After been sat on my bookshelf for nearly 2 years, Ready Player Two was one of my chosen reads for February. The first one was fantastic and I remember being so immersed in the whole thing, even to the point where I considered picking up some old style arcade games to see what all the fuss was about.
But where Ready Player One was a love letter to the 80s and retro computer games... Ready Player Two may as well have been a ransom note.
I enjoyed being back in OASIS with the High Five and Wade/Parzival's decline after winning the hunt definitely came across as realistic. Even the plot of the sequel was believable for me and felt like it was suited for the story.
But what made the first book such an experience was the same as what ruined it in the second; the pop culture references.
It's been a while since I read the first instalment but I remember... getting it. Despite not being a computer game fan myself, I could follow the references, they were generic or well known enough to make sense to me. However whilst reading RP2, it felt far too niche, far too cult-following.
Maybe I'm just not hardcore enough for it. Maybe it was written for those that are devout followers of the 80s.
Am I glad I read it? I guess.
Would I read it again? Absolutely not.
Would I recommend it to someone? Only if they have a whole host of consoles in their front room, a copy of LOTR and a collection of Prince vinyls.
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