We Are OFK Reviews
We Are OFK does not propose the dynamic kind of gameplay that most games do. Rather, We Are OFK is more akin to a biopic where the player follows the tribulations of a burgeoning music group, and it knows how to deliver on that. Its characters are fun to follow, and the dialogues are well written to keep the player's attention focused. Coupled with a stunning looking visual environment and art style, We Are OFK is certain to appeal to those willing to embrace an experience that's not based on interactive gameplay. Even so, more ramifications and consequences for the few plot choices available would be very welcome.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In the same way that films like Nope and La La Land are about films, We Are OFK feels like it’s about creating music, or perhaps more broadly but also more accurately: how painful and hard it is to create art with people you love, including yourself. And I played and replayed We Are OFK about a dozen times from its release to this chilly day. It wasn’t intentional for me to have such a long time with the game but it was ultimately for the better, I think. Life kept interrupting not only my review but my memories of We Are OFK.
There are elements in We Are OFK that other narrative-driven games should take a look at. At the same time, feeling like your decisions don’t matter is a bit of a turn off. The story in here is great, it’s relatable, all thanks to a great cast of characters. It’s also refreshing to witness a tale of people coping with anxiety and stress, giving us an opportunity, an inside look on how others also struggling with these issues actually feel on the inside. All in all, I feel like it’s an important story to be told, and hopefully it helps people see they’re not alone.
I love music and I adore video games, when these two hobbies clash in an out-of-the-ordinary way, I am all ears… and possibly eyes too! We are OFK is a unique experience that follows an eclectic band over five emotional episodes while they record an EP. Each episode finishes with a controllable music video and each episode is chock full of feelings, angst and other socially-based nightmares.
We Are OFK's glitz and glamour can only do so much for a game so insecure about its format and inauthentic in its intent.
While mostly a passive experience devoid of traditional gameplay, We Are OFK delivers the backstory of the titular band in an original visual novel-esque style.
A stylish, well-voiced, visual novel that tells a poignant and heartfelt story over five, one-hour episodes, We Are OFK is more interactive TV series than game. Let yourself drift away in its peaceful melancholia, but don’t expect much in the way of gameplay.
The developers of We Are OFK don’t even pretend to care about making a traditional video game. It’s clear that instead, the entire goal here was to tell a story, and that’s incredibly well done. Not perfectly so. I don’t love where We Are OFK leaves one of their characters in particular, and the ending feels rushed. After spending hours with these four characters, setting up conflict, it feels like a lot of things get pushed aside to get to where the game needs them to end up, almost like the development team ran out of time. With deep character writing, fantastic voice acting, and killer visuals, though, I’d recommend We Are OFK to anyone who is okay with this being a story first, a vehicle for releasing music second, and barely a game at all.
A nice audiovisual proposal that shows us once again how difficult all beginnings are, and the life of this group of friends in the big city.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With new episodes added periodically there's content here, but limited interaction makes it more something to watch
We are OFK certainly brings something new to the table: a video game that is more of a tv series to promote a soundtrack for a new group. A group that only exists in pixel form, but that makes nice music. I have found the characters that I followed relatable and endearing, but I didn’t like all the strong language that is included. It’s not a game I’d recommend for kids, but I suspect young people will embrace this with gusto. The storytelling is great but I could have done without the mini games at the end of each episode. With all of this in mind I must conclude that I love this new territory that Team OFK is exploring!
An uncomfortable blend of vulnerability and brand consumption.
If you loved the original Life is Strange, We Are OFK should be on both your list of games to play and most definitely on your music playlist. It's a banger, though it should be said, Debug deserves its own game.
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. I can only hope there's more of this, music, game and add some merch to come. 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.
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.
We Are OFK offers a spectacular audiovisual experience for music lovers, with a stunning art style and charming voice acting. The choices don't have as much influence over the events as I would've liked, but the execution of the game's episodic nature made for a touching yet thrilling narrative.
Even as the credits roll, We Are OFK is still an unusual game to describe. It’s an introduction to a band made up of fictional characters that aims to penetrate the real world and make a true cultural impact. We have no idea if this will be a success, but the story being told throughout its five episodes rings so true and feels so real that I can’t help but cheer them on. Itsumi, Luca, Jey, and Carter already feel like trusted old friends, people I’ve been through the shit with and can stand alongside as they hope to realise their dreams. In a medium where narrative adventures have grown rather predictable, this one shines.
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. Captivating cinematography also paints a haunting if bittersweet L.A. narrative. Like a classic pop debut that its own self is based on, We Are OFK has heart and moments that'll reel you in while remaining plenty messy. If all else, isn't that how this road was always going to go?
We Are OFK is a musical narrative experience that perfectly justifies its genre-defying position; the music is hot, the cast are hotter, and not only will you care about them, you'll care about hearing the next thing they do. It's exceptional.