Most of the game keeps you rolling with snappy conversations and plot reveals, but near the end it breaks down a bit into a backtracking challenge. The only complaint I really have to lodge against Oxenfree is the pacing, but it is not insignificant. SOMA got to me on an intellectual level but Oxenfree nailed me right in the feels, wrapping up the story with a perfect mix of sweetness and surprise. However, the main thrust of the plot ends up being drama between the kids, and a focus on issues of loss and remembrance that resonate all the way through to the emotional conclusion. The horror elements are strong thanks to some unique mechanics to the events, as well as some incredibly well-played appearances by the forces antagonizing the Scooby gang. That admiration extends to the story, which is a supernatural thriller of unexpected depth. Understand that I am VERY averse to overly clever or unnatural characters, and I found myself utterly captivated by these dumb kids. You control much of this, of course, being giving a choice of up to three responses to most lines of dialogue, along with the unspoken option of just saying nothing. They stammer out objections, stretch for witty retorts, and dismiss things they can’t handle with resigned Whatevers. Alex and her friends are masterfully brought to life as the pithy, insecure teens they appear to be. It is absolutely not hyperbole to say that Oxenfree features some of the best writing and voice acting in the whole of the industry.
What makes this so special, then, is the near-constant dialogue running over the events of the game. Most of your time is going to be spent walking the island, scrambling up ledges, and searching for prompts to trigger. The radio is used to solve several puzzles and trigger one type of collectible, but honestly I feel it could have been used more.
OXENFREE SIDE STORIES PORTABLE
Alex comes equipped with a portable radio that you can tune at any time to the odd frequencies associated with the supernatural happenings of the island. Every area of the island consists of linear paths and a small handful of interaction points. In terms of game mechanics, there isn’t much. Needless to say, something terrifying gets set into motion and its up to you to guide main character Alex through the horrible night. Edwards Island was once a naval base, and now serves as both tourist attraction and potential paranormal catastrophe. Oxenfree is a side-scrolling adventure game about five high-schoolers who come to a remote island for a beach party. That sounds pretty grandiose, I know, so let’s start at the beginning. Through a combination of incredible voice acting and expert storytelling, Oxenfree connects you with the characters and makes their triumphs and failures yours. It might not sound like I’m even talking about a game here, but that’s because Oxenfree does something very few games manage to do. I certainly didn’t expect that going in, and I didn’t even see it coming as the connections started to click and the relationships unfolded. I needed a few minutes to compose myself after this one.
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