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Upon my initial experience with the original Outer Worlds, I was instantly captivated by its sarcastic, Fallout-like type of wit. This title boasted dynamic dialogues, character diaries, and propaganda materials that portrayed a company-run society that was both bleak and amusing. My primary concern approaching the follow-up was that this entry – not due to from itself – might not be as funny compared to the first.

Certainly, things weren't perfect. But the world certainly seemed a bit less broken at that time. This game presented a dystopia that didn't hit extremely relatable, and yet accomplished to be at once emotional and comical. I commenced the sequel pretty sure that this installment wouldn't manage to achieve this again, but I'm pleased to report that I was wrong. The Outer Worlds 2 is equally chuckle-inducing as the title that came before it, and additionally brings new themes rather than simply reusing similar elements similar to a tired company slogan.

Changing NPCs

A large portion of the game characters users found in the original game had been worn out by the deeds of corporate entities like the fictional company, and were painfully aware of the degree that their lives sucked. This sequel moves events in an alternative path, featuring characters who are brainwashed (sometimes figuratively, frequently actually). Many of these characters aren't even aware of how deeply messed up their conditions are, or that there may exist choices to a lifetime passed under the boot of a huge company or bound by the creeds of a demanding cult.

The sequel explores types of corporate control that are more deceptive than only making the masses poor. Various personalities have been brainwashed into the type of extremely eager "work ethic" language you can discover on social media accounts that claim to disclose the path to accomplishment if you pay a costly program, or put money into a dubious blockchain project. Additionally, the title's business promotion has evolved.

Modern Themes

There remain numerous demotivating signs on the walls warning about deducting employee wages who even consider requesting leave, but furthermore exist allusions to multi-level marketing methods, including a staff guide that confidently announces, "Strangers are just patrons you still need to meet!" As someone who developed within a multi-level marketing household, I promptly exploded with laughter when encountering this mention, because it's a saying I have often heard repeated exactly by individuals in lower positions of such schemes.

Fortunately, this follow-up is just as funny and sarcastic as the original title.

This sequel furthermore explores the dilemma various individuals experience when it comes to occupation, government, and even consumer choices: Needing to select the reduced of multiple bad options. When trying to choose whether to assist a risky company or a problematic faith organization in the game, I realized I became siding with the familiar evil: An established corporate entity that sucks (but only uses propaganda to indoctrinate its followers), instead of the religious group, which also sucks, but utilizes a horrible approach called "mental refreshment" to maintain its followers compliant.

Doubtful Authorities

Additionally, the individuals you serve could fail to be dependable. In the role of an space operative, your mission involves working to return order to this outpost after an aggressive business acquisition, and you will quickly find that each of the aggressors and the residents adhere to distinct (yet equally horrific) ideologies. Yet a speedy inspection of the transmissions on your vessel's computer reveal that the Earth Directorate is hardly the galaxy's most moral organization too, as demonstrated by an answer to a distress call that notifies the contact it will take "3-5 organizational cycles" for a response to their message. (This period is roughly the duration it takes for me to contact a real support representative via telephone currently.)

Familiar Situations

Numerous instances in this sequel are painfully relatable, but it's a therapeutic sort of relatability, and this release manages to balance its depressing dystopian setting with comedy that's genuinely funny without feeling out of place. One major theme is the near-instant onset of deterioration that appears to occur after any major corporate acquisition. Staff members from all factions of this installment's significant consolidation see their quality of life decline consequently, while the executives in control of the structure are, expectedly, collecting profits hand over fist.

Hey, at least I recognize my position.

Just like the first game, this follow-up is inherently funny, but furthermore isn't afraid to become dramatic. At one point, while wandering around the title's initial explorable world, I stumbled across a deceased individual with a message in the vicinity. This recording revealed that this character (who was aligned with the programming faith group) had died in an accident while trying to track down and eliminate her significant other. This loved one had apparently defected from their faction, and the perished individual was incensed at her significant other's {traitorous