Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2016 indie hit Oxenfree, faces a daunting challenge. Its predecessor, with its time-bending, coming-of-age narrative, captivated players and left a lasting impact. The exceptional writing, fascinating characters, and mysterious plot flawlessly combined to deliver a heartfelt and emotionally gripping story. As a result, expectations were sky-high for the sequel.
However, despite sharing many of the same elements, Oxenfree 2 falls short of replicating the success of its predecessor. While it boasts authentic characters and well-crafted writing, it lacks the depth and intensity that made the first game so memorable. Additionally, the sequel is burdened by tedious backtracking and a selection of overly neat and tidy endings, ultimately relegating it to the realm of "good but not exceptional" gaming experiences.
Joining the expanding collection of adventure games on Netflix is Oxenfree 2, developed by Night School Studio, the same team behind the original game. In a strategic move to enter the gaming industry, Netflix acquired Night School in 2021, ensuring that both games are now accessible on the platform.
Players experience the unfolding events through the perspective of Riley, who joins forces with her new colleague Jacob - two fresh additions to the Oxenfree storyline. The game takes place in Camena Coast, the hometown of the original game's protagonists, but an unexplored location within its narrative. Riley returns to Camena after an absence of several years, while Jacob, of a similar age, has never lived anywhere else. These differing life experiences greatly influence their conversations as they journey together. On Riley's first day of work, she and Jacob encounter a glitch in the transmitter, which unexpectedly disrupts suspicious activities taking place on Edwards Island, the setting of the first game. From this point onwards, the adventure delves into encounters with ghosts, time travel, and intermittent interactions with the local high school radio DJ.
Riley's primary tools of aid are a radio and walkie-talkies. Alongside these, players will encounter a few unique puzzle mechanics, such as the EMF boosters found in the abandoned town of Garland. Similar to the first game, the radio allows Riley to tune into various signals throughout Camena and engage with otherworldly beings encountered by the duo. The walkie-talkies enable Riley to communicate with several supporting characters, fulfill objectives, progress side stories, and gain deeper insight into the game world. A noteworthy aspect is that they offer alternative conversation options, breaking up the constant dialogue exchanges between Riley and Jacob that may feel somewhat repetitive. While Oxenfree 2 primarily revolves around exploration, it can become monotonous in later sections of the game, particularly when seeking out missing collectibles and retracing previously explored environments.
This world wasn't designed for swift traversal. Once the character-building chatter dies down, the compact community of Camena suddenly feels vast and empty. In these moments, having something to do or someone to talk to becomes a relief, as it can still provide interesting tidbits or at least a chuckle. However, even these interactions can fall short if there is nothing new to report, and players are left in silence, searching for the last couple of hidden journals. Unfortunately, this tends to occur towards the end, adding a tedious element to the conclusion.
In terms of character banter, Jake is depicted as an ordinary individual, a paranormal enthusiast, and a devoted fan of Maggie Adler (a prominent figure in the first game). However, despite these traits, he is just an average guy. On the other hand, Riley is portrayed as someone who is feeling depressed and lost, compelled to return to a home she wants no part of. They are both individuals in their thirties who are experiencing a run of bad luck, stuck together at a time when they have lost control of their lives. These characters are relatable to a specific audience demographic, unlike the protagonists of the first game. The decision to explore older characters and the distinct life phase they find themselves in is successful. The coming-of-age narrative is not confined solely to teenagers.
Despite some drawbacks in the later stages of the game, the experience of traversing and discovering in Oxenfree 2 is delightful. Each area of the town has its own unique atmosphere, with elements of charm, eeriness, or a combination of both, and exploring these areas is enjoyable. The story of the game, as well as the history of the town itself, unravels gradually as new parts of Camena are uncovered and examined. This unfolds through character banter, scripted events, and the environments themselves, where the story can be discerned from a weathered tombstone or an abandoned hallway. Additionally, optional hidden Maggie Adler letters in Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals contribute to the world-building and provide further context to both games.
In the Sex and the City series, it is said that the city is considered the fifth character. Similarly, in Oxenfree 2, Camena takes on the role of the third character. This game revolves around not only Jake and Riley, but also the town itself. The narrative heavily focuses on the depiction of an aging town, experiencing both growth and decline throughout time. Camena strongly embodies a sense of place familiar to both Jake and Riley, albeit from two distinct temporal perspectives.
Oxenfree 2 delves into the themes of time and perspective, exploring the concept of different interpretations of the same location or event. Within its eerie atmosphere of ghosts and haunted radio stations lies a deeper focus on the individuals who inhabit its shores. Despite its flaws, Oxenfree 2 succeeds in creating an immersive and captivating experience.
While Oxenfree 2 offers multiple endings, they all feel somewhat too tidy. The first game's allure was the ambiguity of its endings, where no option was explicitly deemed "the best." The outcome was shaped by the player's choices and the status of Alex's relationships with the various characters. Regardless of which conclusion was reached, there was a lingering feeling of uncertainty, a sense that something remained unfinished. This seamlessly aligned with the game's central themes of time travel and the inevitability of events.
Oxenfree 2 contemplates the same inquiries, but successfully reaches a resolution without any of the persistent uneasiness or enigma that the initial game accomplished. There's value in concluding a narrative, yet neatly tying it up with one of three rather tidy endings contradicts the constantly changing aspects of time travel and destiny that both games play with.
Despite a few missteps, there is still a great deal to commend about engaging with and completing Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. Those who were fans of the initial installment will find additional enjoyment, while newcomers will have no trouble catching up. Though it ties up loose ends a bit too neatly and encounters some troublesome traversal obstacles, the game succeeds in presenting a well-crafted and relatable narrative that is truly worth experiencing.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
After the events of Oxenfree, Riley comes back to her hometown of Camena to delve into enigmatic radio transmissions. However, what she uncovers exceeds her expectations.
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is now accessible on Android, iOS, PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch. Game Rant received a PC code to conduct this review.
