A musical miniseries with a stunning quantity of coronary heart

I wasn’t positive what to anticipate with We Are OFK. Primarily based on the trailer, I believed it was going to be the same old fare we get with episodic, choice-based narratives (which I like). Once I began enjoying, I used to be stunned to search out that We Are OFK is much less of a recreation and extra of an animated miniseries with interactive components, together with music movies. It made much more sense that it was advisable to me to play on “no matter [my] most popular TV watching setup is.” We Are OFK can also be thought-about a biopic by its creators, and whereas I’d extra categorize it as a memoir, the purpose is that the mission is a fictional telling of the forming of a actual digital band, which sounds extra complicated than it’s.

Once I sat down to jot down this evaluate, I believed lots about whether or not to evaluate it as a recreation or as extra of that interactive sequence factor — it’s simply in a form of indistinguishable center floor. I like that although, as a result of it’s not one thing we see typically within the video games house in any respect, and I discover it refreshing. That being mentioned, I’m simply going to be as trustworthy as I probably can, and critique the few interactive components as I might every other narrative recreation. I’ve lots to say. Let’s go.

We Are OFK (PC [reviewed], Nintendo Change, PlayStation)
Developer: Crew OFK
Writer: Crew OFK
Launched: Aug 18, 2022 – Eps. 1 & 2, Aug 25 – Ep. 3, Sep 1 – Ep. 4, Sep 8 – Ep. 5
MSRP: $19.99

We Are OFK follows a bunch of 4 pals in Los Angeles as they navigate work, household, relationships, and the tough course of of making artwork. I like a very good slice-of-life story, and this sequence delivered on that entrance. The principle forged consists of Itsumi, a spunky live performance pianist/social media supervisor for a big gaming firm; Carter, an eccentric, workaholic artist who likes to maintain their story considerably of a thriller; Luca, a bubbly singer/songwriter who struggles with self-doubt; and Jey, a fiery music producer with a no-nonsense outlook.

It’s value noting that the primary forged are all a part of the LGBTQ+ group, however that by no means takes heart stage because the defining attribute of who they’re. They’re full, full individuals first, and we see their queerness as a real expression of them, not preachy postulation for the sake of it. Even for a narrative primarily based on actual individuals, that may be a tough stability to strike, so I’m excited to see such thoughtfully written examples of this group.

I can relate

Right here’s the factor — I’m the precise demographic for this recreation. I stay in LA, I’m a author, I like pop music, and I’m bi. If anybody was going to actually relate to this recreation, it’s me. Nonetheless, I feel that the energy of the writing makes it so anybody can actually take pleasure in enjoying/watching We Are OFK. In case you’ve ever questioned what it’s wish to work within the video games or music industries, this is among the most practical seems to be at that life you’re gonna get, for higher or for worse. 

Furthermore, this could be a little bit of a controversial take, however with regards to narrative-centric video games I care extra about good writing than mechanics. Regardless of my bias, even I’m prepared to confess that We Are OFK is a bit shallow with regards to its mechanics. In case you’re on the lookout for an interactive story that has extremely chill, enjoyable gameplay, as I typically am, it’s near excellent on that entrance. At that time, it simply comes all the way down to preferences.

The primary trace that We Are OFK was extra of a miniseries than recreation was the size of the episodes included below their titles, precisely like the way you see it on a streaming platform. I get bizarre nervousness about not figuring out how lengthy it’s going to take me to play a recreation, in order that’s really a element I’d like to see some extra conventional video games tackle as nicely. Whenever you pause, there’s additionally a progress bar that reveals you precisely how a lot time there may be left within the episode, once more, like several typical VOD UI. 

Can’t hype the writing sufficient

What shocked me probably the most was the standard of the writing. First off, I believed We Are OFK was going to be a run-of-the-mill, but lovable, story of a band’s rise to fame. As a substitute, it’s far more centered on the characters, which was a daring selection, however one which I believed was excellent for the grounded story of interpersonal relationships that they’re attempting to inform. Instantly, we all know who all of those characters are. They’ve distinct personalities, flaws, plausible motivations, wealthy relationships with one another — I may go on. This is sensible contemplating they had been all primarily based on actual individuals, however I’ve no manner of figuring out how a lot of the story and characters had been really pulled from their real-life counterparts. Both manner, they’re probably the most realistically written characters I’ve seen in video games in an extended, very long time.

The conversations at all times really feel pure, like you’ll be able to really feel how nicely these characters know one another and the way comfy they’re. You continuously see every member of the group’s values clashing with the others as nicely, completely emulating the real-life ebb and movement of contemporary relationships. They’re simply doing their greatest in powerful circumstances, and actively attempting to be there for one another whereas additionally going for what they need in life. I walked away from the sport not solely rooting for these characters, however deeply understanding what makes these individuals tick.

I even have to interrupt out to provide further kudos to the writing of Episode 4, titled Splits. I can’t give a lot away, but it surely was some of the delicate, complicated examinations of grief, trauma, and being there in your pals that I’ve seen in something… ever. A lot of the remainder of the episodes had been about on par, however there was one thing particularly poignant and delightful concerning the fourth episode — and the character it was centered on all of a sudden grew to become my favourite.

