It’s very rare that a game affects me in a way that draws actual tears when I least expect them. Video games are one of the most advanced art forms we have, but it’s easy to get complacent when you’re playing them for work every day. When something comes out of the blue and hits you in a special place, it’s very impactful and can provoke a strong emotional reaction.
Those who played the first Oxenfree will understand the basic mechanics of Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, as it’s a pretty standard 2.5D side-scroller with old tech-based puzzle mechanics. However, as opposed to the first game, this title is less reliant on two or three puzzle mechanics, and instead blends multiple unique options together to create a story that’s as easy to get lost in as eternity.
The main difference in the second title is that it feels much more like a story about the main character than it does about the spiritual scenarios, whereas in Oxenfree it was fairly split. That’s not a complaint at all, as the spirits and horror are used just enough to keep it from becoming cheap while still applying heavily to the story at hand.
Nothing is as important as this moment
It’s unclear how long after the first game that Oxenfree II takes place and it’s stated multiple times that it’s not important, and it isn’t for most of the story up until the end.
However, it’s implied that it’s been anywhere from months to a couple of years after Alex and her friends managed to close the gate to the Sunken and their ghostly dimension. Now, Riley and her new acquaintance, Jacob, are tasked with dealing with very similar circumstances in Camina, the place where the teens took the ferry from in the first game.
It’s a very rocky region, with multiple cliffs and places to climb, but overall it’s a serene hike across the different sections. Most of the game relies on players choosing in which order to place radio transceivers to gather readings on unique events that are very reminiscent of what Alex and her friends had to deal with previously.
Choice matters in Oxenfree II. There are three transceivers that need to be placed throughout the story, and once one has been set, time will progress. This, in addition to other choices, encourages replayability to see what’s possible and potentially receive a more favorable result with certain characters.
I’m pretty satisfied with the decisions I made initially, even if one of them was more unpopular. The game doesn’t shame you for any “bad” decisions, instead showing you the consequences in a way that are easy to understand. It also doesn’t praise you for doing something “good”, either. It just makes clear we’re all complicated people and are required to live with the decisions we make.
At its core, Oxenfree II is more of a story about time than its predecessor, showing the cycle of things like trauma and how it can lead to more hurt. It’s such a powerful message that builds over time with a final punch at the end, showing your choices alongside others before delivering a letter that leaves the players with some pretty good advice. Whether this is the last Oxenfree title or not, Night School Studio evolved the narrative in nearly every way.
Working to find the right frequency
As previously stated, there is a wide range of puzzles throughout Oxenfree II, but they aren’t as repetitive or as base as they were in the first game. In Oxenfree, the game was very reliant on Alex using her radio to attune portals, and that returns in a big way here too. However, Night School Studio evolves more on the terrain hiking, old tech, and dialogue choices to give players a more diverse experience.
The horror is very much still here, with haunting radio transmissions and possessions that are sure to unnerve even the most steady player. Jump scares are overused in media sometimes, but I never felt like Oxenfree II was taking advantage of my trust in an unfair way, instead coming off like a joke made at my expense that I didn’t mind after the fact. It’s not a pure-horror game like Outlast because Night School rips the bandaid off fast.
Some of the new puzzles are a little better than others, like a device that intercepts a signal and turns it into a shape with enough maneuvering. Placing the transceivers and attuning them is pretty basic, but something usually goes wrong. They’re not out of place, they just serve as more of a bullet point at the end of each chapter.
I was surprised how quickly my nine-hour playthrough of Oxenfree II went by and this largely seemed to come from the way the different puzzles and story beats are mixed together so there are very few dull moments or long treks across the island without purpose. The addition of the option to monitor and check on various new acquaintances through the walkie-talkie is great and keeps the game engaging between activities.
As far as how it runs technically, it’s not an intensive game, runs well, and would likely be really enjoyable on the Steam Deck. The sounds are very loud and the flashing lights can be a bit much, but it’s nothing worse than the average horror movie you’d see in theaters. That being said, there are many moments when the screen is pulled back too far to see Riley and there’s no way to adjust this.
In nearly every way, Oxenfree II evolves on the original while still very much recognizing the story that came before it. There are a handful of twists along the way, but once players place the first transceiver, they’ll be hooked into the story of Riley and Jacob as they try to save Camina from the spirits looking to escape the other side.
The Final Word
From start to finish Oxenfree II is able to evolve in every aspect from the original. Night School Studio has created another exceptionally spooky story that ends with an even stronger emotional gut punch than the original. The puzzles are fun, if not challenging, and the way the game reacts to players’ choices is not only a boon to the story but also seems as if it could encourage several playthroughs without getting stale.
9.5
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