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When I first playthrough of the first Outer Worlds game, I was quickly hooked by its satirical, Fallout-inspired brand of humor. The game boasted lively conversations, individual logs, and promotional posters that portrayed a company-run society that was both dark and humorous. My primary concern starting the sequel was that this installment – through no fault from itself – could fail to be as funny as its predecessor.

Sure, things weren't perfect. Yet society certainly seemed slightly less fractured back then. This universe depicted a grim society that didn't strike overly familiar, and nonetheless succeeded to be both touching and uproarious. I started The Outer Worlds 2 rather certain that this installment wouldn't manage to achieve this once more, but I'm pleased to state that I was mistaken. This follow-up is just as smile-generating as the release that preceded it, and furthermore presents original ideas instead of merely repeating similar elements similar to a worn-out business tune.

Developing Personalities

Most of the game characters players encountered in the initial release had been defeated by the activities of corporate entities including the fictional company, and were acutely conscious of how much their situation was terrible. The Outer Worlds 2 takes things in an alternative path, including personalities who are indoctrinated (occasionally metaphorically, regularly truly). A lot of these characters aren't even aware of how deeply disordered their situations are, or that there may exist choices to an existence spent under the domination of a huge company or limited by the creeds of a high-demand religion.

This follow-up examines forms of business domination that are more deceptive than only making the people destitute. Numerous characters have been programmed with the sort of extremely eager "hustle mentality" discourse you can discover on social media accounts that vow to show the key to success should you purchase a costly program, or participate in a sketchy crypto scheme. Furthermore, the release's corporate propaganda has developed.

Modern Themes

There continue to be many discouraging displays on the walls threatening to dock staff compensation who dare to contemplate taking a day off, but furthermore exist mentions of pyramid scheme strategies, including an employee manual that proudly declares, "Strangers are just clients you haven't met yet!" As an individual who developed within a multi-level marketing environment, I immediately burst out with laughter when encountering this mention, because it's a saying I have often heard stated precisely by those at the bottom of such schemes.

Thankfully, this sequel is as comedic and sarcastic as the initial release.

This sequel also examines the predicament numerous people encounter when it comes to occupation, political matters, and including buying decisions: Having to select the smaller of two or three evils. While attempting to determine if to support a dangerous corporate entity or a concerning cult throughout the experience, I found myself aligning with the known negative: An established company structure that is awful (though just utilizes propaganda to indoctrinate its followers), instead of the religious group, which also sucks, but uses an awful technique named "cognitive reset" to control its members in line.

Doubtful Authorities

Furthermore, the characters you represent may not be reliable. Playing as an space operative, your assignment includes trying to reestablish stability to this settlement after a forceful company buyout, and you will quickly find that both the attackers and the residents follow distinct (but similarly terrible) doctrines. But a quick review of the communications on your vessel's computer show that this organization isn't precisely the world's most ethical organization as well, as demonstrated by a response to a help request that tells the sender it will take "several organizational cycles" for a response to their communication. (That time frame is roughly the duration it takes for many people to reach a human help desk employee via telephone currently.)

Relatable Moments

Various situations in this installment are highly recognizable, but it's a therapeutic type of familiarity, and this title succeeds in balancing its grim future world with wit that's genuinely funny without feeling inappropriate. One major theme is the rapid beginning of enshittification that happens to unfold after significant business mergers. Staff members from all factions of The Outer Worlds 2's major acquisition see their quality of life decrease consequently, while the executives at the top of the food chain are, expectedly, accumulating the cash quickly.

Hey, at least I recognize my situation.

Comparable to the original title, this follow-up is inherently funny, but furthermore doesn't hesitate to become dramatic. At a certain time, while wandering around the title's initial discoverable location, I stumbled across a deceased individual with a message nearby. This recording disclosed that this character (who was aligned with the indoctrinating cult) had died in an accident during efforts to locate and eliminate her significant other. This loved one had apparently defected from their group, and the now-dead NPC was angry about her lover's {traitorous