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Upon my initial encounter with the initial Outer Worlds title, I was immediately drawn by its sarcastic, Fallout-inspired style of comedy. This title boasted dynamic dialogues, character diaries, and advertising displays that illustrated a corporate dystopia that was simultaneously dark and entertaining. My main fear starting the sequel was that this entry – through no fault from itself – could fail to be as funny like the original.

Sure, things weren't perfect. But the world certainly seemed slightly less fractured back then. The Outer Worlds presented a dystopia that didn't feel extremely relatable, and yet accomplished to be at once emotional and comical. I began the sequel feeling quite confident that this release wouldn't manage to achieve this again, but I'm happy to announce that I was incorrect. This sequel is equally chuckle-inducing as the title that preceded it, and also introduces new themes instead of merely repeating the same content comparable to an worn-out business tune.

Evolving Characters

A large portion of the game characters gamers met in the first title had been defeated by the actions of company organizations like Spacer's Choice, and were fully cognizant of the degree that their situation was terrible. The Outer Worlds 2 moves events in a distinct route, including personalities who are programmed (occasionally metaphorically, frequently actually). A lot of these NPCs aren't conscious of how extremely screwed up their situations are, or that there may exist choices to a lifetime passed under the domination of a huge company or restricted by the doctrines of a demanding cult.

This follow-up investigates methods of business domination that are more deceptive than only making the people destitute. Numerous characters have been indoctrinated into the kind of extremely eager "hustle mentality" discourse you can discover on digital platforms that claim to disclose the key to success when you buy an expensive course, or invest in a dubious blockchain project. Additionally, the title's business promotion has developed.

Modern Themes

There remain numerous discouraging displays throughout facilities indicating reductions in staff compensation who so much as contemplate having a break, but furthermore exist references to network marketing methods, including an employee manual that confidently announces, "Unfamiliar individuals are simply customers YOU have yet to encounter!" As an individual who developed within a multi-level marketing household, I promptly exploded with laughter when I saw this allusion, because it's a saying I have often heard stated precisely by people at the base of such schemes.

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

The Outer Worlds 2 furthermore explores the predicament various individuals experience when it comes to work, politics, and even personal purchases: Needing to choose the reduced of several poor choices. When trying to choose whether to back a harmful business or a concerning cult throughout the experience, I discovered I was supporting the known negative: A recognized company structure that is awful (yet merely employs propaganda to brainwash its subjects), rather than the religious group, which also sucks, but uses a terrible method termed "mental refreshment" to maintain its followers obedient.

Unreliable Masters

Additionally, the individuals you represent could fail to be reliable. In the role of an Earth Directorate agent, you're tasked with working to return order to this outpost subsequent to a hostile corporate takeover, and you'll soon discover that both the aggressors and the defenders adhere to distinct (but similarly terrible) ideologies. However, a rapid review of the messages on your ship's terminal show that this organization isn't precisely the universe's most principled authority either, as shown by an answer to an emergency signal that tells the sender it will take "3-5 business years" for a reply to their communication. (This period is about how long it takes for me to reach a non-robot customer service agent via telephone these days.)

Relatable Moments

Numerous instances in The Outer Worlds 2 are highly recognizable, but it's a cathartic kind of recognition, and this release manages to balance its grim future world with comedy that's authentically amusing yet not seeming out of place. One major theme is the quick commencement of decline that happens to unfold in the wake of any major corporate acquisition. Staff members from all factions of The Outer Worlds 2's major acquisition find their existence decline as a result, while the CEOs in control of the hierarchy are, expectedly, collecting money rapidly.

Well, at minimum I understand where I stand.

Comparable to the first game, this follow-up is naturally humorous, but additionally doesn't shy away to get serious. At a certain time, while wandering around the release's primary explorable world, I came upon a corpse with an audio log close by. This message revealed that this individual (who was aligned with the indoctrinating cult) had perished in an incident during efforts to track down and dispatch her lover. This partner had apparently defected from their organization, and the now-dead NPC was incensed at her significant other's {traitorous