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When I first encounter with the initial Outer Worlds title, I was quickly hooked by its irreverent, Fallout-like style of comedy. The game included engaging exchanges, character diaries, and advertising displays that illustrated a corporate dystopia that was both grim and humorous. My biggest worry approaching the sequel was that this installment – without blame of its own – wouldn't be as comedic as its predecessor.

Admittedly, things weren't perfect. But the world certainly seemed somewhat less damaged back then. This universe depicted a grim society that didn't strike extremely relatable, and still managed to be simultaneously touching and comical. I commenced The Outer Worlds 2 rather certain that this installment couldn't succeed to pull this off once more, but I'm delighted to report that I was wrong. The Outer Worlds 2 is equally laughter-provoking as the game that came before it, and furthermore presents original ideas rather than simply reusing similar elements like an worn-out business tune.

Changing NPCs

Most of the NPCs gamers met in the original game had been beaten down by the deeds of business corporations like the in-game corporation, and were fully cognizant of how much their existence was miserable. This sequel takes things in a different direction, featuring characters who are brainwashed (sometimes figuratively, frequently actually). Numerous personalities don't even realize of how profoundly disordered their circumstances are, or that there may exist choices to an existence spent under the domination of a large business or bound by the doctrines of a high-demand religion.

This follow-up explores types of corporate control that are more deceptive than merely maintaining the people destitute. Various personalities have been indoctrinated into the type of overly enthusiastic "grindset mindset" language you can discover on digital platforms that vow to show the path to accomplishment if you pay an expensive course, or participate in a dubious blockchain project. Even the game's business promotion has developed.

Contemporary Issues

There continue to be numerous demotivating signs on the walls warning about deducting staff compensation who so much as think about having a break, but there are also references to network marketing strategies, such as a new hire handbook that proudly declares, "Unknown people are merely patrons you still need to meet!" As someone who developed within a multi-level marketing family, I instantly erupted laughing when encountering this mention, because it's a phrase I have often heard spoken verbatim by those at the bottom of these systems.

Fortunately, this sequel is equally humorous and satirical as the original title.

The Outer Worlds 2 furthermore explores the dilemma numerous people experience concerning employment, government, and even personal purchases: Needing to select the smaller of multiple bad options. During efforts to decide whether to support a harmful business or a concerning cult throughout the experience, I discovered I was aligning with the devil I know: A familiar company structure that is awful (yet merely employs promotion to indoctrinate its followers), instead of the cult, which also sucks, but utilizes a terrible method termed "cognitive reset" to control its members obedient.

Unreliable Masters

Additionally, the individuals you represent may not be dependable. In the role of an Earth Directorate agent, you're tasked with trying to reestablish order to this outpost subsequent to an aggressive business acquisition, and you'll soon discover that the two the invaders and the invadees adhere to distinct (but similarly terrible) beliefs. But a quick examination of the transmissions on your ship's terminal demonstrate that this organization isn't precisely the universe's most principled employer either, as evidenced by a response to a help request that notifies the contact it will take "several business years" for a reply to their communication. (This period is about how long it takes for me to reach a human support representative via telephone these days.)

Relatable Moments

Numerous instances in this installment are painfully relatable, but it's a therapeutic type of familiarity, and this release manages to balance its bleak societal vision with comedy that's truly humorous without feeling out of place. An important idea is the rapid beginning of deterioration that seems to take place in the wake of large company takeovers. Employees on both sides of this installment's big merger experience their living standards worsen consequently, while the executives at the top of the hierarchy are, expectedly, raking in money hand over fist.

Okay, at the very least I know where I stand.

Comparable to the original title, The Outer Worlds 2 is inherently funny, but it also doesn't shy away to become dramatic. At one point, while wandering around the title's initial discoverable location, I came upon a corpse with an audio log close by. This message showed that this NPC (who was aligned with the indoctrinating cult) had perished in an incident while attempting to track down and eliminate her significant other. This romantic partner had reportedly deserted from their group, and the perished individual was incensed at her significant other's {traitorous