We tried the sequel to Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, Night School Studio adventure

When a film festival starts tinkering with video games, it’s easy for an “insider” to get suspicious. These are still different mediums, and while there are often those who choose feature films with a considerable artistic sensibility for a festival, it is not clear that this automatically translates to the selection of high-end plays. There Tribeca selectionOn the other hand, it managed to impress us in a positive way: almost every game selected either exceeded expectations or had distinctive features that would have caught our attention completely. So it’s really interesting that what impressed us the least is the continuation of an already merged title like Oxenfree.

Attention, we certainly do not pre-condemn the Oxenfree II. The demo we tested was too short and undercalculated to show the true qualities of the title. Our job, however, is to analyze what is presented to us, and it must be said that despite the limitations we have tried, only one particular factor gives us doubts. If nothing else, from a narrative standpoint, the game seems to have greater potential than its predecessor, and we believe that is enough to attract those who love it.

Why we tell you in ours Tested for Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals.

radio links

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Although it takes place in the same universe and is apparently related to these events, it does not take place and heroes in the first episode. In fact, here you take on the role of a researcher named Riley, who is forced to return to her native island when a disturbing portal appears in the coastal city of Camena, accompanied by a strange intervention.

It’s a pretty classic foundation mystery that represents the perfect foundation for it. Night School StudioConsidering that the team has already amply demonstrated that they know how to create exciting stories starting from just the seemingly simple basics. In this particular case, however, the intent seems to focus everything on the characters, given that the protagonist not only talks excessively but is also accompanied by an old school friend named Jacob. and silent partner).

So most of the game, once again choices and dialoguesand in particular we found ourselves in a rocky area of ​​Camena as Riley looking for a way to stop a nearby intrusion. Now, it’s up to the player to decide where to move on the map, but at each intersection (and not so much) a conversation often ensues where the two must decide what to do, with potentially traumatic consequences. One of the first options, for example, was about a practically impossible jump, which we chose to avoid in order to travel on a longer but also safer route.

Let me be clear, the base Oxenfree II is not an action platformer or some kind of derivative: we are facing a ‘.graphic adventure, so solutions and events often don’t boast who knows what interaction. However, that’s exactly where we turned our noses, because on the one hand, if we understand the limitations in the nature of the genre, on the other hand, this sequel seems to us too “barred” even with the options available. .

Great speakers, bad jumpers

In fact, the game offers a lot of dialogue options (three options at a time, overall) designed to give you a specific characterization of Riley – although it’s unclear whether this will lead to significant changes in the approach to the game the “mission” around which it all revolves – the same thing. solve puzzles and to overcome obstacles. To make sure you understand the situation, we encountered only a few puzzles during the demo being tested, and the last one appeared after another portal was opened that transported us to an old version of an unused mine.

ability to open cuts over time (depending on the hero’s radio) offers countless possibilities when it comes to designing such elements, but here it has only given us a new linear path where we finally find an elevator waiting for us. Here the problem arose: the elevator was attached to a certain final scene, complete with a dramatic jolt and the collapse of the mine, but it was easily possible to move it upwards to immediately use it as a platform. Here, it was impossible to use him that way, until I got Jacob in position and managed at least three more steps regarding the scene described above.

There does not seem to be any type adapt to player preferences even in “played out” chapters, perhaps even when these predict fairly easy puzzles. This is a shame, because we believe that increased responsiveness will aid immersion and diversity in general. To further emphasize this, many of the alternative spaces we visit before we reach the top of the scene (mostly a wooden bunker near the beach) are almost devoid of objects and testimonies: the developers clearly want everything to be on their own time. their will.

The criticisms just voiced are by no means detrimental to philanthropy, and it is worth emphasizing once again how they relate to just a short stage played out; And while we doubt the structure will change that much as we progress through the campaign, we’re pretty confident we’ll see a sharp increase in options and complexity in the coming chapters. There game narration, if nothing else, remains quite captivating from the outset, and we now have no doubt that Oxenfree II can surpass its predecessor in many respects. However, it’s definitely more ambitious gameplay, and the mix of timelines and mysterious dialogue over the radio (we’ll refrain from explaining it to you so you don’t have to guess too much) makes the perfect foundation for an unforgettable story.