Hi, I’m Bryant Cannon, game director of Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, and we’re finally excited to share that the game is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on July 12, 2023.
If you’re not familiar with Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, then let me paint a picture for you. Welcome to Camena: a small seaside town currently experiencing unusual electromagnetic waves that are interfering with electrical and radio equipment. TV turns on and off. The plane lost its radar. Radio stations cannot be played via static. You know, problems every quaint town in the Pacific Northwest has to deal with.
Enter Riley Poverly, an environmental researcher who reluctantly returns to her hometown to investigate these frequency signals and ends up getting more than she bargained for. You, as Riley, will traverse harsh terrains, encounter mysterious cults and uncover strange supernatural phenomena that threaten to change the world as we know it. How you deal with these challenges is up to you, and your choices will shape Riley’s future – as well as Camena’s fate.
To take on the tasks at hand, you’ll need the right equipment. Riley’s backpack was filled with just that: a supernatural frequency radio; transmitters that Riley would need to install throughout Camena to learn more about these radio frequencies; a climbing kit for traversing some of the more treacherous terrain in Camena; and a walkie-talkie, which will allow Riley to communicate with a few new characters along the way.
Let’s dive deeper into the walkie-talkie.
Hi, do you copy?
Those who have played Oxenfree are familiar with its dialogue system and unique radio mechanics that allow Alex – the protagonist of the first game – to communicate with mysterious ghosts and manipulate her world. that. In Oxenfree II, we wanted to develop that idea. This new walkie-talkie feature puts players in charge of when and how Riley will engage in conversations with off-screen characters.
So how does it work? Let’s say you’re walking back from planting a generator at Tootega Falls, and your high school friend and former co-worker, Jacob, doesn’t feel too chatty. You can use the left trigger at any time to open your radio. Browse the channels until you find someone you want to talk to and that’s it!
To answer or not to answer, that is the question
In Oxenfree II, players will shape the story through Riley’s actions and dialogue choices, similar to how they did with Alex and the characters in the first game. Each decision affects who Riley becomes, her relationships with other characters, and the story options available at each turn.
Radio and walkie-talkie concept art
Radio expands on this and opens up a class of player bodies; You can choose to move the story however you see fit, depending on how you interact with the people on the radio. Unlike in the first game, where you were faced with dialogue choices with the people in front of you, you now have the option to start a conversation with your walkie-talkie contacts at any time. These interactions allow you to uncover useful insights into the mysteries of Camena.
Or you can completely ignore them. It has consequences if you go that route – but that’s your decision.
Who’s out there?
In addition to some of the characters you’ll meet – like Jacob, and members of the cult-like group Parentage (more on that later) – the walkie-talkie introduces more local contacts. If you find yourself stuck at any point in the game, you can pull out your walkie-talkie and hit the base with one of your contacts.
You not only learn more about Camena but also the personal crises they are currently facing.
One of those characters is Maria, the DJ for the student-run radio station at Camena High School. When you follow her radio show, she offers advice to listeners on channel eight. If you choose to contact her, she can even ask you for advice and make it possible for her to change the type of music you listen to on Camena High Radio.
Another character you will contact (or rather, he will contact you) is Nick, a sailor who, in his words, “has traveled all the way along the coast.” If you decide to do Nick a little favor, he’ll offer valuable insight into the strange things happening around Camena. You may also need to help him along the way as he grapples with his own supernatural situation.
New age story
Amid the supernatural events surrounding them, Riley and her radio communicators must also face the seemingly ordinary impact of everyday life and the choices we all make about our lives. who we want to be.
Are the life choices Riley makes right for her? Is she who she really wants to be?
Similar to the teenagers in the original Oxenfree, your radio contacts are making important decisions about their lives: Should Maria share a secret that could change friendship forever Are not? Should Nick take a leap of faith? As Riley, you’ll connect with them over the radio and talk about all sorts of things – personal issues as well as scary ghosts and cults. Just like everyday life.
We can’t let you all dive into what’s happening in Camena when Oxenfree II: Lost Signals launches on July 12th. Pre-orders are now available on PlayStation Store to get 25% off.
