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When I first experience with the first Outer Worlds, I was immediately drawn by its irreverent, Fallout-esque style of comedy. The game boasted lively conversations, individual logs, and propaganda materials that depicted a corporate dystopia that was at once dark and entertaining. My primary concern starting the sequel was that this installment – not due to from itself – wouldn't be as comedic as its predecessor.

Admittedly, conditions weren't ideal. But the world certainly seemed a bit less broken in those days. This universe presented a dystopia that didn't hit extremely relatable, and yet accomplished to be at once touching and hilarious. I commenced the sequel rather certain that this release wouldn't manage to accomplish this a second time, but I'm delighted to report that I was mistaken. The Outer Worlds 2 is as laughter-provoking as the release that came before it, and furthermore presents new themes instead of merely repeating similar elements similar to a tired company slogan.

Evolving Characters

A large portion of the non-player characters users found in the initial release had been worn out by the actions of company organizations like the fictional company, and were acutely conscious of the extent to which their existence was miserable. The Outer Worlds 2 moves events in a distinct route, featuring characters who are brainwashed (occasionally metaphorically, often literally). Numerous personalities don't even realize of how deeply screwed up their circumstances are, or that there might be alternatives to a life lived under the boot of a huge company or limited by the creeds of a high-demand religion.

This second installment investigates methods of company influence that are more subtle than merely maintaining the masses poor. Numerous characters have been brainwashed into the type of overly enthusiastic "grindset mindset" discourse you can discover on online profiles that vow to show the key to success should you purchase a costly program, or participate in a dubious blockchain project. Furthermore, the release's corporate propaganda has developed.

Modern Themes

There continue to be plenty of unmotivational posters throughout facilities threatening to dock staff compensation who even consider taking a day off, but furthermore exist allusions to multi-level marketing strategies, such as a staff guide that boldly states, "Unknown people are merely customers YOU have yet to encounter!" Being a person who grew up in a multi-level marketing household, I promptly exploded in amusement when I saw this reference, because it's a refrain I have frequently encountered repeated exactly by people at the base of such schemes.

Thankfully, this sequel is equally humorous and sarcastic as the original title.

This sequel furthermore explores the dilemma many of us encounter regarding work, politics, and even personal purchases: Being forced to pick the reduced of several poor choices. While attempting to decide whether to back a risky company or a problematic faith organization in the game, I realized I became aligning with the known negative: A familiar corporate entity that is awful (yet merely employs advertising to program its members), rather than the faith organization, which also sucks, but utilizes a horrible approach termed "mental refreshment" to control its members compliant.

Doubtful Authorities

Furthermore, the characters you serve could fail to be trustworthy. As an Earth Directorate agent, you're tasked with working to return control to this settlement following a hostile corporate takeover, and you'll soon discover that each of the aggressors and the defenders adhere to differing (though equally awful) ideologies. But a quick inspection of the transmissions on your spacecraft's system demonstrate that the Earth Directorate isn't precisely the universe's most principled authority either, as evidenced by an answer to a distress call that notifies the contact it will take "several organizational cycles" for an answer to their communication. (This period is approximately the time it takes for me to contact a real help desk employee via telephone currently.)

Relatable Moments

Numerous instances in The Outer Worlds 2 are extremely familiar, but it's a cathartic sort of relatability, and this release achieves equilibrium between its grim future world with humor that's genuinely funny without feeling inappropriate. A primary concept is the near-instant onset of deterioration that seems to take place after significant business mergers. Workers from each party of The Outer Worlds 2's big merger find their existence decrease as a result, while the CEOs in control of the structure are, naturally, collecting the cash rapidly.

Well, at minimum I recognize my position.

Just like the first game, The Outer Worlds 2 is intrinsically comedic, but it also doesn't hesitate to turn solemn. At one point, while traveling around the game's first explorable world, I came upon a body with a message in the vicinity. This message revealed that this individual (associated with the brainwashing religious faction) had perished in an incident while trying to track down and kill her lover. This romantic partner had reportedly deserted from their faction, and the perished individual was incensed at her significant other's {traitorous