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During my first playthrough of the initial Outer Worlds, I was quickly hooked by its irreverent, Fallout-inspired brand of humor. This title boasted dynamic dialogues, personal journals, and promotional posters that depicted a business-controlled nightmare that was simultaneously bleak and amusing. My main fear approaching The Outer Worlds 2 was that this entry – not due to of its own – wouldn't be as comedic compared to the first.

Admittedly, things weren't perfect. Yet society undoubtedly appeared a bit less broken at that time. The Outer Worlds presented a dystopia that didn't hit too close to home, and nonetheless succeeded to be both touching and uproarious. I commenced the follow-up feeling quite confident that the sequel wouldn't manage to pull this off again, but I'm delighted to announce that I was wrong. The Outer Worlds 2 is as smile-generating as the title that came earlier, and additionally brings new themes instead of merely repeating the same content like an tired company slogan.

Evolving Characters

Most of the NPCs users found in the initial release had been worn out by the actions of company organizations including the in-game corporation, and were fully cognizant of how much their lives sucked. This installment takes things in an alternative path, including personalities who are brainwashed (periodically symbolically, regularly truly). Numerous NPCs aren't even aware of how deeply disordered their situations are, or that there might be options to an existence spent under the domination of a large business or restricted by the doctrines of an intense faith.

The sequel investigates methods of business domination that are more deceptive than only making the population impoverished. Numerous characters have been indoctrinated into the kind of extremely eager "work ethic" language you might encounter on social media accounts that claim to disclose the path to accomplishment when you buy for an overpriced workshop, or put money into a sketchy crypto scheme. Even the game's company advertising has progressed.

Current Topics

There are still many discouraging displays throughout facilities threatening to dock employee wages who even contemplate taking a day off, but furthermore exist allusions to network marketing tactics, including an employee manual that confidently announces, "Unfamiliar individuals are simply clients you still need to meet!" As someone who grew up in a multi-level marketing household, I instantly erupted in amusement when I saw this mention, because it's a phrase I have regularly listened to spoken verbatim by those at the bottom of those structures.

Thankfully, this follow-up is equally humorous and irreverent as the first game.

This installment additionally investigates the predicament many of us experience when it comes to occupation, political matters, and even consumer choices: Having to choose the smaller of several poor choices. During efforts to determine if to assist a risky company or a concerning cult in the game, I found myself supporting the familiar evil: A recognized company structure that sucks (but only uses promotion to indoctrinate its followers), rather than the faith organization, which is equally bad, but utilizes a terrible method termed "cognitive reset" to control its members obedient.

Unreliable Masters

Additionally, the individuals you work for may not be reliable. In the role of an space operative, you're tasked with attempting to restore control to the Arcadia colony subsequent to a forceful company buyout, and you rapidly learn that each of the invaders and the residents follow distinct (yet equally horrific) beliefs. However, a rapid inspection of the messages on your vessel's computer demonstrate that the Earth Directorate isn't exactly the world's most ethical employer as well, as shown by a reply to a distress call that notifies the contact it will take "3-5 organizational cycles" for an answer to their transmission. (This period is approximately the time it takes for numerous individuals to contact a human support representative through calling currently.)

Relatable Moments

Various situations in this sequel are highly recognizable, but it's a cathartic kind of recognition, and this release succeeds in balancing its grim future world with comedy that's genuinely funny yet not seeming inappropriate. A primary concept is the near-instant onset of enshittification that happens to unfold following any major corporate acquisition. Staff members from all factions of this installment's big merger see their quality of life decrease consequently, while the executives at the top of the food chain are, expectedly, collecting the cash hand over fist.

Okay, at the very least I understand where I stand.

Comparable to the initial release, this sequel is inherently funny, but additionally doesn't hesitate to become dramatic. During a moment, while exploring around the release's primary discoverable location, I discovered a body with an audio log nearby. This message revealed that this NPC (associated with the brainwashing religious faction) had been killed in an event while attempting to track down and dispatch her lover. This loved one had reportedly deserted from their group, and the now-dead NPC was incensed at her significant other's {traitorous