As such, Oxenfree feels right at home on the PS4. It’s a big enough issue to be worth mentioning, but one that I believe the studio will take to heart in their next endeavor.įew would argue that Sony has worked hard to successfully cultivate an environment on the PS4 and through the PSN for indie games, and the recent success of games such as Gone Home (one of June’s free PS+ games) and Firewatch have paved the way for these narrative-driven indie experiences. This is only worse the second time around. The game excels in its story moments, but there are periods of silent walking that fit nicely into the atmosphere of the world, yet absolutely ruin the momentum of gameplay. Once you know where you’re going, and once you know what MIGHT happen, long load screens and long periods of walking are painful. The only downside to New Game + is that it accentuates the few shortcomings of the initial playthrough. New Game + is extraordinarily satisfying. In many ways, you aren’t playing the game again, but rather continuing in the adventure. Gameplay is the same and you’re technically going through the same thing again, but this development team has added enough new experiences and twists that a second attempt is almost demanded. New Game + completely changes what the story is about. The concept of New Game + is not always the most successful some games only add minimal new aspects to a second playthrough, greatly lessening the appeal of experiencing an entire game a second time. Night School Studios has changed the nature of this entirely with the addition of New Game +. One of Patrick’s major complaints was a lackluster ending. But the strengths greatly outweigh the weaknesses here, and the story shines through. ![]() There are some weaknesses, particularly numerous and lengthy load screens and long periods of quiet walking (which starts out nice and atmospheric, but grows old quickly). ![]() However, I will say that I greatly enjoyed experiencing Oxenfree. Be sure to check out his full review HERE. ![]() I won’t go into much more detail on the story, as Patrick did an excellent job back in January. This isn’t necessarily a new idea in video games, but I would argue that Oxenfree manages character relationships and story better than most. Characters can love or hate you, characters can romantically connect with each other, and characters can live or die based on your choices. These relationships develop throughout the night and are inherently affected by the choices you make. Oxenfree thrives on the strength of the interactions between its characters. And the world the team has created, ever altered by the supernatural beings in the style of an old VHS recording, is brilliant and immersive. The art direction is gorgeous and intentional, taking full advantage of the small studio’s equally small budget. The voice acting is generally excellent as well, especially by those portraying Alex, Jonah (Alex’s new step-brother), and Ren (Alex’s childhood best friend). The writing is excellent, and keeps you guessing along the way (particularly in New Game +, which I’ll cover in a bit). Overall, pretty par for the course.īut there is a lot in Oxenfree that elevates the game beyond the typical “thriller” status. The game is built around Alex’s journey to save her friends, overcome the supernatural, and escape the island. Things go awry, however, when the main protagonist, Alex, accidentally awakens something “other-worldly” with her hand-held radio. The pacing, intensity, and plot dynamics also go above and beyond for the gamer’s experience.” Patrick had a few complaints, namely a lackluster ending and an overly easy and straightforward experience.įor those who may not know, Oxenfree is a choice-driven narrative game about five teens who have traveled to an empty island for a night of campfires and booze. The atmosphere and feel of the game is totally engrossing and a marvel to look at. Needless to say, Patrick was enamored and gave Oxenfree a 9/10, stating “Overall, Oxenfree is a highly enjoyable experience that excels compared to most other narrative driven games. Night School Studio, the development team behind the project, was made up of Telltale and Disney alum, and it showed in the best of ways through a story about teen struggle, life and death, and the value of relationships. The game had released about a week and half prior to surprisingly positive reviews and had captured the interest and imagination of the gaming community with its strange premise and artistic approach. ![]() Back at the end of January, BagoGames’ own Patrick Kennedy published his review of the indie hit Oxenfree, the story-driven PC game that had seemingly come out of nowhere.
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