![]() ![]() Rarely does Oxenfree II go for the jump scare, and the game is stronger for it, building up the unsettling presence of its villains by not giving them a tangible face or easily understood motivation until the very end of the game. Occasionally, they'll gnaw at the festering wounds of Riley's trauma as well, pulling her into visions of the past and future so that she can relive the deterioration of her family life and witness how she pays that generational trauma forward to future generations. Not providing a face for most of the characters is doubly disquieting when it comes to the main antagonists of the game, ghosts who communicate with Riley from another dimension by splicing together their sentences with phrases and words from different radio broadcasts. There's also something especially unnerving about never seeing most of the people that tether Riley to her current reality, lending further support to the game's themes of isolation. (Someone, somewhere needs to give actors Liz Saydah, aka Riley, and Alaina Wis, aka Evelyn, all the awards for how well they bring their characters to life.) Riley's walkie-talkie is her sole lifeline to most of Oxenfree II's cast. Riley's regular check-ins and conversations about family with her supervisor Evelyn are especially good and feel increasingly poignant to the game's themes about priorities and finding the strength to move forward in life. ![]() Compelling writing and a talented voice cast bring these characters to life, and navigating their fledgling friendships through the pressure cooker of a single night of terrifying supernatural activity gets you deeply invested in each one. It's through this walkie-talkie that a great deal of Oxenfree II's conversations occur, and being strategic in how and when you talk can drastically alter the relationships that Riley has with these characters and the ultimate conclusions to their stories.įorging these relationships with what are essentially just voices is the strongest element of Oxenfree II. The main crux of Oxenfree II is Riley's walkie-talkie, which allows her to stay in regular contact with several characters across Camena, like a park ranger trying to understand the supernatural stuff that's happening and a lonely old fisherman looking for a friend. In this way, saying nothing at all is just as valid a choice as saying something. Wait too long and these dialogue branches eventually fade away, but speak up too soon and you may interrupt someone just before they absent-mindedly say something that creates a more compelling path in the conversation. During conversations, small thought bubbles will appear above Riley's head as people talk to her, giving you a chance to choose how you speak your mind. Conversations don't pause to give you a chance to figure out what to say next-like an actual conversation in real life, Riley will have to regularly respond to express interest. Like its previous games, developer Night School Studio utilizes both a choice- and timing-driven dialogue system, taking note of not only what you say but when you say it. ![]() Sometimes choosing to say nothing can also affect how the story plays out. As Riley and Jacob struggle to understand what's happening and fix things, they find their efforts repeatedly thwarted by a trio of teenagers who are a part of Parentage, a church-like cult in the area, and lingering supernatural specters. The seemingly simple job devolves into a much stranger and more dangerous situation, however, as electromagnetic waves take a toll on reality, opening portals to other timelines. Returning to her hometown of Camena-the part of the mainland closest to the first Oxenfree's Edwards Island-Riley is partnered with the town's resident handyman, Jacob Summers, and tasked to set up transmission radio towers around the coastal town. Taking place five years after the original game, Oxenfree II has you play as a new protagonist: Riley Poverly. The best parts of the experience are drowned out in the dreadful static of Oxenfree II's unmemorable companion and irritating secondary antagonist, but navigating the game's growing sense of unease as you slowly uncover clues to a greater mystery is an engaging and chilling thrill. Sure, there are moments of levity when the game's characters crack jokes or dabble in a little fun but, like its 2016 predecessor, this dialogue-driven graphic adventure game delights in its unsettling atmosphere. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is quite creepy at times, using time loops, crackling radio static, and the occasional vengeful interdimensional ghost to keep you on your toes.
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