Chaz at Twinfinite writes:
For centuries (or what must seem like it anyway), humans have wondered what would happen if some bold, adventurous developer had the courage to combine free-roaming exploration, puzzles, and music into a single wild game. Finally, the creative souls of Phosfiend Systems have tackled this ponderous question head-on, and the answer is Fract OSC. Somewhere between the open world of puzzles hearkening back to Myst and the sleek, electronic aesthetic of Tron, this intriguing and mesmerizing game places players inside the heart of a massive synthesizer, rife with wide areas and complex brain-bending puzzles to bring music to life.
"This world and the time you’ve spent there are a memory that sticks with you. Sure, maybe you wandered a little, not knowing where to go. But there was always something new, something entrancing around the corner. You’ve seen music turned into an experience before, but nothing like this. This was a world born of a genre of music. Its beat rhythmically thumps in the heart of this place. You’ll know this won’t be a trip for everyone. Sometime people want more structure in their experiences. But for those who can enjoy discovery and intuition, you’ll always recommend that they find a way to find the world of FRACT OSC." - David Rhinehart of Geekenstein
(CriticalIndieGamer)Musical exploration is a genre that promises vibrancy and stimulation but in the hands of Fract OSC we are treated to little more than a washed out Tron-like world and a dull midi drone.
It’s hard not to love FRACT OSC. It’s puzzles are cleverly intertwined with music without requiring any real sense of beat. And on top of being a generally fun and unique time, it also serves as a good introduction into basic music production with its in-game synthesizer. And while the game could benefit from a push in the right direction every once in a while, it stands as one of the best uses of music in games.
