Official Review Computer

We Are OFK (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review

Name: We Are OFK
Item: We Are OFK
Rating: 7
Author: Prans

Product Information:

Release Date (NA): August 18, 2022
Release Date (EU): August 18, 2022
Publisher: Team OFK
Developer: Team OFK
Genres: Visual novel
Also For: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Game Features:

Single player

Local Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Co-operative

We Are OFK is an episodic biopic of the virtual members of real indie pop band OFK which plays out as an interactive visual novel. Does it tell a compelling story?

attachFull325381

You might remember OFK as the band that played their debut title at The Games Award in 2020. While the band is real, with streamable music from their first album https://soundtracks.lnk.to/weareOFK , its core members - Itsumi Saito, Carter Flores, Luca Le Fae and Jey Zhang - are virtual characters. Nevertheless, they’ve been crafted with stories and backgrounds of their own that is told through We Are OFK which has as Director/Writer Teddy Dief, Hyper Light Drifter’s co-designer.

As the band’s Music Biopic series and Interactive E.P., We Are OFK centres around the individual stories of OFK’s members prior to teaming up. It recounts how they’ve had to deal with their relationships, emotions, full-time jobs and day-to-day activities while trying to get a foothold in the music scene of LA; and it tells them in a rather original way.

While We Are OFK could easily be termed as a visual novel that “plays itself”, it stands out with its fully-animated visuals, the professional voice acting from cover to cover and its episodic aspect with a televised flair. The minimalist art style with often soothing colour palettes is also a striking feature of this title.

attachFull325382

The game is made of a total of 5 episodes that unlock every week from August 18th to September 8th, 2022 (episodes 1 & 2 launched on the same day). Each runs for around an hour or so, with the last episode being longer at ~1.5h. The first four episodes focus mostly around one band member while the last one depicts how the band has come together and are working towards their big breakout.

What each episode evocatively depicts is that each of OFK’s founding members have multilayered personalities that make them relatable, despite being virtual characters serving as a front for a band. Jey has to handle family pressure; Itsumi is grappling with relationship turmoil; while Carter is dealing with the loss of a close friend. Slice-of-life aspects and themes such as insecurity and financial challenges are also explored which further flesh out the characters and make them relatable. We Are OFK weaves those personal struggles into the band’s making-of as these challenges affect the band and their music career endeavours.

attachFull325384

As We Are OFK is also termed as an “interactive EP”, each episode wraps up with a music video from the band’s debut album. While OFK’s indie pop genre isn’t what I’d particularly tune to, their songs are original and their context is often reflective of the episode’s plot that just preceded it. This reflects the meaning behind the lyrics in a way that’s not often depicted. Those music videos also include interactive segments that give you control over a character and express yourself in tune to the music. For example, there’s one where you control Carter on skateboard as they collect items while another lets you rhythmically smash walls as Jey.

However, none of these interactive musical segments can end in a “game over” or have a set goal to accomplish. Sometimes they might even seem random. The main episodes also include some “mini games” such as character creation in a JRPG like and a text-based adventure (my personal favourite). These add to the interactive elements of the game which otherwise feels mostly passive.

attachFull325388

There are indeed segments that require your input for conversations or text responses. The options can slightly vary but don’t impact on the plot or decisions that the characters make. Sometimes the characters might reference a choice you’ve made such as when naming a car and this can add to the feeling of being part of the story but only so much.

This is because We Are OFK is really the story of its band and makes players sit in the backseat. However, the story doesn’t offer a full conclusion - save for the ultimate creation of the band - leaving it open to sequels and continuation, as if to emulate that the virtual characters’ individual lives are still ongoing. While this can be interesting to some, it might disappoint those looking for a more complete story.

This can be a downer for those looking for some more interactive elements or traditional gameplay. I would myself have welcome such aspects, which could have played out in the music videos.

attachFull325391

And even if We Are OFK feels like watching a making-of series complete with a video player UI and pause/play buttons, you cannot rewind the episodes to hop back to a previous segment. And as a visual novel, you cannot skip dialogues forward (if you’re rushing through the subtitles). These are some technical decisions that might feel off for a title claiming to appeal on the televised and visual novel fronts.

That said, We Are OFK delivers an interesting story with relatable characters in a visual novel style that stands out with its original art style and professional voice acting. It ultimately feels like an experimental take for a band’s biopic and it’s a welcome one.

We Are OFK - Series Premiere

Verdict

What We Liked ...

Original presentation
Relatable character arcs
Professional voice acted throughout

What We Didn't Like ...

Mostly passive experience
In-game choices don’t influence the narrative
Cannot rewind episodes

Gameplay

We Are OFK is limited in terms of traditional gameplay and as the interactive segments don’t influence the game, the experience is mostly a passive one.

Presentation

The forte of this title is its colourful art style and original soundtrack that make this “interactive EP” a unique, experimental experience.

Lasting Appeal

The main cast’s relatable arcs can easily get you hooked on the story, even if the experience is mostly passive.

out of 10

Overall

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.

Reactions: Mama Looigi, MarkDarkness, HinaNaru Cutie and 1 other person

I can't think of anything less relatable than these tumblr-reject goobers.

Reactions: Viri, Fugelmir, drazenm and 1 other person

Why does a band need to have an interesting story and a biopic? Idgaf if the members were all ex-accountants or gas station attendants so long as the music is good. And an interesting story also isn't going to convince me to listen to shitty music.

Reactions: drazenm and Brodragon7

We are OK: 7

Reactions: Phearoz and Axido

Jayro
Sep 11, 2022

Remember episodic gaming? Valve remembers.

SiN Episodes: Emergence remembers too. I still don't have any closure for what ever became of Jessica Cannon.

Reactions: k7ra and Phearoz

Axido
Sep 11, 2022

Audiences when streamers start playing this game: We are AFK

Honestly, I'm sure there is a target group for visual novel games centered around average musicians almost nobody knows about, however small it may be.

Reactions: Fugelmir

Reviews

Hardware
MelGeek CYBER01 Magnetic Switch Rapid Trigger Gaming Keyboard

Today for review, we’ll be taking a look at the latest gaming keyboard from Meltek, the CYBER01 magnetic switch offering!
Hardware
GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC

Claimed to be the world's most cost-effecient i9 Mini PC, we check out the latest from Geekom.
Hardware
Kospet Tank T3 Ultra

Tough enough to navigate and conquer the rugged wilderness.
PlayStation 5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

The Turtles are back for their umpteenth game outing, but is this one worth it?
PlayStation 5
Alone in the Dark (2024)

Alone in the Dark is a Survival Horror game available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC.

More reviews

Product Information:

Game Features:

We Are OFK - Series Premiere

Verdict

Overall

MelGeek CYBER01 Magnetic Switch Rapid Trigger Gaming Keyboard

GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC

Kospet Tank T3 Ultra

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

Alone in the Dark (2024)