Though Obsidian Entertainment is perhaps most known for 2010's Fallout: New Vegas, recent years have wielded more unpredictable results. From South Park: The Stick of Truth to The Outer Worlds, which already has a sequel in the works, the California-based developer has released a plethora of games that satisfy a number of niches. While most reside in the role-playing genre, the differences between each Obsidian Entertainment game are usually vast, as the company has showed its versatility in a number of disciplines, proving its worth to parent company Microsoft.
The Summer Xbox and Bethesda showcase was full of surprises, from an in-depth look at Starfield to the reveal of Xbox's partnership with industry veteran Hideo Kojima for his next project. One element of the ~90-minute presentation that wasn't a shock was the announcement of Pentiment, a title that was rumored for a while. It's a game that once again stretches the expertise of its developer, looking to capture the attention of fans of Disco Elysium with its slow, methodical approach to game design. This is far from the frantic gunplay of The Outer Worlds, but with an experienced team at the helm, it could have as much of a positive impact on the industry.
Pentiment's Gorgeous Presentation
While Obsidian Entertainment's games are never ugly, the developer isn't known for its visuals. South Park: The Stick of Truth is a faithful recreation of the show that spawned it and Pillars of Eternity's fluid gameplay and complex RPG systems are what makes it great. Pentiment looks stunning, draping itself in a middle-ages European art style that feels like a love letter to the history it's retelling, while also standing out in the AAA gaming space; a feat that's increasingly harder to achieve as the years roll on.
This is a departure from the norm that could add yet another string to the developer's bow. Being a narrative-driven adventure about a wayfaring artist in 16th century Bavaria, it's likely going to be an experience that relies on its visuals as the format will provoke plenty of story moments to break up its inevitable combat. Games like Pyre, Valiant Hearts, and even the aforementioned Disco Elysium all succeed in large part due to their superb aesthetics, and Pentiment gives Obsidian the chance to prove that it, too, can show that looks do matter.
Obsidian's Eclectic Past
Obsidian Entertainment had a busy time at the Xbox and Bethesda showcase, announcing that Grounded is leaving early access as well as Pentiment's reveal. This is all despite the fact that Avowed was noticeably absent, but the event also needed to give others a chance to shine. However, the company is one of the industry leaders in the RPG genre in particular, so its heavy emphasis this time out wasn't a surprise. Its offerings are anywhere from critically and commercially appreciated to universally adored, and none have been an abject failure.
The stark difference in each Obsidian release is a gift and a curse, though. On one hand, it means that the studio is capable of taking on any number of different and varied projects and the chances are it will be a well-rounded experience. On the other, it means that fans of the company never quite know if its next project will be to their liking. Fallout: New Vegas will surely be its magnum opus for years to come, and The Outer Worlds did well to replicate its charm, but Pentiment will look to satisfy fans of other types of role-playing games.
Pentiment's predictable reveal was one of the most unique moments of the Xbox and Bethesda showcase, which is curious as it's from one of the industry's most established developers. It's a far cry from what came before, but the same level of polish will hopefully be present when it releases in 2022.
Pentiment releases in 2022 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.