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**Headline: Obsidian’s “Grounded 2” Shrinks Expectations, Grows Fun in Early Access**

Obsidian Entertainment, known for its sequel prowess, is poised to deliver another hit with the early access release of “Grounded 2.” The survival RPG, which shrinks players down to insect size in a suburban wilderness, is already surpassing the original in many ways, despite being unfinished.

Players once again take on the roles of shrunken teenagers, this time exploring a park fraught with dangers and mysteries. The story and characters take center stage, with the writing showcasing Obsidian’s signature humor. The move from a backyard setting to a park adds some intriguing new areas, like an ice cream cart turned into a frigid wasteland, but there’s room for more variety.

“Grounded 2” introduces significant gameplay improvements. Players can now specialize into character classes like rogue or mage, mount and ride insects, and use an all-in-one omni-tool. The ability to ride insects, like the material-hauling soldier ant or the web-crawling orb weaver, completely changes navigation and combat.

While base building remains largely unchanged and enemy variety needs expansion, the core experience is compelling. Performance issues, including framerate drops and crashes, mar the experience somewhat, but the game’s strengths shine through.

“Grounded 2” shows immense promise. With more content, refinements to building mechanics, enemy variety, and performance improvements, “Grounded 2” is shaping up to be a standout survival title that could be the evolution of the series.

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