🔗 Share this article

During my first playthrough of the first Outer Worlds title, I was instantly captivated by its satirical, Fallout-like type of wit. This title featured lively conversations, personal journals, and advertising displays that depicted a company-run society that was at once bleak and humorous. My primary concern starting the sequel was that this version – not due to of its own – might not be as funny like the original.

Admittedly, conditions weren't ideal. However, life definitely felt somewhat less damaged back then. This game showed a bleak future that didn't strike too close to home, and yet accomplished to be simultaneously emotional and hilarious. I commenced the sequel pretty sure that this installment wouldn't manage to accomplish this once more, but I'm happy to report that I was mistaken. This follow-up is equally chuckle-inducing as the game that came earlier, and furthermore presents original ideas rather than just recycling identical material similar to a worn-out business tune.

Evolving Characters

A large portion of the non-player characters players encountered in the initial release had been worn out by the actions of corporate entities like the in-game corporation, and were acutely conscious of the degree that their existence was miserable. This sequel moves events in an alternative path, including personalities who are programmed (sometimes figuratively, regularly truly). Many of these personalities aren't even aware of how deeply disordered their circumstances are, or that there could be alternatives to an existence spent beneath the control of a massive corporation or limited by the creeds of a demanding cult.

The sequel investigates methods of business domination that are more deceptive than only making the people destitute. Various personalities have been brainwashed into the sort of excessively zealous "grindset mindset" rhetoric you can discover on social media accounts that promise to reveal the path to accomplishment when you buy for an overpriced workshop, or participate in a questionable digital currency plan. Additionally, the title's company advertising has progressed.

Current Topics

There continue to be plenty of discouraging displays in various locations indicating reductions in employee wages who so much as consider having a break, but additionally there are mentions of multi-level marketing methods, including a staff guide that boldly states, "Strangers are just clients you have yet to encounter!" As someone who developed within a network marketing family, I promptly exploded laughing upon viewing this allusion, because it's a refrain I have regularly listened to stated precisely by those at the bottom of such schemes.

Thankfully, this sequel is equally humorous and satirical as the first game.

The Outer Worlds 2 additionally investigates the dilemma various individuals experience when it comes to work, government, and even consumer choices: Needing to pick the smaller of several poor choices. When trying to choose whether to assist a risky company or a problematic faith organization throughout the experience, I realized I became aligning with the known negative: An established business organization that sucks (yet merely employs propaganda to indoctrinate its followers), as opposed to the religious group, which also sucks, but uses a terrible method called "psychological renewal" to keep its adherents obedient.

Doubtful Authorities

Even the people you work for may not be trustworthy. Playing as an Earth Directorate agent, your assignment includes attempting to restore order to this outpost following a hostile corporate takeover, and you'll soon discover that each of the invaders and the invadees follow separate (but similarly terrible) ideologies. Yet a speedy inspection of the communications on your spacecraft's system show that this agency isn't precisely the galaxy's most moral employer too, as evidenced by an answer to an emergency signal that informs the caller it will take "three to five organizational cycles" for a response to their message. (This duration is roughly the duration it takes for me to get a hold of a non-robot customer service agent via telephone these days.)

Familiar Situations

Various situations in this installment are extremely familiar, but it's a cathartic kind of recognition, and this title manages to balance its bleak societal vision with humor that's genuinely funny without feeling out of place. One major theme is the rapid beginning of decline that seems to take place after significant business mergers. Staff members from all factions of The Outer Worlds 2's significant consolidation experience their living standards decrease consequently, while the CEOs in charge of the food chain are, naturally, collecting money quickly.

Well, at minimum I know where I stand.

Comparable to the initial release, The Outer Worlds 2 is inherently funny, but it also doesn't shy away to get serious. During a moment, while traveling around the title's initial accessible planet, I discovered a deceased individual with a recording in the vicinity. This message showed that this NPC (who was aligned with the brainwashing religious faction) had perished in an incident while trying to track down and eliminate her significant other. This partner had reportedly deserted from their organization, and the deceased character was incensed at her partner's {traitorous