Oxenfree (Video Game)
Published by Night School Studio
Available on Xbox One, Windows 10, and Steam (PC and Mac)
First thing’s first… let me make this abundantly clear: Oxenfree is neither an action game nor a full-on horror game. So if you were hoping for some Resident Evil 4 style gunplay or Silent Hill style gore, then look elsewhere. If you’re looking for slightly lighter horror elements and some magnificent storytelling, then come on in. Edward’s Island beckons to you.
So, the plot: Alex, a rebellious teenage girl; her stepbrother, Jonas; and their hot-headed friend Ren travel to Edward Island for a night of night of fun and games, only for things to take a turn for the worst when dark, supernatural forces are unleashed.
Right off the bat we know that this is going to be a game where we truly care about the characters. It opens with our three heroes – Alex, Jonas, and Ren – gently bickering back and forth as they slowly approach the ominous island. None of that silent protagonist crap that litters so many other games; these are characters with personalities and histories so fleshed out that they could easily be your best friends. And for a game where dialogue is everything, they hit it out of the park. It’s almost creepy how natural everything sounds.
And that’s where the decisions that the player makes come into play. Naturally, Alex evolves over the course of the story, but by controlling her words and actions, so too does the player. When danger rears its ugly head, do you decide to save those closest to you or to adapt a more utilitarian approach and save as many lives as possible? Through these decisions, players will see their own personalities reflected in Alex, making Oxenfree a game where players truly have the ability to feel like not only are they calling the shots, but they have destiny in their hands.
Even the more trivial decisions throughout the game, such as whether you choose to delve head-on into an awkward topic of conversation or try to change the subject, will fully represent just who you, as the player, truly are.
Possibly best of all, this is a game that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether you’re a veteran gamer or newcomer. There aren’t really any puzzles to speak of and no enemies or bosses to fight. While the lack of challenge may turn some away, most will be too engaged in the plot to even notice.
Even if you’re some kind of crazy person who isn’t interested in playing video games with engaging stories and characters, then Oxenfree is worth playing simply because of its utterly gorgeous art style. With its almost cel-shaded visuals and matte style backgrounds, it easily resembles some kind of nightmarish landscape painting that even the most demented of artists couldn’t have conjured up. Edward’s Island is beautiful in its own twisted way.
And the island is huge. While this isn’t exactly an open world game on the level of, say, Just Cause 2, rest assured that there are so many secrets and mysteries to discover that you won’t know whether you want to flee the island and get to safety or stay and immerse yourself in its rich history. Not since the Spencer Mansion in the original Resident Evil has a location in a horror game been so memorable and (give it time) iconic.
With its abundance of secrets and narrative decisions, Oxenfree will certainly keep you playing for a long, long time, making it truly worthy of the price tag of an AAA game, despite the fact that you can pick it up for $19.99 on Steam.
Believe me, in this age of major publishers like EA releasing half-games like Star Wars: Battlefront, it’s so refreshing for an indie game to come along that puts its big budget counterparts to shame. And with the AAA industry now placing an emphasis on multiplayer over story, Oxenfree serves as definitive proof that games will always be more memorable and resounding with the player when offering a deep narrative experience.
I really do hope that Oxenfree becomes a hit and we see similar games in the future. It’s an early but very strong contender for the title of “Best Game of 2016.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAhrOoNR4ng]
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Categorized:Horror Gaming Reviews
