At times, fiction influences in a subtle yet profound manner. While some creations may not hit the mainstream immediately, they can inspire a new wave of artists who then create widely recognized works. A prime example is Off, a 2008 RPGMaker game by Martin Georis (“Mortis Ghost”) and Alias Conrad Coldwood from Unproductive Fun Time. This game garnered a cult following after it was translated into English by fans in 2011. Among its admirers was Toby Fox, the brain behind Undertale and Deltarune, who has acknowledged Off as a significant influence on his projects.
Now, Off is poised to finally step into the limelight; Fangamer is launching a remastered version for modern platforms, complete with the game’s first official English translation, additional content, and hidden features. This is particularly exciting because, despite the influence it has had on numerous games, Off remains uniquely bizarre, depicting a surreal world of synthetic seas and meat fountains, and featuring a devout man in a baseball outfit who combats phantoms with a metal bat.
The game starts with minimal background information as players take on the role of The Batter, the baseball-clad man mentioned earlier, whose earnest demeanor belies his ludicrous outfit. He states to The Judge, a cheshire-like talking cat, “I have a sacred mission to fulfill. I must purify the world.” The narrative quickly introduces a twist by revealing that the player and The Batter are separate beings, with the player controlling the protagonist like a spirit maneuvering a vessel. The adventure progresses through various Zones, each haunted by spirits and ruled by tyrants whom The Batter vows to purge.
At first glance, the gameplay might seem typical of turn-based RPGs: you select attacks and abilities from a menu, watch for your turn timer, utilize type advantages, manage special skills that use a resource akin to mana (here called competency points), handle party members, and equip items and armor. However, as the title Off implies, there’s a twist—combat occurs on the right side of the screen instead of the left, and your companions are impersonal entities known as “Add-Ons,” named Alpha, Omega, and Epsilon, often appearing behind The Batter like halos. This setup, along with the game’s mission of purification rather than world-saving, distinguishes Off as an “Anti-RPG,” a term that, while nebulous, fits the subversive nature of this game as seen in titles like Undertale or Moon: Remix RPG Adventure.
The game’s distinct oddity helps craft a memorable, albeit ambiguous world. The first zone, for example, is a strange blend of mining operations, smokestacks, and illogical meat processing facilities that extract metals from livestock, overseen by overworked laborers constantly discussing productivity. This setting critiques exploitative labor and corporate greed within a surreal, almost fable-like framework. Rather than traditional elements like fire or water, the core components of Off’s environment are “smoke,” “metal,” “meat,” and “plastic.”
The game’s world not only features grim industrial sites and towering bureaucratic office buildings but also exudes an unsettling religious overtone, from The Batter’s sacred quest to the deity-like zone guardians. This imagery prompts various interpretations, including parallels to the anti-Christ, among other symbolic discussions. These elements combine to forge a distinctive, nightmarish setting that extends into its interactive elements, particularly the puzzles.
Throughout the game, you and The Batter will confront a host of eerie spirits, bizarre creatures, and transformed workers, but it’s the enigmatic puzzles that truly challenge players, reflecting the strange logic of this world. Engaging with these puzzles immerses players in the oddity, making the process of deciphering them both intriguing and satisfying, though they’re tough, they rarely feel unjust or insurmountable.
The combat draws players into this unusual setting, largely through its creepy creature designs and the soundtrack, which plays a significant role in shaping the unsettling atmosphere. For instance, the battle music, a peculiar mix of jazz and Charleston, amplifies the bizarre image of a baseball player fighting supernatural entities. Unfortunately, the original soundtrack was not used in the remaster, as composer Alias Conrad Coldwood chose not to participate, but the new tracks strive to evoke the original’s spirit, even though they can’t quite replicate the iconic “Pepper Steak.”
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Avery Sandridge has an unmatched love for storytelling and the screen. From detailed analyses of your favorite shows to behind-the-scenes scoops, Avery offers a fresh and engaging take on everything TV series.