Beholder 2

This game is not for everyone. I only reccomend this because it's different. You'll need to take notes, have a spreadsheet open, & play like it's the 1980s. Unless you want to cheat & look up everything online. In which case you might as well not play. You'll fail & fail & fail again. 100 times. Some people may not like that level of difficulty. Save a few checkpoints & go back to different places & try different things. It's a game that is meant to be explored. Some situations have more than 1 solution & some situations once you've screwed up it's game over but you may have played 3 hours further before you realize it.

SPOILER: I played a few weeks into the game & decided since the option to seduce my coworker was there I should probably do it. I figured I'd gain info or leverage on her. I knew it was a risk financially, but I took it. However, what I didn't see coming was her having an STD & me getting an $800 bill. By the time I worked to pay off all my bills - I couldn't afford that one. They killed me for being behind on the bills (any bill you don't pay is instant death). So that one choice was death but it didn't play out until a week later. I had to reply the entire game & find another way to interact with her (becoming TV buddies or setting her up with someone else) in order to try & eliminate her).

the game is a big upgrade over the original in my opinion, but there is a constant need to save as frequently as possible in order to not get screwed. i do love the mocking tone of the game and how it makes fun of every selection in the aisle in terms of ideology. the creators are clearly well-versed in literature regarding political theory such as communism, marxism, & totalitarianism. the constant need to save for worst possible outcomes and severe over-reliance on loading screens in between gameplay segments are my biggest complaints but this basically does everything you could ask for in terms of a sequel to the original beholder.

All Hail the Supreme Leader!
Beholder 2 presents a polished adventure experience steeped in a dark, oppressive atmosphere. Players assume the role of Evan Redgrave, a new employee at a totalitarian Ministry, where the narrative unfolds amidst bureaucratic intrigue and personal mystery.
The game excels in storytelling, offering a multitude of choices that enhance replayability and keep the plot engaging. However, the gameplay is marred by frustrating and repetitive mini-games, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
For those who appreciate rich narratives and the freedom to forge their own path within a game, Beholder 2 is a compelling choice.

The game starts out slow and monotonous as all bureaucratic jobs do, But it escalates fairly quickly. some advice. Save often, pay your bills and don't piss off the regime ..
There is 0/10 replay-ability in this game but watch out for the twist on the final floor of the ministry it will catch you off guard. Likely it will hit home with the state of politics in the world.

I do like this game, its got its moments, it tries to make you take hard choices to try to get to the top in a place that would be horrifying to work for.

However, considering all of this I don't like how that if you were the kindest or the most cruel person on earth, all of your choices still intersect on one point. And on top of that, to get the proper ending for the game, you need to do something that could be easily overlooked at the start of the game.

I liked this sequel game even more than the original since my favourite genre is story focused RPGs - the original had a stronger focus on resource and time management. Great depiction of the hellish bureaucratic nightmare the Soviet Union was, the creators did a good job balancing the dark historical references with humorous moments. You play as a newly transferred public servant and gradually uncover why your father disappeared.

Game's pretty solid. Totally different vibe from the first one, but I'm cool with it. Not gonna lie, the tasks(doing the job typa task) were a drag and kind of annoying. But overall it's a good game. Soundtrack slaps though, gotta give it that.