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When I first experience with the original Outer Worlds title, I was quickly hooked by its satirical, Fallout-esque brand of humor. This title included dynamic dialogues, personal journals, and promotional posters that depicted a company-run society that was at once dark and amusing. My primary concern approaching The Outer Worlds 2 was that this version – without blame of its own – wouldn't be as humorous like the original.

Certainly, conditions weren't ideal. But the world definitely felt slightly less fractured in those days. This universe showed a bleak future that didn't feel overly familiar, and nonetheless succeeded to be at once emotional and hilarious. I started the sequel feeling quite confident that this installment wouldn't be able to pull this off a second time, but I'm delighted to report that I was wrong. The Outer Worlds 2 is as laughter-provoking as the game that came earlier, and additionally brings new themes instead of just recycling identical material similar to a overused corporate jingle.

Evolving Characters

Most of the game characters players encountered in the initial release had been worn out by the activities of corporate entities like the in-game corporation, and were fully cognizant of the extent to which their existence was miserable. This installment takes things in an alternative path, including personalities who are indoctrinated (sometimes figuratively, often literally). Many of these NPCs aren't conscious of how deeply screwed up their situations are, or that there might be choices to a lifetime passed under the boot of a huge company or bound by the beliefs of an intense faith.

This second installment investigates methods of corporate control that are more deceptive than merely maintaining the masses poor. Numerous characters have been brainwashed into the sort of excessively zealous "grindset mindset" language you'll find on social media accounts that promise to reveal the key to success should you purchase a costly program, or invest in a dubious blockchain project. Additionally, the title's corporate propaganda has progressed.

Modern Themes

There remain plenty of discouraging displays in various locations warning about deducting staff compensation who even think about having a break, but additionally there are allusions to network marketing strategies, including an employee manual that confidently announces, "Strangers are just clients you haven't met yet!" As someone who was raised in a direct sales household, I promptly exploded laughing when I saw this reference, because it's a refrain I have often heard repeated exactly by individuals in lower positions of these systems.

Luckily, The Outer Worlds 2 is equally humorous and satirical as the initial release.

This installment additionally investigates the situation numerous people experience when it comes to work, government, and even consumer choices: Needing to pick the reduced of multiple bad options. When trying to determine if to support a risky company or a problematic faith organization throughout the experience, I realized I became siding with the familiar evil: A recognized company structure that is terrible (but only uses advertising to brainwash its subjects), instead of the faith organization, which is similarly terrible, but employs a terrible method called "psychological renewal" to maintain its followers obedient.

Unreliable Masters

Furthermore, the characters you work for might not be dependable. In the role of an space operative, your mission involves attempting to restore stability to this settlement following an aggressive business acquisition, and you rapidly learn that the two the invaders and the residents adhere to differing (but similarly terrible) doctrines. However, a rapid examination of the messages on your vessel's computer reveal that the Earth Directorate is hardly the galaxy's most moral authority too, as demonstrated by an answer to an emergency signal that informs the caller it will take "several corporate years" for an answer to their communication. (This duration is roughly the duration it takes for me to reach a non-robot support representative via telephone nowadays.)

Relatable Moments

Numerous instances in this sequel are painfully relatable, but it's a therapeutic kind of recognition, and this release achieves equilibrium between its bleak societal vision with humor that's authentically amusing without feeling out of place. A primary concept is the near-instant onset of deterioration that seems to take place after significant business mergers. Staff members from all factions of this sequel's major acquisition see their quality of life worsen therefore, while the CEOs in charge of the hierarchy are, of course, collecting the cash rapidly.

Well, at minimum I recognize where I stand.

Similar to the initial release, this sequel is intrinsically comedic, but it also isn't afraid to become dramatic. During a moment, while traveling around the title's initial explorable world, I discovered a deceased individual with a recording in the vicinity. This message showed that this NPC (who was aligned with the indoctrinating cult) had perished in an incident while trying to locate and dispatch her lover. This loved one had apparently defected from their organization, and the perished individual was incensed at her significant other's {traitorous