Oxenfree – Teen pain and Horror all in one.
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4
Developer: Night School Studio
Publisher: Night School Studio
Author: S.A.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, games where story lines are the main focus of the game should be the norm of any modern day gaming experience. After all, it’s all well and good to cut your way through a horde of monsters and villains, but if I’m not attached to the characters involved?
Who gives one iota of a damn.
That’s what games like Oxenfree manage to do so well, make me feel as if I might actually be upset if my character were to perish. This is accomplished surprisingly well given the fact that everything about this game screams ‘cliché’ from the beginning. That said the story concentrates on Teens alone a rather creepy island, and finding themselves unearthing malevolent spirits. As if this itself didn’t seem like the set up for every teen horror film ever made, the game also features games of truth or dare, beers, Bonfires and even creepy ghostly voices over the radio. However, despite all the above, this game is actually a must check out for those of you looking for a fun but quick game to play.
Here’s the game’s setup:
While seemingly straight out of a 70’s horror film, I can definitely say that each character is much more than just murder-fodder. They’re developed and believable characters, with the appropriate life problems that often go along with their age and yet never seen in a horror film.
Players take control of a young woman named Alex, an individual we will use to not only explore the terrors of the island, but also interact with our other friends. That said, while it is true that puzzles are scattered throughout the game for players to solve, and a variety of spookiness will occur as we explore, the most important feature lies in the conversation of the game. Wherein you get to know each character and their own problems a little better. Thus evolving this from a horror game into an actual ‘story’ game. The interface for conversations is featured below: 
Conversation is an ongoing trend in the game, and you have to pick your responses as fast as you would in the real world. The game doesn’t offer ‘breathers’ in conversation like a TellTale game might, but actually expects you to answer as characters are speaking. This allows for a banter like effect between characters to occur, and a more smooth play through in terms of game dynamics. This is something to keep in mind, because characters will respond appropriately if they feel that Alex is to quiet or not speaking up. Each decision, or indecision you make will affect your game experience. This back and forth dialogue between characters is beautifully written and feels very natural in nature, allowing players to feel ‘involved’ in a way most games lack.
In truth, I don’t want to spoil the individual characters stories for you, as would inevitably happen as I continue to write this piece. I want you to go pick up this game and enjoy in a story that tells like an interactive novel, and enjoy the game as if you knew nothing to begin with.
So pick up a controller, or make you way to a keyboard, and get to playing readers.
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