As a big fan of the original Oxenfree, I was thrilled to dive into the much-anticipated sequel, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. My expectations were high, and while the game certainly had its moments, it ended up being a mixed bag for me.

One of the aspects that stood out to me was the improved character development. The protagonists, Riley and Jacob, had a chemistry that far exceeded the connections in the first game. Their interactions felt genuine, and I found myself emotionally invested in their journey, which was a refreshing change from my experiences with Alex and her friends in the previous installment. Jacob is a very compelling character and I think he and Riley bounce off of each other so well, and I always appreciated his endless chatter and attempts to lighten the mood.

The ambiance of Lost Signals had its ups and downs. On one hand, it managed to create an atmosphere where I felt genuinely alone, battling evil forces alongside Jacob. However, it lacked the intense creepiness that had set the tone for the original Oxenfree. The horror elements felt more scattered and absent, and it was something I took notice on. This slight departure from the abundance of the first game's horror elements left me somewhat yearning for the spine-chilling experiences of the past. The pacing in Lost Signals admittedly was spot on, though. The game didn't drag on, and the final confrontation felt appropriately climactic. The length of the game was just right, making it a worthy purchase for the price.

Despite the positive aspects, the story took an unfortunate turn for me around 3 AM. There was a moment of excitement with a reveal for the main villain, but when the true antagonist was revealed, I couldn't help but feel disappointed at this fakeout that could have been something truly special. The plot lacked the creativity and impact that I had hoped for, and it did not match the intrigue of its predecessor. The conclusion felt lackluster in comparison, and I couldn't help but compare the two, finding the original game's ending far more resonant with me.

Another of my major gripes with Lost Signals was its flawed gameplay and technical issues. Despite my efforts to be nice and intimate with Jacob throughout the entire 7-hour playthrough, the game claimed that I had alienated him due to a single dialogue option. This inconsistency shattered the illusion of my choices truly mattering, and it felt inauthentic for a game centered around human connections. Moreover, the game's technical performance on the PS5 was less than satisfactory. Frequent crashes and framerate drops disrupted my immersion, and the loading screens were far from instant, which seemed baffling given the game's modest map size and graphics for this generation. There really is no excuse for this game to perform as it does.

Lost Signals took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. While the improved character development and pacing were commendable, the lackluster story and atmosphere fell short of my expectations. The disappointing ending, flawed gameplay mechanics, and technical issues left me feeling that the game had not lived up to its full potential. Nevertheless, I don't regret playing it, as it still offered some enjoyable moments, but it simply didn't deliver the same magic as its predecessor. I can only hope that if there's another installment in the series (which I seriously doubt there will be) it will recapture the essence that made the original Oxenfree so unforgettable.