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When I first encounter with the original Outer Worlds, I was quickly hooked by its sarcastic, Fallout-inspired brand of humor. This title boasted lively conversations, character diaries, and advertising displays that depicted a corporate dystopia that was both dark and entertaining. My biggest worry approaching the follow-up was that this entry – not due to from itself – might not be as funny compared to the first.

Sure, things weren't perfect. But the world certainly seemed a bit less broken at that time. This universe presented a dystopia that didn't strike overly familiar, and nonetheless succeeded to be both emotional and hilarious. I commenced the sequel rather certain that the sequel wouldn't manage to pull this off once more, but I'm delighted to state that I was mistaken. This sequel is as smile-generating as the game that came earlier, and additionally brings fresh concepts rather than just recycling identical material like an tired company slogan.

Developing Personalities

A large portion of the NPCs players encountered in the original game had been worn out by the deeds of corporate entities like the in-game corporation, and were fully cognizant of the extent to which their situation was terrible. The Outer Worlds 2 takes things in an alternative path, presenting individuals who are brainwashed (periodically symbolically, frequently actually). A lot of these NPCs don't even realize of how deeply screwed up their circumstances are, or that there may exist options to an existence spent under the domination of a huge company or bound by the creeds of a demanding cult.

This follow-up explores types of corporate control that are more subtle than simply keeping the population impoverished. Numerous characters have been programmed with the kind of extremely eager "work ethic" language you'll find on social media accounts that vow to show the key to success should you purchase an expensive course, or invest in a dubious blockchain project. Additionally, the title's company advertising has evolved.

Contemporary Issues

There remain numerous discouraging displays on the walls indicating reductions in employee wages who dare to contemplate having a break, but furthermore exist allusions to multi-level marketing tactics, including a staff guide that proudly declares, "Unknown people are merely clients you have yet to encounter!" Being a person who was raised in a network marketing environment, I promptly exploded laughing upon viewing this allusion, because it's a refrain I have regularly listened to spoken verbatim by people at the base of such schemes.

Luckily, this sequel is just as funny and sarcastic as the first game.

This sequel furthermore explores the predicament various individuals encounter when it comes to work, government, and even consumer choices: Having to choose the reduced of two or three evils. When trying to choose whether to support a risky company or a concerning cult within the title, I found myself supporting the known negative: A recognized business organization that is terrible (yet merely employs advertising to indoctrinate its followers), as opposed to the religious group, which is equally bad, but utilizes a terrible method termed "psychological renewal" to maintain its followers compliant.

Unreliable Masters

Furthermore, the characters you serve might not be reliable. As an space operative, your assignment includes working to return stability to this settlement following an aggressive business acquisition, and you'll soon discover that the two the invaders and the invadees follow separate (yet equally horrific) ideologies. However, a rapid inspection of the communications on your spacecraft's system demonstrate that this organization isn't exactly the world's most ethical organization as well, as shown by a response to a distress call that notifies the contact it will take "3-5 organizational cycles" for a reply to their message. (This period is roughly the duration it takes for numerous individuals to reach a real support representative via telephone currently.)

Recognizable Scenarios

Various situations in this installment are painfully relatable, but it's a cleansing type of familiarity, and the game succeeds in balancing its bleak societal vision with humor that's truly humorous without feeling incongruous. One major theme is the quick commencement of deterioration that appears to occur after significant business mergers. Employees on both sides of this sequel's major acquisition find their existence worsen as a result, while the executives in control of the food chain are, naturally, accumulating the cash rapidly.

Well, at minimum I understand where I stand.

Comparable to the original title, this sequel is inherently funny, but it also doesn't shy away to turn solemn. During a moment, while exploring around the release's primary explorable world, I discovered a deceased individual with a recording close by. The audio log revealed that this NPC (associated with the indoctrinating cult) had been killed in an event while trying to locate and dispatch her lover. This loved one had reportedly deserted from their organization, and the deceased character was angry about her lover's {traitorous