Off-Peak

Last updated
Off-Peak
Off-Peak cover.jpg
Developer(s) Cosmo D
Publisher(s) Cosmo D
Designer(s) Greg Heffernan
Programmer(s) Greg Heffernan
Artist(s) Greg Heffernan
Composer(s) Archie Pelago
Platform(s)
ReleaseFebruary 15, 2015
Genre(s) Adventure game
Mode(s) Single-player

Off-Peak is an adventure game developed and published by Cosmo D. Players explore a surreal train station and attempt to leave a dystopian city. It was released as freeware in 2015. It was followed in 2017 by The Norwood Suite , which shares the same setting.

Contents

Gameplay

Players arrive in a train station, attempting to leave a dystopian city. They have no ticket, but learn that a friend has ripped up his ticket and left the pieces scattered in the station. Off-Peak is a first-person adventure game that focuses on exploration. [1] It is set in a dystopian city reminiscent of New York City. [2]

Development

Greg Heffernan, a professional musician, began making video games in the 2010s under the name Cosmo D. Off-Peak is his second video game. He was looking to create something "satisfying and unsettling at the same time". He was inspired by musician John Zorn to make a surreal world based on improvisation that is grounded in a strong theme. [3] Heffernan credited video games with giving him a "wider creative bandwidth" to talk about life in New York City, people he knew, and the intersection of music and commerce. Heffernan's band, Archie Pelago, provided music for the game. [4] Off-Peak was released as freeware. [2]

Reception

Kill Screen said it was fun to explore and a love letter to Heffernan's influences. Describing it, they said "whether or not this is a videogame, a music video or a mood board is a question with no incorrect answer". [5] In another article, Kill Screen interpreted Off-Peak as warning against the commodification of art. [6] Slant Magazine , which called it weird and beautiful, chose it as one of the best games of 2015. [7]

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Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 is a 2020 adventure game developed and published by Cosmo D. Players explore a surreal city. It is the sequel to Off-Peak and The Norwood Suite and was followed by Betrayal at Club Low.

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References

  1. ↑ "Following Freeware - October 2016 releases". Adventure Gamers . 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  2. 1 2 Dimopoulos, Konstantinos (2015-02-24). "Freeware Garden: Off-Peak". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  3. ↑ Priestman, Chris (2016-12-01). "Making videogames inspired by New York's musical improv scene". Kill Screen . Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  4. ↑ Smith, Ed (2016-11-28). "How Indie Dev Cosmo D Is Humanizing New York". Vice . Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  5. ↑ Kotzer, Zack (2015-03-06). "Off-Peak splits the difference between a videogame and a mood board". Kill Screen . Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  6. ↑ Smith, Ed (2015-12-21). "Speak Up, Off-Peak". Kill Screen . Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  7. ↑ "The 25 Best Video Games of 2015". Slant Magazine . 2015-12-07. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
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