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When I first playthrough of the first Outer Worlds, I was instantly captivated by its satirical, Fallout-inspired brand of humor. The game included dynamic dialogues, individual logs, and propaganda materials that portrayed a company-run society that was at once bleak and amusing. My main fear approaching The Outer Worlds 2 was that this installment – through no fault of its own – could fail to be as funny compared to the first.

Certainly, situations weren't flawless. Yet society certainly seemed somewhat less damaged at that time. The Outer Worlds presented a dystopia that didn't feel too close to home, and yet accomplished to be at once emotional and comical. I started the follow-up pretty sure that this installment wouldn't manage to achieve this again, but I'm pleased to announce that I was wrong. This sequel is equally laughter-provoking as the title that preceded it, and furthermore presents fresh concepts as opposed to simply reusing identical material comparable to an overused corporate jingle.

Changing NPCs

Most of the game characters users found in the first title had been worn out by the activities of business corporations including Spacer's Choice, and were fully cognizant of the degree that their situation was terrible. The Outer Worlds 2 takes things in a different direction, presenting individuals who are indoctrinated (occasionally metaphorically, often literally). Many of these NPCs aren't conscious of how deeply screwed up their situations are, or that there could be choices to an existence spent under the boot of a huge company or bound by the beliefs of a demanding cult.

This follow-up investigates methods of company influence that are more deceptive than simply keeping the masses poor. Various personalities have been programmed with the sort of extremely eager "grindset mindset" language you might encounter on online profiles that promise to reveal the path to accomplishment when you buy an expensive course, or invest in a dubious blockchain project. Additionally, the title's company advertising has developed.

Modern Themes

There continue to be many unmotivational posters in various locations threatening to dock staff compensation who dare to contemplate having a break, but there are also mentions of network marketing methods, such as an employee manual that boldly states, "Unknown people are merely patrons you haven't met yet!" As an individual who was raised in a network marketing household, I promptly exploded with laughter when I saw this allusion, because it's a saying I have often heard stated precisely by those at the bottom of such schemes.

Luckily, this sequel is as comedic and irreverent as the initial release.

The Outer Worlds 2 furthermore explores the dilemma various individuals encounter regarding work, politics, and even consumer choices: Being forced to pick the reduced of two or three evils. While attempting to decide whether to support a risky company or a problematic faith organization in the game, I realized I became siding with the known negative: A recognized corporate entity that is terrible (yet merely employs propaganda to brainwash its subjects), as opposed to the cult, which is equally bad, but utilizes an awful technique termed "cognitive reset" to keep its adherents in line.

Unreliable Masters

Furthermore, the characters you serve might not be dependable. Playing as an space operative, your assignment includes trying to reestablish control to the Arcadia colony subsequent to a forceful company buyout, and you rapidly learn that the two the aggressors and the residents follow separate (but similarly terrible) doctrines. However, a rapid inspection of the communications on your ship's terminal demonstrate that this agency isn't precisely the universe's most principled employer too, as shown by an answer to a distress call that tells the sender it will take "several business years" for a reply to their communication. (That time frame is about how long it takes for many people to reach a non-robot customer service agent through calling nowadays.)

Relatable Moments

Numerous instances in this sequel are highly recognizable, but it's a therapeutic sort of relatability, and this release achieves equilibrium between its grim future world with humor that's genuinely funny yet not seeming out of place. One major theme is the quick commencement of decline that appears to occur following large company takeovers. Workers from each party of this sequel's major acquisition experience their living standards worsen consequently, while the leaders in charge of the structure are, naturally, raking in money quickly.

Hey, at least I recognize my position.

Comparable to the initial release, this sequel is naturally humorous, but furthermore isn't afraid to turn solemn. At one point, while wandering around the title's initial accessible planet, I discovered a body with an audio log close by. This recording revealed that this character (who was aligned with the indoctrinating cult) had perished in an incident while attempting to track down and eliminate her romantic partner. This romantic partner had seemingly abandoned from their organization, and the now-dead NPC was angry about her significant other's {traitorous