Oxenfree 2: Misplaced Alerts Assessment (PS4, PS5): Caught in a Loop

It appeared like Alex was damned to wallow in limbo till the tip of time. 2016’s Oxenfree had a darkish ending that left its protagonist caught in a cycle the place escape was solely a mere fantasy. Oxenfree 2: Misplaced Alerts is the long-anticipated, oft-delayed follow-up poised to supply some type of closure, and whereas it does obtain that, it’s also trapped in its personal loop.

Oxenfree 2 looks like it’s repeating itself as a result of it’s so much like the primary recreation. The unique was a novel tackle the narrative journey style because it let gamers stroll and speak on the similar time, whereas using a free-flowing dialogue system that ensured conversations progressed organically. Gamers weren’t often doing a lot, however with the ability to transfer to the following story beat whereas additionally partaking in dialog was a significant iteration on the regimented fashion of Telltale Video games, Supermassive Video games, and Quantic Dream.

It’s nonetheless an efficient approach to construct character and offers Oxenfree 2 ample alternative to flesh out its new faces. The best way characters communicate can also be one among its robust fits since they may speak all the way in which till the participant picks a response, that means conversations don’t have the useless air that’s so distracting in a lot of its contemporaries. The naturalistic performances additional floor these characters since they communicate with hesitation markers and stammer very like actual individuals with out it being a hokey crutch. 

All of those small choices play their half in making Oxenfree 2’s dialogue presentation so spectacular, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the identical formulation. Night time College Studio seemingly didn’t enhance or increase these methods to additional construct on the muse it laid all these years in the past. After seven years, it will have been extra engaging if the staff pushed ahead with some new tweaks or improvements since requirements are completely different now. Oxenfree ought to have been the place to begin, not the endpoint. The walkie talkie that may ping plenty of completely different characters is probably the most noticeable distinction, however these exchanges commonly get interrupted or overlap with different dialogue.

Carrying over the motion system is extra detrimental because it drags down the tempo and stretches out easy journeys. Gamers can’t even management their strolling pace, nevertheless it’s virtually at all times too sluggish anyway. Taking a mistaken flip can also be significantly excruciating because it’s inconceivable to shortly course right. Looking for collectibles or potential secrets and techniques solely to be met with a useless finish is demoralizing and sometimes not well worth the effort.

Transferring at a snail’s tempo curtails the urge to discover and, extra broadly, limits replay worth. Oxenfree 2 has some hidden conversations and plenty of dialogue decisions, nevertheless it doesn’t seem to present gamers many alternatives to actually craft their very own playthrough. When so many scenes play out the identical manner or solely have negligible variations, the glacial strolling pace and unskippable dialogue simply make extra runs much more unappealing. Prolonged and chronic loading instances additionally steadily hinder its ahead momentum and are solely made considerably tolerable by its unbelievable horror-tinged ambient soundtrack.

The pacing appears intentionally dialed down to present gamers extra time to stick to the solid. Sprinting to the tip with a stranger wouldn’t have as a lot weight as crawling to the climax with a good friend. Riley, the protagonist, and her new colleague Jacob are given the house to develop and turn out to be greater than two-dimensional caricatures merely making an attempt to bust some ghosts. 

Riley is laid-back and has a nonchalant angle that would have turn out to be grating, however by no means does due to its largely competent (if generally overwritten) script. Studying her historical past and why she’s returned to her hometown are each intriguing hooks that additionally make her a extra nuanced particular person. Jacob is easier and extra of an upbeat nerd that hides his staggering quantity of insecurity behind humor. His previous just isn’t almost as sophisticated or compelling, and it looks as if his important objective is so as to add the levity that Riley is emotionally incapable of offering. It’s weird that the sport lets gamers be imply to Jacob since he’s agreeable to a fault — his flaws are inner struggles that aren’t negatively expressed outward — however the two make for a stable staff.

Oxenfree 2 makes use of Riley, Jacob, and the antagonists to touch upon acceptance and destiny. The concepts are woven collectively properly since they manifest otherwise in every character and grant alternate viewpoints that every one uniquely poke on the recreation’s themes. Whereas a few of these antagonists are faceless ghouls, having a extra human opposition with comprehensible targets presents extra subtleties that spooky ghosts aren’t outfitted to provide.

These themes are additionally integral to the plot, which banks too closely on information from the unique recreation. Whereas it’s a sequel, it’s extra of a second chapter that calls for an intimate familiarity of its forebearer. Regardless of that requirement, it does a horrible job at recapping these vital occasions by glossing over main beats from the final recreation and neglecting to correctly reintroduce characters. Sequels clearly can and will proceed prior storylines and reuse components of the solid, nevertheless it’s essential for stated sequels to present correct context for these components inside themselves; they shouldn’t virtually solely rely upon prior expertise.

And whereas a intelligent utilization of New Sport Plus, Oxenfree’s canon conclusion is locked behind just a few playthroughs that require sure decisions. This implies Oxenfree 2 is selecting up from a finale many doubtless aren’t accustomed to, one which’s radically completely different from probably the most generally seen ending. Given how very important these particulars are, it’s stunning Night time College Studio leaned so laborious on this path with out offering a extra useful and thorough synopsis, particularly with the prolonged seven-year hole between video games.

Oxenfree 2: Misplaced Alerts Assessment: The ultimate verdict

It appeared like Alex was damned to wallow in limbo till the tip of time, nevertheless it’s Oxenfree 2 that ended up being caught in a loop. A few of these replicated options work in its favor, like its fluid dialogue and solid of decently well-realized characters, but it’s too closely anchored to its predecessor. The aforementioned dialogue system is usually the identical and hasn’t been additional streamlined or upgraded. Traversal remains to be too gradual. And although its narrative builds on what got here earlier than, it struggles to offer a complete abstract of that first recreation and contextualize these all-important occasions. All of those stumbles imply that Oxenfree 2’s sign isn’t misplaced, simply filled with pointless static.

Disclaimer: This Oxenfree 2: Misplaced Alerts assessment is predicated on a PS4 and PS5 copy offered by the writer. Reviewed on model 1.02 and 1.002.000, respectively.