Among the dialogue did irk me a bit, solely as a result of it veered into no-one-actually-talks-like-that territory, much like the problem Life is Unusual had. However the character arcs and construction had been so robust, and it didn’t occur all that always, so it completely was not a deal breaker for me. The opposite critique I’ve of the story is that I felt like issues wrapped up a bit too shortly, however once more, it’s a small gripe within the face of among the greatest character-focused writing I’ve seen in years.

Let’s speak interactivity

Like I mentioned, the interactive components weren’t tremendous prevalent. The commonest of them had been dialogue selections both by way of textual content message or in common dialog. That is customary fare — in case you’ve performed nearly any narrative journey, you understand what you’re in for. The alternatives are just about at all times taste textual content, however I don’t actually thoughts it. We Are OFK by no means presents itself as a recreation the place your selections matter, or a lot of a recreation in any respect for that matter. I for one occur to love taste textual content, however whereas some individuals might not agree with me on that, it could possibly nonetheless be enjoyable to decide on how your character reacts in any given state of affairs for the sake of it.

You may also entry a couple of textual content conversations on the primary menu, that are enjoyable little surprises to take a look at in between episodes. It’s a pleasant contact to get a glimpse into what the characters are doing after we’re not there.

Then there are the interactive music movies. There’s one per episode, normally positioned to accent a robust narrative beat that occurred within the story. Now I don’t know lots about music, however the EP is taken into account indie pop. I take heed to a whole lot of CHVRCHES, and the music in We Are OFK jogged my memory a little bit of their early stuff. From what I can guess, digital bands like Gorillaz and Ok/DA had been a giant affect. Sorry if that doesn’t assist you to music individuals on the market — it’s the perfect I bought. OFK has a single out that’s featured within the recreation, although, so you’ll be able to take heed to it earlier than you play if you would like.

Anyway, again to the interactivity: much like the dialogue selections, the interactive music movies are extra about model than anything. There aren’t any fail states, and for probably the most half they embody clicking on fairly visuals to a beat. I believed these had been a whole lot of enjoyable due to how they went together with the songs, and the way they performed into the story on the similar time. 

We’re not reinventing the wheel right here, however in case you like little interactive musical vignettes with no stakes which might be good to take a look at, you’ll have a very good time with it. I loved each single music, too, which was a nice shock. I assume in case you’re going to make an entire recreation about making an EP, it’s a very good factor there aren’t any weak hyperlinks on the tracklist.

There are a pair extra stylized interactive set items, they usually had been my favourite “gaming” moments of the entire thing. These had been normally quick and once more, didn’t have any bearing on how the story performed out, but it surely was enjoyable to have some completely different kinds combined into the low-poly characters and painted backgrounds.

Critiques and closing ideas

As a lot as I loved We Are OFK, I do must disclose some jankiness that I encountered. Among the music video bits had been missing in polish, and I might have appreciated to see these moments actually be locked down contemplating they had been the one elements that had extra concerned mechanics. Additionally, whereas the artwork model is purposefully minimal, the animations might be fairly stiff. You additionally get a whole lot of objects clipping via the characters, which solely turns into extra noticeable once you don’t have a lot else to concentrate to however them.

I had subtitles on the entire time as nicely, and I used to be fairly bummed that they didn’t present up throughout the music movies, which is once I wanted them most. Surprisingly, there have been moments within the narrative a part of the sport the place subs would randomly fail to indicate up, too.

The way in which the interplay is integrated form of jogs my memory of Netflix’s Bandersnatch, in a manner. Not as a result of it’s much like We Are OFK in any manner, but it surely does make me consider how my pals and I made an evening of sitting down, watching Bandersnatch, and arguing over every others’ selections. Clearly We Are OFK has principally the other tone, however the thought is similar in precept. It looks like it could be a blast to observe with pals, casually move across the controller, and have a chill evening in. I do know if my roommate weren’t out of city this week, it could have been one thing they’d have liked to take a seat down and watch/play with me.

We Are OFK is completely not for everybody. I really feel like lots of people are going to jot down it off earlier than even giving it a strive, which I feel is such a disgrace as a result of for each little bit of self-indulgent and downright foolish it may be at occasions, additionally it is each bit compelling, inspiring, and simply goddamn well-written.

A lot of We Are OFK’s identification is its model, however I’ve to say that it has the substance to again up its hyper-stylized imaginative and prescient. Whenever you take a look at it much less as a recreation and extra as an interactive expression of the artistic course of behind an EP, it truly is a whole lot of enjoyable — you simply must be prepared to satisfy it there, and take a look at it for what it’s reasonably than what you suppose it needs to be.

Does it profit from being interactive with regards to its storytelling? That’s form of as much as you. In case you enable your self to grow to be immersed in it, utilizing the interactive bits to specific how you really feel as an observer of this story, that’s once you’re going to get probably the most out of this expertise. 

It’s my job to be trustworthy right here, and the conclusion I’ve come to is that I’m actually glad We Are OFK exists, and I feel you must completely play it in case you’re on the lookout for a very good narrative recreation. It’s not an important illustration of in-depth gameplay, but it surely’s only a well-told story, plain and easy. I’ve heard some individuals say that the sequence seems to be like nothing greater than an advert for OFK’s EP, and if that’s the case, it’s the perfect advert I’ve ever seen in my life. Even when it feels out of your consolation zone, it could possibly say with absolute certainty that We Are OFK is a enjoyable time… in case you lean into all the pieces that it’s.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}