I’ve spent a good few hours with Citizen Sleeper 2 now and wanted to chime in like some of the others have. I won’t really be going over the specifics of the base mechanics, the first game or any spoilers. Just how I feel that it compares to the first game. But as a primer: Citizen Sleeper is primarily a dialogue heavy, choose-your-own-adventure game with tabletop style dice rolling.
I was a huge fan of the first game. I’m happy to say, the sequel delivers on the promise of a bigger, better game. Dialogue heavy games like Citizen Sleeper, Disco Elysium etc. obviously hinge on their writing quality. I think the particulars of the setting/characters/events are so well realized and evocative. Gareth Damian Martin has a way of reaching into my mind and painting a beautiful picture on its walls. From the back room of a space bike courier’s shop to the matte finished eye implants of a ruthless spacer, I can see and feel every detail in my mind. Thankfully, Citizen Sleeper 2 has so many more places and people to describe, that I am in heaven.
Citizen Sleeper 2 is definitely more GAME than the first. At first, I was wary of this. I wasn’t really interested in being responsible for juggling more systems in this kind of choose your own adventure narrative experience. But just as the first game’s dice rolling mechanics simulated making the best of what you have at your disposal, Citizen Sleeper 2’s new systems emulate new challenges. Having to mitigate stress makes sense as you’re on the run and your body is facing different challenges that in the first. Taking on contracts (essentially small scale side stories that grant resources and/or narrative threads) with your chosen crew not only gets you away from the hubs, but they are usually something you need to do to stay on the run or make money.
I put it down to make this post and make a few last attempts at R4 for the INSERT CREDIT TIME ATTACK!, but I can’t wait to get back. I’ll probably pop back after I complete it to give my final thoughts. I suspect they will continue to be positive. That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading!