.”

Grounded 2 So remains faithful to the recipe that made the success of the first episode. a family survival game in the midst of a quiet nature that has become hostile – to the 1st or the 3rd person – which is richer, more immersive and more cooperative than ever. The early access of the game – as for the very first “grounded 2”, family survival game – is not a way of launching. an unfinished game. “We play the game together”, proclaims Marcus Morgan. “This is what made Grounded 1 Much better, we start the experience again “. Because. for Obsidian, having an active listening to his community is part of the DNA of the project, a “philosophy of collective adventure”, with influences from flagship adventure films of the 1980s more than evident and assumed. “It’s a bit of our Goonies To us, “says Marcus Morgan.” And we hope that players will have so much pleasure in discovering it that we had it to create. it with them. “

Grounded 2 – Available on July 29 in early access to Xbox Series and PC, in the Game Pass and in Cloud.