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During my first encounter with the initial Outer Worlds game, I was quickly hooked by its satirical, Fallout-inspired brand of humor. The game featured dynamic dialogues, character diaries, and propaganda materials that illustrated a company-run society that was both bleak and entertaining. My primary concern approaching The Outer Worlds 2 was that this entry – without blame of its own – wouldn't be as comedic like the original.

Admittedly, conditions weren't ideal. But the world definitely felt a bit less broken back then. The Outer Worlds presented a dystopia that didn't strike too close to home, and still managed to be both touching and uproarious. I began The Outer Worlds 2 rather certain that the sequel wouldn't be able to achieve this a second time, but I'm happy to report that I was wrong. This follow-up is as laughter-provoking as the release that came earlier, and also introduces fresh concepts rather than simply reusing identical material comparable to an tired company slogan.

Developing Personalities

A large portion of the non-player characters players encountered in the first title had been worn out by the activities of company organizations like Spacer's Choice, and were fully cognizant of how much their existence was miserable. The Outer Worlds 2 progresses matters in an alternative path, presenting individuals who are brainwashed (periodically symbolically, regularly truly). A lot of these NPCs don't even realize of how extremely disordered their situations are, or that there could be options to a lifetime passed under the domination of a huge company or bound by the beliefs of a demanding cult.

The sequel investigates methods of corporate control that are more deceptive than only making the masses poor. Many NPCs have been brainwashed into the kind of overly enthusiastic "grindset mindset" rhetoric you can discover on social media accounts that vow to show the key to success should you purchase for an overpriced workshop, or put money into a dubious blockchain project. Even the game's company advertising has progressed.

Modern Themes

There are still numerous demotivating signs in various locations warning about deducting pay from workers who even consider having a break, but additionally there are allusions to multi-level marketing strategies, featuring a new hire handbook that proudly declares, "Unknown people are merely clients you haven't met yet!" Being a person who developed within a direct sales household, I promptly exploded in amusement when encountering this allusion, because it's a phrase I have regularly listened to stated precisely by those at the bottom of those structures.

Fortunately, this follow-up is as comedic and sarcastic as the original title.

This installment furthermore explores the situation many of us find ourselves in concerning work, political matters, and including buying decisions: Having to choose the smaller of several poor choices. When trying to determine if to back a harmful business or a dangerous religious group in the game, I found myself aligning with the devil I know: A recognized corporate entity that is terrible (yet merely employs propaganda to brainwash its subjects), as opposed to the faith organization, which is similarly terrible, but employs a horrible approach termed "psychological renewal" to keep its adherents compliant.

Unreliable Masters

Additionally, the individuals you represent might not be reliable. In the role of an space operative, your mission involves attempting to restore control to this settlement after an aggressive business acquisition, and you rapidly learn that the two the aggressors and the residents follow separate (but similarly terrible) beliefs. But a quick review of the transmissions on your spacecraft's system demonstrate that this agency isn't exactly the world's most ethical organization either, as demonstrated by a response to a help request that informs the caller it will take "three to five corporate years" for an answer to their transmission. (This period is roughly the duration it takes for many people to get a hold of a real customer service agent via telephone these days.)

Familiar Situations

Numerous instances in this sequel are painfully relatable, but it's a therapeutic kind of recognition, and this release succeeds in balancing its depressing dystopian setting with humor that's genuinely funny yet not seeming out of place. A primary concept is the near-instant onset of deterioration that seems to take place in the wake of significant business mergers. Workers from each party of this sequel's big merger see their quality of life worsen as a result, while the CEOs in charge of the food chain are, naturally, raking in the cash rapidly.

Well, at minimum I understand my position.

Comparable to the initial release, The Outer Worlds 2 is naturally humorous, but additionally isn't afraid to get serious. At one point, while exploring around the title's initial discoverable location, I discovered a deceased individual with an audio log close by. This message disclosed that this character (associated with the programming faith group) had died in an accident during efforts to hunt down and eliminate her romantic partner. This romantic partner had reportedly deserted from their organization, and the deceased character was enraged by her significant other's {traitorous