Grounded: Obsidian goes back to its roots with a Hot and Hazy update

It’s no secret that Obsidian’s backyard survival game Grounded is vastly different from anything the prolific RPG developer has done before – something the developers themselves have scoffed at in the past. But while the microscopic multiplayer adventure has been successful in its own right, even while it’s still in preview, the next Hot and Hazy update seems poised to bring many fans more than they could ever expect from Obsidian: lots of stats. With everything from character stats that allow you to upgrade your avatar’s abilities, to weapon upgrades that increase lethality, to new armor classes with in-game consequences, Grounded will become much more nerdy and RPG-like. at the end of this month.

One of the biggest additions Hot and Hazy adds is a collectible called Milk Molars, which allows you to update stats like max health, max stamina, how fast your character is thirsty or hungry, and how many mutations you can equip the time. In the future, not all adventurers will be the same, and players will be able to upgrade their avatars in different ways by collecting and spending this new currency. Even more interesting, you can also buy group upgrades, which give the whole group a boost.

Similarly, weapon upgrades will give you the opportunity to upgrade your weapon with higher damage and durability, and even apply status effects. For example, if you collect peppermint candies and apply them to your weapon, it will give you the “fresh” status effect that gives you unique properties.

The armor has also been given an RPG-like rework, and now all armor will be classified as light, medium, or heavy, each of which has trade-offs between toughness and protection, like a million other sets of role you have been taught. Wearing light armor gives you less protection in a fight, but allows you to regenerate stamina faster, while heavy armor is the opposite, yet another way for players to define their own playstyles and fill different roles within a game. group of players.

Have you played Grounded?

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Of course, there is no point in having all these new tools if you don’t have some new dangers to deal with, and the Hot and Hazy update adds four new environments, including the new Sandbox Desert biome, and an update to an existing one. one: The Haze.

The Sandbox Wilderness is a giant backyard sandbox where exposure to direct sunlight applies a new sizzling effect on you that begins to kill you over time, forcing you to run between fountains. of shade before you burn. In the desert, you’ll find new enemies to fight, buried treasures to uncover, and other secrets that could make the fiery journey worthwhile.

On the flip side, there’s The Haze, which has been revamped to be more than just a bleak patch of poisonous smog. Now you’ll find spooky exploding mushrooms, new enemies, and even a secret lab to be explored and looted. But getting through this highly toxic zone will mean preparing with the proper equipment, such as a gas mask, to make the hostile zone semi-habitable.

In our early access review last year, we liked the core of Grounded’s survival RPG, but we regret its lack of meaningful content. So it’s really amazing to see Obsidian double down on RPG elements with the Hot and Hazy Update, which looks to add exactly what the game needed. I’m excited to jump in and start maxing out my character when the update hits later this month.