14 DAY TRIAL // 
I position my agile version of Asha to launch a flying knee attack at one bug enemy to kill him before I get his power crystal. I then move one square and backstab another opponent, making sure that his attack does not target a precious crate. I then go stand on an enemy spawn point, which will hurt me but means that I have to deal with fewer opponents during the next wave. I bank my remaining moves, giving my character more options farther in the run.
Next turn the character opens up with another flying knee move but I discover it puts me in a bad position. So I use the TimeScrubber to rewind and look for a better alternative, trying to make sure I use my void grenade in efficient ways. I want to move enemies away from the crates and make them attack each other as much as possible. But maybe that’s easier to do when using one of the other two character archetypes.
Oakenfold is developed by Rutger van Dijk, with publishing in the hands of Studio Taghua. I played using Steam on the PC. The title is built around time manipulation ideas, with tactics-driven mechanics.
The story takes place in a future in which humanity is on the brink of extinction. Our hero is Asha, the last hope of an expedition that will take the last remaining humans off the planet. Oakenfold is a biodome and its launch can only be powered by the fuel-packed crates that she is protecting.
Asha has a host of survival skills, spread across three profiles, and she needs to use every last one of them to get to the biodome and make sure it reaches space. The setting is not entirely original, but it tackles themes like the burden of survival or eco-catastrophe while also telling a very personal story.
The focus of Oakenfold is on the mechanics, which will be instantly familiar to anyone who has played Into the Breach. Asha is placed in a small arena, alongside enemies that clearly telegraph their intentions, crates that she needs to protect, sometimes friendly robots or characters, and a range of obstacles. She can move and access a set of three initial abilities (more can be acquired).
Players need to use them, as well as the environment, to defeat waves of enemies without losing any crates. These are not XCOM tactical engagements. Oakenfold presents combat puzzles and asks players to find a solution. Sometimes this involves achieving all secondary objectives and leaving a level with no health loss, or even with an upgrade.
Other times it means escaping by the skin of one’s teeth, saying that it’s good enough, and seeing what the next engagement has to offer. Death is permanent and each run is procedurally generated from scratch. There’s variety in the engagement types but I wanted to see more node interactions that focus on Asha and offer important choices.
To take frustration out of the equation, the game features the already-mentioned TimeScrubber system. Players can rewind time at any point, get their moves back, and try out another plan. The system also offers the option to push time forward and see exactly where and why a mistake happens.
Basically, a first attempt to solve a level is mostly a test. Try to do well but don’t despair if you lose a crate or fail a secondary objective. Just turn time back with a scroll of the mouse wheel and decide at which point you might have a better plan to implement. Time mechanics and full information are a potent mix, giving players the freedom to fail with little frustration. Try to focus on one version of Asha and explore how her abilities can be mixed to deal with various situations.
Asha can also put any turns she is not using in the clearly labeled Timebank. Alongside the collected crystals, it will be used to power crafting, resulting in improved abilities. They are needed as players get closer to the biodome and difficulty increases. The Timebank can also be deployed in a difficult situation to escape and move on to the next challenge.
Oakenfold wants players to experiment, fail, discover new approaches, and work until they reach their version of perfection. Is it a good idea to finish this level without that secondary objective? Or should I invest the time and brainpower required to craft a perfect solution to this combat puzzle?
I like this sort of tension. But the levels need to offer more variety in terms of enemies and situations to sustain it. There are also boss battles, with some very interesting-looking enemies that can deploy unique powers. The game also offers a Weekly Escape mode. It challenges players to compete using the same Asha mindset and levels, testing their skills against their friends and gaining places on a global leaderboard.
Oakenfold is very much inspired by the mechanics of Into the Breach and it also borrows something from its style. The science fiction setting and the enemies look a little generic, as do the environments in which the battles take place. Asha herself has a little more detail and the game is good at making info available for gamers to plan their moves. The soundtrack is a little too science fiction generic, as are the combat sounds.
The Good
- Solid combat puzzles
- TimeScrubber concept
- Asha’s set of skills
The Bad
- Limited narrative
- Needs more variety
- Soundtrack needs more tunes
Conclusion
The issue with a competent implementation of familiar ideas is that there’s little push for innovation. I like the three aspects of Aisha and the Timebank but the rest is derivative. Oakenfold will scratch the Into the Breach itch for fans but it needs to do more to attract new fans to its genre.
A review code was provided by the publisher.
