OFF was a game I was always infatuated with and intrigued by in my youth. My first exposure was somewhere in the depths of Tumblr and its fascination with turning Batter and Zacharie into “Tumblr Sexy Men”. Typical teenager me was curious about these little weirdos, which led me on down a rabbit hole that has now come full circle with the OFF Remaster. Truly, it’s an honour to discuss this spectacular game, so let’s talk about it in my OFF Remaster Review.

The remaster isn’t the original, which is something older fans seem divided on, but to me, this is totally a two-cakes situation. The old game is still there, but this fresh lick of paint and quality of life updates woven into the remaster gifts it a different playthrough feel and edge. 

In particular, I want to talk about the new OST. Do NOT get me started on how fun it is. It adds so much ambience to every scene. I think my favourite from the remaster is the Zone 1 battle music, White Meat. Thank you, Toby Fox and Camellia, for cooking.

I also just think it’s lovely how Toby Fox features in OFF, given the classic game was a partial inspiration when he was making Undertale. Camellia is also incredibly talented, though I mostly recognise him for his Vocaloid productions.

Don’t get me wrong, Pepper Steak, one of the original OST battle songs, was incredible. A chaotic mess of a tune that portrayed the lore fantastically without lyrics. But again, the remaster did so much justice to make each moment feel so compelling. I care about these little pixel guys and their weird world so much that I’d never turn my nose up at more soundtracks.

Enough of The Music

Sorry, I totally went on a tangent there. Shall I get into the actual gameplay and lore now? I think so.

OFF is best known for its eerie feeling. I won’t discuss too much story for fear of spoilers, but this lore-rich tale follows the Batter, a man aware he’s being compelled by something greater than himself, the player.

He instils his trust in you to lead and help him eradicate all Spectres, these little ghostly guys with, frankly, gorgeous, unique, and creepy designs. This quest of purification leads the Batter through several Zones of progressively trickier puzzles and battle strategy. 

Despite seemingly being on a noble quest, the Batter and the deity controlling him end up in strife with haunting and interesting enemies. The Zone 1 boss, Dedan, is proof enough that god has left us in fear of what we can create. Dedan is hilarious, but also something I’d expect to conjure during sleep paralysis.

Which brings me to my next point, the contrast between simple level designs and intricate characters strikes such a fun balance. OFF, between battles and puzzles, is text-heavy, so being naturally drawn to the unique character models and their “voices” who are both eerie and ethereal at times is important in helping me retain the richness of this abstract tale that’s interesting, guttural, and at times, grotesque.

OFF We Go Into Combat

The game has a great combat setup. Each enemy will conjure a small diamond-ball-thingy beside them that gradually fills up. This indicates to the player the cooldown between attacks, implying a turn-based game, albeit unfairly.

Sometimes you’ll battle spectres capable of attacking several times before any of your party is off cooldown. Fortunately, they’re usually weak little things, but oh my god, do they whittle you down quickly! There’s a huge importance in understanding your opponent and strategising your attacks when it’s your turn. More than just a “hit first and harder”, this untraditional combat system is very fun, thoughtful, and easy to navigate. Speaking of navigation, the controls for OFF are simple and detailed well in the early game.

OFF Remaster Review Conclusion

To wrap up this review into a nettled ball of blood and spectres, OFF is fantastic. I haven’t yet finished my playthrough, mainly because I missed some equipment when completing a timed challenge within the Elsen Residential Area, and I’ve been sulking about it since. But don’t let that deter you!

If this review has tempted you into checking out OFF via Steam, may I leave you with one piece of advice? Take notes. Some puzzles rely on memory, and you’ll never know when that random combination of numbers becomes valuable.