Oxenfree switch review5/16/2023 ![]() Oxenfree is elegantly simple, using branching dialogue and a little something supernatural to develop three-dimensional characters and drive the coming-of-age story. The music adds to that feeling, often tinged with sadness, and together the art and soundtrack deepened my connection to a game all about human connections. The characters are also really small as a part of the art style, which made me feel like everything that was happening was much bigger than I was. Alex talks a lot about her memories of the island, so walking through a beautiful forest or in an eerie, crystal-filled cave made me as fond of her childhood haunt as she was. Slow walking isn’t conducive to exploring, but it does encourage admiring the gorgeous landscapes. I did replay it, though, and I enjoyed experiencing it with a fresh perspective. but in a game that’s focused on characters and how they interact, that sluggishness made me a little more reluctant to repeat this story than I’d have liked. That might be the point, and it’s one of Oxenfree’s strengths that it’s not overloaded with pointless things. I sometimes felt like I didn’t have enough to do. Long walks from area to area make sense because they leave room for important conversations, but walking often dragged on too long. However, Oxenfree’s pacing is strangely inconsistent. It’s a smart touch that’s consistently effective. Your companion might be in trouble, and how you react to that might affect how much they care for you at the end. ![]() Sudden time loops add mystery and urgency to conversations, and that urgency in turn furthers the development of the characters and their relationships, which are so integral to Oxenfree’s story. The time-travel aspect of Oxenfree is fascinating enough on its own, but it’s excellent because of its effect on the characters and their dynamic. And, without spoiling anything, there’s also a neat social integration that makes time loops extra intriguing. ![]() A campfire appeared where there wasn’t one before, and then a soccer ball that I had trouble kicking. I’d be walking through Oxenfree’s island and talking somewhat casually, only to be torn back to an earlier point in time and notice things are subtly and unsettlingly different this time. “Time loops” warp the environment, reset conversations, and reveal the darker parts of the characters and their world. Creepy audio crackles through the radio, and then everything changes. Oxenfree’s story progresses as you build and discover relationships with its interesting characters, but the clever twist is using a radio to tune into the supernatural side of things. Oxenfree's branching dialogue options make its conversations work. It’s an important reminder that you can’t “win” social situations, and that kept Oxenfree’s supernatural plot points grounded in reality. But there were times when, no matter what choice I made, I was going to end up hurting someone. I loved listening to them dance around awkward topics and reveal personal details to each other in a way that, despite the stilted dialogue, felt pretty true to life. My favorite character to spend time with was Jonas, an interesting but clearly troubled person who provides insight into Alex’s own personal trauma, but even Ren grew on me the more I got to know him. You get to choose who accompanies you for most of the game by making specific choices. Like the conversation with Jonas, there usually aren't obviously “good” or “bad” choices - some feel nicer, maybe, but most just reveal different parts of the characters’ full selves. While these awkward conversations don't necessarily sound like natural teenager speech, Oxenfree’s branching dialogue options make it work. My choices carried through to the very end, four or so hours later. In an early conversation with Jonas, one of my dialogue options was to tell him that Ren annoyed me, and I picked it almost instantly - I didn’t think about how it would eventually come back to bite me. ![]() Oxenfree is very dialogue-focused, so his part in the group’s dynamic grated on me at first. I immediately disliked the talkative Ren, mostly because his voice acting and dialogue don’t sound believable. Oxenfree puts you in the shoes of a teenager named Alex on her way to the local island with her childhood best friend, Ren, and brand-new step brother, Jonas. I didn't think about how it would eventually come back to bite me.
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