OXENFREE II: Lost Signals looks bigger and more ambitious than its predecessor

Oxenfree II Cabin Source: MWM Interactive

OXENFREE was met with overwhelming praise when it launched back in 2022. Fans and critics alike applauded the game'southward unique union of mysterious horror and choice-driven dialogue. It stood equally an first-class coming-of-age story in a fascinatingly unconventional setting. Despite the success of the original and the cult following the title garnered since its release, I honestly wasn't expecting to see the sequel revealed at the Nintendo Indie World Showcase earlier this year.

The start trailer for OXENFREE II: Lost Signals was fairly cryptic, but I recently had the pleasure of attending a easily-off preview of the game, which allowed me to experience over 30 minutes of gameplay. At its core, this sequel seems to maintain many of the primal elements fans loved virtually the original while expanding upon them in significant ways. Even after just seeing a small piece of this upcoming title, information technology'south abundantly clear that OXENFREE II: Lost Signals aims to exist bigger and more aggressive than its predecessor.

OXENFREE Ii: Lost Signals — A quick overview

Oxenfree II Climbing Source: MWM Interactive

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals takes place five years later the events of the original game. Set in the modest coastal town of Camena, the story follows Riley as she returns to her hometown to investigate strange and seemingly unexplainable radio signals. Riley quickly learns that at that place's something far more sinister about these radio signals than she initially anticipated. A peculiar masked grouping of individuals called "Parentage" seem to be involved, and it'south upwardly to you to uncover the truth about their origins and ultimate plans.

Like the first OXENFREE, this sequel focuses on supernatural visions, tense horror, engaging dialogue, and gameplay mechanics involving time loops. OXENFREE 2: Lost Signals is still dripping with the same gorgeous watercolor-esque art mode and nostalgic dawdling synth music of the original game. These design choices go a long way in setting the tone of this universe. The heavy VHS-inspired film saturation and slightly faded color palette make this title feel similar diving into a haunting time sheathing. Programmer Night Schoolhouse Studio has stressed that while at that place will be nods to the first entry, the events of OXENFREE II: Lost Signals exist as their own story.

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals — What's changing?

Oxenfree Ii Walkie Source: MWM Interactive

While OXENFREE II: Lost Signals doesn't seem to stray too far from the offset game'due south formula, the mechanics, presentation, and production accept all been expanded upon in meaningful means. The multiple-choice dialogue system from OXENFREE is yet an essential pillar of the gameplay in the sequel. Nonetheless, the team wants to offer even more means for players to communicate with the residents of this world. A newly introduced walkie-talkie system looks to deliver this in spades.

The walkie-talkie in OXENFREE Ii: Lost Signals allows the user to freely communicate with a large cast of characters at essentially any given moment. In OXENFREE, players could merely collaborate with the characters with them during relatively stock-still segments of the game. During this preview Night School Studio alleged that the walkie-talkie is considered the biggest addition to the communication mechanic and explained how who you cull to talk to will really impact your catastrophe.

For me, it was heady to meet platforming and puzzle-solving elevated in such a tangible way.

Another enormous change with OXENFREE II: Lost Signals is the overall scale and freedom provided with its new environments. Players will at present exist given multiple traversal options at crucial moments in the game that impact character dialogue and even bear upon certain puzzles. The sheer size of the locations I witnessed during this piece of gameplay looked drastically larger than anything I saw in the commencement entry.

While the original OXENFREE was quite linear, OXENFREE II: Lost Signals provides far more options for exploration. This horror sequel certainly shouldn't exist considered "open-world." Yet, players have more options than ever earlier regarding how and when they complete detail objectives in the game. In combination with the potential for different endings, this flexibility will likely encourage multiple playthroughs in a way OXENFREE just didn't.

The final noteworthy change in OXENFREE II: Lost Signals stems from the team's innovation with the serial' time loop mechanic. During my preview, Night School Studio showcased a compelling puzzle that required Riley to venture into a time tear to repair a damaged mineshaft lift. Time tears are natural fissures in the time-space continuum that allow players to revisit the by to alter the future. For me, it was heady to see platforming and puzzle-solving elevated in such a tangible mode.

OXENFREE Ii: Lost Signals — When and where tin can you play?

Oxenfree II Time Tunnel Source: MWM Interactive

Every bit it stands, there is no firm release date for OXENFREE 2: Lost Signals. Night School Studio and MWM Interactive are currently targeting a 2022 release window. While many consider OXENFREE one of the best horror games on Xbox, OXENFREE Two: Lost Signals will but be launching on PlayStation iv, PlayStation v, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

When questioned most the possibility of OXENFREE Two: Lost Signals coming to Xbox, the team stated that it was open up to bringing the game to equally many platforms as possible postal service-launch, but with Dark Schoolhouse Studio doing all the port work in-house, they are currently prioritizing the listed platforms for the game's launch. It's clear that OXENFREE Ii: Lost Signals aims to provide more of what fans loved nearly the original game, so here's to hoping for an Xbox version down the road.

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