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During my first encounter with the original Outer Worlds, I was immediately drawn by its satirical, Fallout-like type of wit. This title boasted dynamic dialogues, personal journals, and advertising displays that depicted a business-controlled nightmare that was simultaneously grim and entertaining. My primary concern heading into the sequel was that this installment – without blame from itself – wouldn't be as comedic like the original.

Certainly, conditions weren't ideal. Yet society undoubtedly appeared somewhat less damaged in those days. The Outer Worlds showed a bleak future that didn't feel too close to home, and still managed to be simultaneously heartwarming and hilarious. I started the follow-up rather certain that this installment couldn't succeed to pull this off once more, but I'm delighted to report that I was mistaken. The Outer Worlds 2 is as laughter-provoking as the release that came earlier, and also introduces fresh concepts instead of simply reusing identical material similar to a overused corporate jingle.

Changing NPCs

The majority of the non-player characters players encountered in the initial release had been beaten down by the activities of corporate entities like the fictional company, and were fully cognizant of the extent to which their lives sucked. The Outer Worlds 2 takes things in a different direction, presenting individuals who are programmed (periodically symbolically, regularly truly). A lot of these characters aren't even aware of how profoundly screwed up their situations are, or that there might be choices to a lifetime passed under the domination of a large business or limited by the doctrines of a high-demand religion.

This second installment examines forms of corporate control that are more subtle than simply keeping the population impoverished. Many NPCs have been programmed with the kind of extremely eager "grindset mindset" rhetoric you can discover on online profiles that claim to disclose the key to success when you buy for an overpriced workshop, or put money into a sketchy crypto scheme. Even the game's company advertising has developed.

Contemporary Issues

There are still plenty of demotivating signs in various locations warning about deducting pay from workers who even think about requesting leave, but there are also references to pyramid scheme methods, such as a staff guide that confidently announces, "Unknown people are merely customers YOU haven't met yet!" Being a person who developed within a network marketing environment, I promptly exploded in amusement when I saw this reference, because it's a refrain I have regularly listened to repeated exactly by individuals in lower positions of such schemes.

Luckily, this follow-up is equally humorous and sarcastic as the initial release.

This installment furthermore explores the dilemma numerous people experience regarding occupation, government, and including buying decisions: Needing to pick the smaller of several poor choices. During efforts to determine if to back a risky company or a problematic faith organization within the title, I realized I became supporting the known negative: A familiar business organization that is awful (yet merely employs propaganda to indoctrinate its followers), instead of the faith organization, which is equally bad, but employs an awful technique named "mental refreshment" to maintain its followers in line.

Doubtful Authorities

Even the people you work for may not be dependable. As an galactic official, your assignment includes attempting to restore control to this outpost after a forceful company buyout, and you'll soon discover that the two the invaders and the defenders subscribe to differing (yet equally horrific) beliefs. However, a rapid examination of the communications on your spacecraft's system reveal that this agency isn't precisely the galaxy's most moral organization either, as demonstrated by an answer to a help request that notifies the contact it will take "three to five organizational cycles" for a reply to their communication. (That time frame is roughly the duration it takes for numerous individuals to contact a non-robot customer service agent over the phone nowadays.)

Relatable Moments

Numerous instances in this installment are painfully relatable, but it's a therapeutic type of familiarity, and this title manages to balance its bleak societal vision with wit that's authentically amusing yet not seeming inappropriate. One major theme is the near-instant onset of deterioration that appears to occur after significant business mergers. Employees on both sides of The Outer Worlds 2's significant consolidation experience their living standards worsen as a result, while the leaders in charge of the hierarchy are, expectedly, accumulating money hand over fist.

Well, at minimum I know my position.

Just like the first game, this follow-up is inherently funny, but it also doesn't shy away to become dramatic. At a certain time, while traveling around the release's primary discoverable location, I came upon a deceased individual with an audio log nearby. The audio log showed that this individual (associated with the brainwashing religious faction) had been killed in an event during efforts to track down and kill her romantic partner. This romantic partner had reportedly deserted from their faction, and the now-dead NPC was enraged by her significant other's {traitorous