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When I first experience with the initial Outer Worlds, I was instantly captivated by its sarcastic, Fallout-esque style of comedy. The game featured engaging exchanges, individual logs, and propaganda materials that depicted a business-controlled nightmare that was at once grim and humorous. My main fear starting the sequel was that this version – through no fault of its own – could fail to be as humorous as its predecessor.

Certainly, conditions weren't ideal. However, life definitely felt somewhat less damaged back then. This universe depicted a grim society that didn't strike too close to home, and nonetheless succeeded to be at once touching and uproarious. I started The Outer Worlds 2 feeling quite confident that this installment wouldn't be able to achieve this a second time, but I'm delighted to announce that I was incorrect. This sequel is just as chuckle-inducing as the release that came earlier, and additionally brings new themes instead of simply reusing similar elements like an worn-out business tune.

Developing Personalities

The majority of the NPCs players encountered in the first title had been defeated by the activities of corporate entities like Spacer's Choice, and were acutely conscious of how much their lives sucked. The Outer Worlds 2 moves events in a distinct route, including personalities who are programmed (sometimes figuratively, often literally). A lot of these personalities don't even realize of how profoundly disordered their situations are, or that there may exist alternatives to a lifetime passed beneath the control of a massive corporation or limited by the beliefs of a demanding cult.

This follow-up explores types of business domination that are more insidious than simply keeping the people destitute. Various personalities have been programmed with the sort of excessively zealous "work ethic" language you might encounter on digital platforms that promise to reveal the secret of achievement when you buy for an overpriced workshop, or invest in a questionable digital currency plan. Even the game's business promotion has developed.

Modern Themes

There continue to be plenty of unmotivational posters on the walls warning about deducting staff compensation who so much as consider having a break, but additionally there are mentions of network marketing tactics, featuring a staff guide that confidently announces, "Strangers are just patrons you have yet to encounter!" As someone who grew up in a network marketing family, I promptly exploded with laughter when I saw this reference, because it's a refrain I have frequently encountered repeated exactly by people at the base of these systems.

Fortunately, this sequel is as comedic and satirical as the original title.

The Outer Worlds 2 furthermore explores the predicament many of us experience regarding occupation, government, and including buying decisions: Needing to choose the reduced of several poor choices. When trying to choose whether to support a dangerous corporate entity or a dangerous religious group throughout the experience, I found myself aligning with the familiar evil: An established company structure that is terrible (but only uses propaganda to indoctrinate its followers), instead of the faith organization, which is equally bad, but utilizes an awful technique called "cognitive reset" to control its members obedient.

Questionable Employers

Additionally, the individuals you represent could fail to be trustworthy. In the role of an galactic official, your mission involves working to return control to this outpost following a hostile corporate takeover, and you will quickly find that each of the invaders and the residents adhere to distinct (but similarly terrible) doctrines. Yet a speedy review of the messages on your spacecraft's system show that the Earth Directorate is hardly the universe's most principled organization too, as demonstrated by a reply to a help request that tells the sender it will take "three to five corporate years" for a response to their communication. (This duration is about how long it takes for me to contact a non-robot help desk employee through calling these days.)

Relatable Moments

Various situations in this sequel are highly recognizable, but it's a therapeutic type of familiarity, and this title achieves equilibrium between its depressing dystopian setting with comedy that's truly humorous yet not seeming inappropriate. One major theme is the near-instant onset of deterioration that happens to unfold following large company takeovers. Employees on both sides of The Outer Worlds 2's major acquisition experience their living standards worsen therefore, while the leaders in charge of the food chain are, expectedly, accumulating the cash hand over fist.

Hey, at least I understand my position.

Just like the original title, The Outer Worlds 2 is inherently funny, but additionally doesn't shy away to get serious. At one point, while exploring around the release's primary discoverable location, I came upon a corpse with a recording nearby. The audio log revealed that this character (associated with the brainwashing religious faction) had died in an accident while trying to track down and kill her lover. This loved one had apparently defected from their faction, and the perished individual was angry about her significant other's {traitorous