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Upon my initial encounter with the first Outer Worlds, I was quickly hooked by its sarcastic, Fallout-inspired style of comedy. The game boasted engaging exchanges, personal journals, and promotional posters that portrayed a company-run society that was at once dark and amusing. My biggest worry starting the sequel was that this version – through no fault of its own – might not be as funny like the original.

Certainly, things weren't perfect. But the world definitely felt slightly less fractured at that time. This universe depicted a grim society that didn't strike extremely relatable, and nonetheless succeeded to be simultaneously touching and uproarious. I started the follow-up rather certain that the sequel wouldn't manage to accomplish this a second time, but I'm delighted to report that I was mistaken. This follow-up is as laughter-provoking as the release that preceded it, and also introduces new themes rather than merely repeating the same content comparable to an worn-out business tune.

Changing NPCs

A large portion of the non-player characters players encountered in the first title had been worn out by the actions of company organizations including Spacer's Choice, and were painfully aware of the extent to which their situation was terrible. This sequel progresses matters in an alternative path, featuring characters who are indoctrinated (periodically symbolically, regularly truly). Numerous personalities don't even realize of how deeply disordered their conditions are, or that there could be choices to a lifetime passed beneath the control of a massive corporation or restricted by the beliefs of a demanding cult.

The sequel examines forms of business domination that are more insidious than simply keeping the population impoverished. Many NPCs have been indoctrinated into the type of excessively zealous "hustle mentality" discourse you might encounter on digital platforms that vow to show the secret of achievement should you purchase for an overpriced workshop, or put money into a dubious blockchain project. Additionally, the title's corporate propaganda has developed.

Current Topics

There continue to be numerous demotivating signs on the walls warning about deducting employee wages who even contemplate requesting leave, but there are also references to multi-level marketing strategies, such as an employee manual that confidently announces, "Strangers are just clients you have yet to encounter!" Being a person who developed within a network marketing environment, I promptly exploded with laughter when I saw this mention, because it's a refrain I have often heard repeated exactly by people at the base of these systems.

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

This sequel also examines the predicament many of us find ourselves in regarding employment, political matters, and even consumer choices: Needing to pick the lesser of multiple bad options. When trying to choose whether to assist a risky company or a dangerous religious group throughout the experience, I realized I became siding with the familiar evil: A recognized corporate entity that sucks (but only uses propaganda to brainwash its subjects), as opposed to the cult, which is equally bad, but employs an awful technique named "cognitive reset" to maintain its followers compliant.

Doubtful Authorities

Even the people you represent could fail to be dependable. As an space operative, your assignment includes attempting to restore control to the Arcadia colony after a hostile corporate takeover, and you rapidly learn that the two the invaders and the defenders follow differing (yet equally horrific) doctrines. However, a rapid examination of the communications on your ship's terminal demonstrate that this agency is hardly the world's most ethical organization as well, as evidenced by a reply to a help request that tells the sender it will take "three to five organizational cycles" for a response to their transmission. (This period is about how long it takes for me to reach a human help desk employee through calling nowadays.)

Familiar Situations

Various situations in The Outer Worlds 2 are extremely familiar, but it's a therapeutic kind of recognition, and the game succeeds in balancing its depressing dystopian setting with humor that's genuinely funny yet not seeming out of place. An important idea is the near-instant onset of enshittification that appears to occur following large company takeovers. Workers from each party of this installment's major acquisition see their quality of life decline as a result, while the leaders at the top of the structure are, naturally, collecting money hand over fist.

Okay, at the very least I understand my situation.

Just like the first game, this sequel is naturally humorous, but additionally doesn't shy away to become dramatic. During a moment, while traveling around the game's first explorable world, I discovered a corpse with an audio log nearby. This message revealed that this individual (who was aligned with the programming faith group) had died in an accident while attempting to hunt down and dispatch her lover. This loved one had reportedly deserted from their organization, and the perished individual was incensed at her lover's {traitorous