Obsidian is back with another backyard adventure with Grounded 2, and this time they are partnered with Eidos-Montréal to develop it. Both developers have made incredibly amazing games in the past, so having them team up on a new adventure is an exciting prospect to say the least.
Of course, this is a sequel to the original, Grounded, which has been positively received over the course of its development and eventual full-release. The first game has seen over 15 million players join over its run, which is surely due in part to some Xbox Game Pass power, but it shows excitement around the basic concept of the game.
Grounded 2 was announced and launched in Game Preview / early access form, with the express intention of building on the first game. So how exactly do they go about doing this?
More Than a Bug’s Life
Right away, Grounded 2 begins with a rather overt plot that takes the events of the first game and puts the element of story front and center. This is done through more cutscenes and a rather guided introductory sequence that explains the various mechanics of the game. This gives things more of an RPG feel that isn’t present in a lot of survival games, and that mindset has carried over to other aspects of the gameplay.
The original Grounded featured mutations that affected gameplay, and that system exists in Grounded 2, but the overall combat feels heavily influenced by the developer’s experience in crafting RPGs. Combat has a greater emphasis on guarding and guard breaks, powered attacks, dodging, and even weapon specific play styles.
As the game is still in early development, there is still a lot to flush out regarding variety, but it is certainly interesting to see the approach that is being taken. Especially when compared to other survival games that are available in the gaming world, where combat can feel a bit more same-y between games.
New Tools, New Tricks
Another major change to Grounded 2 is the introduction of the omni-tool, which is a piece of kit that functions in place of the standard survival gear.
No more pickaxe, hatchet, or shovel, and instead the omni-tool functions as every item at once. The overall function is the same as each individual tool, but instead of cycling through a hotbar, the tool itself is bound to a dedicated action button when it can be used. In fact, the hotbar itself is completely gone and in its place are key bindings that allow players to cycle through various actions.
This positions Grounded 2 to set itself apart from, not just the first game, but survival games in general where the hot bar would generally be considered a necessity.
Buggy Buddies
The third and final major change, also the one most prominently featured in the game’s marketing is the new buggy system. This allows players to navigate the map atop bug companions, or buggies as the game calls them. As the story progresses, the player is led to build a hatchery where they are able to breed insects. Right now this is limited to the Red Ant Soldier and the Orb Weaver Spider. These buggies allow for faster harvesting and traversal, and do change the feeling of scale from the first game.
And whilst the map itself is significantly larger, using insects to move around makes everything feel closer together.
It also greatly aids in resource gathering and combat as the buggies can break down large amounts of material, automatically pick them up, and fight hostile insects. This makes surviving much easier once it is introduced. It also has utility for the main playstyles that are present in survival games. Explorers are able to get around much faster and fight hostile bugs in a swifter way than they normally would be able to. This gets them into more exciting scenarios earlier on in the game, instead of needing to grind a ton of gear. Players that like to build will be able to layout buildings and collect the necessary materials much faster than normal.
The buggy system was a highly requested mechanic for the first game, but was only introduced with the announcement of a sequel. Much of this is due to the original Grounded being an Xbox One game, which means it is also limited by the technical capabilities of a console that is over a decade old. Something that hurts me to say out loud.
Now, that’s not to say that technical struggles won’t be a factor in Grounded 2. The Series S is still something developers need to contend with, yet with the game situated in early access this does mean features can be added, changed, or even removed, aiding and affecting the experience and stability of the game.
A Promising Follow-Up
But Obsidian and Eidos-Montréal know how to make good games and I am willing to trust them when it comes to building on this follow-up to the first Grounded. Because in spite of the changes, the overall feel of Grounded 2 is still reminiscent of the first. Fans of the original will feel right at home upon walking out into the wide-open expanse of the park.
Time will tell if Grounded 2 manages to deliver on the promises that the original trailer has made, but what is there already certainly leaves me excited to see what is to come.
You can pick up a copy of Grounded 2 right now from the Xbox Store, playing on Xbox Series X|S or PC thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere support. It’s in Game Pass from Day One too.
Huge thanks go out to Obsidian for the access for preview. We’ll follow this piece with a full review once Grounded 2 comes out of Game Preview and early access.
