Review: OFF Remaster Is a Callback to Early RPG Maker Innovations

OFF is a formative game for many people, particularly folks who ended up heavily into the RPG Maker scene and enjoy independent works. It’s for people who enjoy surreal titles that might involve multiple interpretations. Who don’t shy away from dark and perhaps even off-putting situations and characters. For select groups, it is even a must-play game. While the remaster is valuable in that it helps with preservation and outreach, there are times when I felt like the original resonated more with me. 

We are ourselves. We are a Controller. We accompany a being known as the Batter. His goal is to purify the world. This involves visiting various Zones in what appears to be a dark and depressing world. After meeting a cat named the Judge, we get the ability to traverse the nothingness to get to different territories and defeat the specters within them. 

The execution of OFF and the way its story is told is what made the original game so beloved, and the nature of it means it is still relatively timeless. Any twists still work well these over 17 years later. The themes ring true, and the oppressive situations absolutely make someone feel things. Some of it can read a little awkwardly, and it might be off-putting to folks who don't enjoy surrealist, dark works. But for those who do, it's all quite poignant.

The OFF remaster largely preserves the game’s original art and design, so everything remains as stark, unusual, and off-putting. There are additions like actual climbing animations for the Batter when going up ladders and new sound effects. On the whole, it definitely emphasizes the vibes. I’m even glad that it still leaves some character designs a little debatable! So you aren’t exactly what someone is made of, for example. However, I also think the design direction won’t be for everyone. It’s great at establishing an aesthetic, but I recommend looking up screenshots and footage ahead of playing. I would say that the sidebar art, especially the dynamic ones, actually works against the original atmosphere. They don’t feel as raw or gritty. It’s like they’re more cartoonish interpretations that detract from the seriousness of the story.

Images via Fangamer

The downside is, while the appearance remains the same, this OFF remaster added a new translation and soundtrack to the game. The former is okay for the most part, as this script takes a different approach but does largely tell the story in an interesting way. The latter just doesn’t pack the same punch. The Alias Conrad Coldwood original compositions felt much stronger. They’re more haunting and better suit situations. These more recent adaptations and versions don’t feel the same. It’s like you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with with Jif or Skippy, but then some off-brand jelly you grabbed from a dollar store. It’ll get the job done and captures the PB&J spirit, but doesn’t feel right. 

As for the OFF combat system, it is generally fine and I do find it a bit more user-friendly than the original. However, I’m not a big fan. The purest form has everyone constant moving and acting, and you can include an auto-mode. It is possible to swap to an option that lets you take some time to make decisions. The Batter can acquire Add-Ons to act as party members to assist in fights as allies. What I will say is that I appreciated how fast these can be, so even though I didn’t really enjoy them after a while, it felt like my time was being respected so I could continue with the adventure that did interest me.

Images via Fangamer

I’m also a little disappointed in the new content. I appreciate that it is there! The idea that there are new foes to face is fascinating. I found myself wishing they added more narrative value to OFF, as I ended up feeling like they didn’t offer much else to the game other than new secrets to find and purify.

OFF is an experience worth having if you value the creativity of independent works and RPG Maker games, and it aged relatively well. I do think that, in the years since its release, we’ve seen other games with similar sorts of messages that do what it does better. Especially when it comes to the battle system. But when you factor in its influence, I feel it possesses educational value for those who may ever consider developing their own games or appreciate what independent developers can accomplish. 

OFF is available on the Switch and PC. 

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