We Are OFK is releasing later tonight, and the reviews have started to roll in ahead of the band’s debut performance.
The game is being released in five episodes, two today and then one a week for the next three weeks. However, reviewers got to play all five episodes ahead of time. We Are OFK is both a narrative adventure and a backdoor music EP for a real virtual band. It’s an interesting project and has been since its inception.
In my review, I said that “there are many things I liked about We Are OFK, from the characters to the music, the art direction and the thematic ideas that hit, and as a project, I am in love with the idea.” However, the gameplay and some of the writing are what I disliked the most, as I finished my review by giving the game a 5/10 and writing:
“But the disconnect the text messages caused me felt like being brutally ripped out of the experience; I began to roll my eyes when a phone icon popped up on the screen.
Read my full review for We Are OFK here.
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But reviews are just opinions! So here’s what some others around Australia have said about the game in their reviews.
Checkpoint Gaming – 6.5/10 (Charlie Kelly)
“Undoubtedly set to be divisive, We Are OFK will garner fans in with its catchy pop tunes and emotional storytelling, but also lose just as many with narrative and character omissions, light gameplay and purposefully cheesy dialogue. Still, for better or worse, this is an experience not like many others.”
Read the full review.
Player2 – A- (Jess Zammit)
“Sure, I didn’t feel engaged for every second I spent playing this game, but I’m sure as hell on OFK’s journey, and I want to see where it goes from here. I love them. I love that the world of the band extends beyond the confines of the game. I love what this team has done, the art they’ve created, and the heart with which they’ve done it. I know this game isn’t going to be for everyone – but I don’t think it needs to be. We Are OFK is by no means perfect – but it’s undeniably something special.”
Read the full review.
Press Start – 7.5/10 (Kieron Verbrugge)
“We Are OFK doesn’t quite hit the mark as an interactive experience, but it excels with a compelling narrative hook built on fantastic character and dialogue writing. It also doubles as a genuinely great EP by a virtual band that benefits immensely from the context its five episodes provide. This is a stark example of a game that is truly special, even if it’s not perfect.”
Read the full review.
Stevivor – 6/10 (Steve Wright)
“The combination of a simple gameplay loop with great music has been proven to work in the past; two Australian titles immediately spring to mind in The Artful Escape and Video World. Both titles feature engaging storylines, compelling characters and enough actual gameplay to bolster their music; We Are OFK sadly falls short — or at least doesn’t consistently deliver — on some of those points. That’s a real shame too, because the music found within is superb.”
Read the full review.
WellPlayed – 8.5/10 (Mark Isaacson)
“The future of OFK will be one to keep a very close eye on, if this opening adventure is anything to go by. The team have put together an enjoyable ride through their creative process, a thoughtful appreciation for being a video game yet being truthful to and delivering on their vision of something more.”
Read the full review.
In the comment section below, let me know if you’re excited to play We Are OFK over the next few weeks as episodes release on PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch.
