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 kind of closure, and whereas it does obtain that, it is usually trapped in its personal loop.
Oxenfree 2 looks like it’s repeating itself as a result of it’s so just like the primary sport. The unique was a novel tackle the narrative journey style because it let gamers stroll and discuss 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 type of Telltale Video games, Supermassive Video games, and Quantic Dream.
It’s nonetheless an efficient strategy to construct character and provides Oxenfree 2 ample alternative to flesh out its new faces. The best way characters converse can be considered one of its robust fits since they may discuss all the best way till the participant picks a response, that means conversations don’t have the lifeless air that’s so distracting in lots of its contemporaries. The naturalistic performances additional floor these characters since they converse with hesitation markers and stammer very like actual individuals with out it being a hokey crutch.
![Oxenfree 2 Review (PS4, PS5): Stuck in a Loop](https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/07/OXENFREE-II_-Lost-Signals_20230709140028.jpg?w=1024)
All of those small choices play their half in making Oxenfree 2’s dialogue presentation so spectacular, but it surely’s nonetheless the identical components. Night time College Studio seemingly didn’t enhance or increase these techniques 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 group pushed ahead with some new tweaks or improvements since requirements are totally different now. Oxenfree ought to have been the place to begin, not the endpoint. The walkie talkie that may ping plenty of totally different characters is probably the most noticeable distinction, however these exchanges repeatedly 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, but it surely’s nearly at all times too sluggish anyway. Taking a unsuitable flip can be significantly excruciating because it’s not possible to shortly course appropriate. Trying to find collectibles or potential secrets and techniques solely to be met with a lifeless finish is demoralizing and sometimes not definitely 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 lots of dialogue decisions, but it surely doesn’t seem to provide gamers many alternatives to actually craft their very own playthrough. When so many scenes play out the identical means or solely have negligible variations, the glacial strolling pace and unskippable dialogue simply make extra runs much more unappealing. Prolonged and protracted loading instances additionally ceaselessly hinder its ahead momentum and are solely made considerably tolerable by its unbelievable horror-tinged ambient soundtrack.
![Oxenfree 2 Review (PS4, PS5): Stuck in a Loop](https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/07/Oxenfree-II_-Lost-Signals_20230704182717.jpg?w=1024)
The pacing appears intentionally dialed down to provide 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 buddy. Riley, the protagonist, and her new colleague Jacob are given the area to develop and turn out to be greater than two-dimensional caricatures merely attempting to bust some ghosts.
Riley is laid-back and has a nonchalant perspective that might 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 individual. Jacob is easier and extra of an upbeat nerd that hides his staggering quantity of insecurity behind humor. His previous will not be almost as difficult or compelling, and it looks like his foremost goal 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 group.
Oxenfree 2 makes use of Riley, Jacob, and the antagonists to touch upon acceptance and destiny. The concepts are woven collectively effectively since they manifest in another way in every character and grant alternate viewpoints that each one uniquely poke on the sport’s themes. Whereas a few of these antagonists are faceless ghouls, having a extra human opposition with comprehensible targets gives extra subtleties that spooky ghosts aren’t outfitted to produce.
![Oxenfree 2 Review (PS4, PS5): Stuck in a Loop](https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/07/Oxenfree-II_-Lost-Signals_20230704173521.jpg?w=1024)
These themes are additionally integral to the plot, which banks too closely on data from the unique sport. 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 essential occasions by glossing over main beats from the final sport and neglecting to correctly reintroduce characters. Sequels clearly can and may proceed prior storylines and reuse elements of the solid, but it surely’s essential for stated sequels to provide correct context for these parts inside themselves; they shouldn’t nearly solely rely upon prior expertise.
And whereas a intelligent utilization of New Sport Plus, Oxenfree’s canon conclusion is locked behind a number of playthroughs that require sure decisions. This implies Oxenfree 2 is choosing up from a finale many doubtless aren’t aware of, one which’s radically totally different from probably the most generally seen ending. Given how important these particulars are, it’s shocking Night time College Studio leaned so onerous on this route with out offering a extra useful and thorough synopsis, particularly with the prolonged seven-year hole between video games.
Oxenfree 2: Misplaced Alerts Evaluation: The ultimate verdict
It appeared like Alex was damned to wallow in limbo till the tip of time, but it surely’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 generally the identical and hasn’t been additional streamlined or upgraded. Traversal continues to be too sluggish. And regardless that its narrative builds on what got here earlier than, it struggles to offer a complete abstract of that first sport and contextualize these all-important occasions. All of those stumbles imply that Oxenfree 2’s sign isn’t misplaced, simply filled with pointless static.
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Naturalistic dialogue and performances each floor the characters
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Eerie, but catchy soundtrack that reinforces its sci-fi horror temper
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Would not present a recap of the unique Oxenfree, which is essential to understanding this sport’s story
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Too just like the primary sport and fails to push ahead
Disclaimer: This Oxenfree 2: Misplaced Alerts evaluate is predicated on a PS4 and PS5 copy offered by the writer. Reviewed on model 1.02 and 1.002.000, respectively.