Quest Summary
Companion Side-Quest in The Outer Worlds 2
The Frozen Maw is an RPG, combat focused cave in The Outer Worlds 2 that serves as a prelude to an engaging, emotional companion quest for Inez, titled A Most Extraordinary Specimen. This ice cave is the home to a handful of angry Space Bears (Ursopods), but it also houses an inaccessible lab elevator, that holds many deep dark secrets beneath it. Inez and the player are sent here by her comrade to investigate his concerns about potential grafting experimentation. Upon approaching the exterior of the cave, the player receives a distress signal that alerts Inez and causes her to further investigate the mystery of the ice cave, populated with Ursopods.
*Spoiler Alert*, this Ice cave connects to the Algid Menagerie that reveals grafting lab experiments, it's subjects and the lead scientist of the operation.
Design | Team Goals
We wanted to create a dramatic, emotional, memorable, fun companion quest that would serve as a pivotal moment between the player and Inez's connection in TOW2. Through collaboration with the narrative team to make sure the emotional beats and pacing was appropriate, and collaboration with the artist to make sure the intended vision was met from narrative and concepts, we collectively arrived at what I believe to be one of the strongest, if not best companion quest in TOW2.
Role: Area Designer
Responsibilities:
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Blockout area layout
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Combat Encounter setup
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Loot Placement
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Co-Conversation setup
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Heavy Collab. w/ Art & Narrative
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Visual Scripting/Blueprints
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Digital Documenation & Maps
Ursopods created by Bree Guthrie, Concept Artist
Concept Art by Bree Guthrie
Character Art by Kory Molohon
Concept Art by Bree Guthrie
Team Pod: 3 Devs
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Level Type: Combat POI
Development Time: 2 years
Ortiz's Message - Quest Start
After the player receives a message from the courier on the ACS Undisputed Claim, the player goes back to their ship to listen to a recording from Ortiz, desperately asking Inez for help.
"Inez received a message from her friend, Trooper Ortiz, who is on his deathbed after being illegally operated on by a grafting doctor. He has asked Inez to stop the doctor, directing her to a secret lab on Cloister. Inez has vowed to find this doctor and get justice for Ortiz."
Frozen Maw Ext. - Quest Progression
Once the Player lands on Cloister, and they arrive at the location of the beacon they receive a distress signal that appears to be familiar to Inez, from her faction's past military training.
On the exterior of The Maw are a couple of roaming Ursopods, guarding the entrance to the cave. Proceed with caution... or not
Along the left side of the cave, the player also has access to a stealth route that allows them to bypass combat deeper inside the cave. The entrance is marked with a pickable.
Inez begins to receive a distress signal from outside of the Frozen Maw
Map of the location of the cave mentioned by Trooper Ortiz on Cloister.
Secret Lab Elevator
- Quest Progression
Past the Ursopods inhabiting the cave, lies a secret, disabled door with a terminal beside it and additional clues the player can investigate. If the player has Inez in their party, they can activate the Terminal and unlock the door.
Upon unlocking the door the player discovers that it is an elevator that descends into deeper, darker, truths ahead.
Continue reading Algid Menagerie to continue along the Quest Progression/Level Designs
Gallery
Environment Artist, Rain Supple
Early Development Images (TBD)
Frozen Maw Top-Down Digital Map
Frozen Maw Top-Down Digital Map