Frank and Drake, published by Chorus Worldwide Games and developed by Appnormals Team, is a ‘modern gothic’ adventure that takes players on a captivating journey through the intertwined lives of two extraordinary strangers. Set in the strikingly illustrated and richly detailed fictional location of Oriole City, the game stands out with its unique rotoscoped art style that perfectly complements the unnerving and dreamlike existence of the characters. It’s out for multiple platforms – we checked it out on a PlayStation 5.
The premise of Frank and Drake centers around two main characters: Frank, the superintendent of a rundown apartment block, and Drake, a nocturnal bartender with a unique condition. Both protagonists are haunted by visions and unanswered questions about their separate pasts, setting the stage for a compelling mystery that taps into the supernatural. As players take control of both characters alternately, they must navigate a branching narrative, making choices that will significantly impact the events experienced by both Frank and Drake.
The strength of Frank and Drake lies in its intriguing narrative and thought-provoking storytelling. Players are initially just dropped into a rotoscoped world with little or no context, allowing them to explore and uncover the characters’ personalities and relationships through their interactions with the environment. Every clickable object reveals meaningful insights into Frank’s inner world, making the experience highly engaging and personal as you slowly enrich your understanding of the characters and the world around you.
The bond that forms over time between Frank and Drake, despite never meeting face-to-face, is a testament to the game’s well-crafted character and narrative development. The use of sticky notes as their primary form of communication reinforces the loneliness and isolation that both characters experience, creating an emotionally impactful and rewarding gameplay experience with a strong social element.
The game’s narrative-driven nature allows for multiple playthroughs, each offering new perspectives, puzzles, and mini-games – though after a second playthrough we weren’t looking to jump right into a third one either. The variety of activities ensures that players remain engaged throughout their exploration of Oriole City of their initial playthrough, but on subsequent sessions you’ll run into more and more repeats. Things wrap up rather quickly near the end as well, with little room to enrich the lore on a later playthrough.
The puzzles in Frank and Drake add an extra layer to the game, providing players with short breaks in the narrative. While most are creative and solvable, a few puzzles suffer from somewhat awkward control mechanics – these would probably work better on a touch screen interface like the Switch or a tablet device for a more immersive experience, and feel less suited for a gamepad-driven experience.
Easily one of the most standout aspects of the game is its artistic presentation. The rotoscoped animation style breathes life into the characters and surroundings, evoking a strong sense of atmosphere that matches the game’s mysterious tone with artistically engaging the player as well. Oriole City, depicted in both day and night, has a vibe of its own, enhancing the player’s connection to the world and its residents and making you curious to learn more.
In conclusion, Frank and Drake is a game that fans of meaningful narrative-based games will want to check out. Its gothic-inspired setting, compelling storytelling, and captivating rotoscoped visuals create an experience that is as haunting as it is heartwarming. While the pacing and some puzzle mechanics may present a few rougher edges, the overall package delivers a memorable journey of mystery, friendship, and self-reflection. If you dive into the world of Frank and Drake and uncover the secrets hidden within Oriole City, you might just find yourself quite immersed before you know it.
Score: 7.7/10
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