What parents need to know
OXENFREE II – Lost Signals is an indie adventure game of the thriller/horror genre, set 5 years after the events of the first OXENFREE game, in the coastal town of Camena. The game has a particular style, is very minimalist, and offers a rather flat 3D setting, which is a bit reminiscent of 2D platformers.
Mysterious things are happening in Camena. Strange radio signals cause supernatural manifestations and major electronic disruptions: cars break down, televisions turn on by themselves, and strange electrical storms rage everywhere. Riley, the main character, is a thirty-something Camena native who returns to her hometown after spending a few years elsewhere. She soon finds a job that tasks her with investigating the mystery that hangs over Camena by erecting radio transmitters along the coast. Together with her colleague Jacob Summers, she inadvertently opens a portal by placing the first radio transmitter, like an interdimensional rift above Camena. This rift causes Riley to hallucinate and experience time loops. Together, Riley and Jacob will have to solve the mystery and close the rift before it’s too late. As they investigate, the two protagonists will discover the secret that has been hanging over Camena for decades.
To get there, Riley will have to use several tools, including climbing equipment, a walkie-talkie, and a radio. The walkie-talkie allows the player to contact different people on different lines and therefore allows for a certain amount of autonomy. The dialogues offer several choices, some that advance the narrative, and others that can influence the other characters’ opinion of Riley. Moreover, the player’s choices influence the course of the game. The radio, on the other hand, is a tool for solving puzzles and discovering clues by navigating the different frequencies.
You don’t need to have played the first game to fully understand and love OPENFREE II, even though it’s a sequel: the characters, mechanics, and environments are different and need to be rediscovered.
Details
Level of experience required
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The game is scary and depicts alarming, violent, and disturbing scenes. Several mature themes are tackled, such as death, disappearance, cults, ghosts, etc. However, the game is still very stylized (not realistic) and there is no blood.
No sexual content or nudity.
There are few long texts to read, apart from a few collectible letters here and there. The dialogue choices show only a few words, and it is possible to change the font and font size to make it easier to read.
The characters seek to prevent something horrible and work as a team to make it happen.
Even if the player doesn’t have to control the camera, puzzles require good dexterity and some problem-solving and geometry skills.
Local game modes
The only game mode is the story mode.
Online Game Modes
There is no online game mode.
Expansions/Add-ons (DLC)
There are no extensions.
Our opinion
OXENFREE II – Lost Signals quickly introduces us into the disturbing and mysterious atmosphere of Camena. The dialogues are human and cause us to quickly become attached to the characters, and we quickly understand that our choices have an influence on the course of the story and on the information we discover as the game progresses, which adds a certain pressure, even when we are only exploring and talking. The simple visuals and music work together to effectively immerse us in this universe without beating around the bush. For such a short game, the immersion is successful. We soon find ourselves sitting on the edge of our chair in anticipation and apprehension. There is nice attention to small details; For example, dialogues are not cut off when changing levels and are continued without interruption as soon as the new level has finished loading. In addition, the game manages to be scary and exciting, despite the very simple stylized visual. After an hour of play, it’s already clear why the game has received such good reviews since its release. If you’re into horror stories that combine technology and the atmosphere of teen movies (a bit like Stranger Things, for example), you might like OXENFREE II – Lost Signals.
The game is scary, and therefore not recommended for children, despite its very minimalist and colourful style. The dialogues also have a nice mature simplicity, the subtleties of which can be lost on younger players.
*This game has been provided to us free of charge for review purposes, but this does not influence our opinion.
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Featured image courtesy of Night School Studio.
