There’s no denying thatLife is Strangetook the adventure game genre from the beginning. As a whole, the franchise is considered a cornerstone of the genre for its masterful storytelling and gripping characters. In fact, it sort of seems likeLife is Strangeis responsible for broadly reinvigorating its genre. Among a few other adventure games in development,We Are OFKplans to deliver a music-centric adventure experience toPlayStationfans. Originally revealed during The Game Awards 2020,We Are OFKtells the story of a young group of musicians trying to establish their careers in Los Angeles while struggling with emotional issues like self-doubt and heartbreak.
We Are OFKparticularly showsthe impact ofLife is Strangeon the game industry and the adventure genre. It seems thatWe Are OFKuses a structure very similar to theLife is Strangeseries while exploring themes similar to the kinds of themes that lie at the heart ofLife is Strangegames. In spite of its similarities, though,We Are OFKalready sets itself apart thanks to its intention to explore the music industry, introducing plentiful new ideas to theLife is Strangestructure. The result is a potential next step for adventure games everywhere.
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Comparing We Are OFK to Life is Strange
Life is Strangepartially made a name for itself thanks to its episodic format. Rather than releasing the entire game in one go, Dontnod Entertainment and Square Enix releasedone chapter ofLife is Strangeat a time, drawing out the game into a long-term experience that fans could savor.We Are OFKwill also split up its story up into five segments just like the originalLife is Strange.In fact,We Are OFKfinds a new way to use the episodic structure. With every episode that Team OFK releases, the virtual band OFK will release a new single via an interactive music video, giving fans an additional way to engage with and appreciate the game’s characters.
The content at the heart ofWe Are OFKwill probably appeal toLife is Strangefans just as much as the structure. AlthoughLife is Strange’s protagonists often have remarkable supernatural powers that help them on their journeys,Life is Strangestill focuses on heartfelt, realistic problems that its diverse characters face. In a similar vein,We Are OFKeschews fantasy elements and action in order to focus on the human elements at the heart of the story. It also promisesrich diversity like that ofLife is Strange; many ofWe Are OFK’s protagonists are LGBTQ+, opening the door for stories exploring LGBTQ+ experiences.
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We Are OFK Makes a Name for Itself
Although there are many similarities between the two games, there are still tons of aspects that makeWe Are OFKdistinct fromthe highly successfulLife is Strange,even if it clearly takes inspiration fromLiS.For example, the music industry is clearly an important part of the game;We Are OFKpicks up some fantastic potential narrative threads thanks to its focus on the band members' careers and their relationships with music publication, an industry that adventure games don’t often focus on. Something also has to be said forWe Are OFK’s striking art style, which eschews realism in favor of lineless animation full of bright lighting and pastel colors.
All in all,We Are OFKlooks like a pretty delightful and moving entry in a flourishing genre. As much as it owes toLife is Strange,it has more than enough originality to stand on its own two feet, and it’s compelling evidence that there are so many more potential stories that the adventure genre should explore.We Are OFKcould bea very important part of the PlayStation library, making a mark on both adventure games and on the music industry.
We Are OFKreleases for PS4 and PS5 in 2022.
