Frank and Drake
- July 20, 2023
- Appnormals Team
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Frank and Drake" is a narrative-driven game where two strangers, Frank and Drake, are brought together to uncover a conspiracy that threatens them both. They live in the same apartment but are destined never to meet, communicating through sticky notes. Players must explore Oriole City, solve puzzles, and discover clues to help Frank and Drake uncover the truth about their troubled pasts. The game features a beautifully illustrated setting and richly detailed characters.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully polished art style and animation that captivates players, encouraging them to explore every detail.
- It offers high replay value with multiple endings and branching narratives, allowing players to experience different outcomes based on their choices.
- The immersive story and unique atmosphere, combined with a compelling soundtrack, create a memorable gaming experience.
- Some puzzles can be frustrating and clunky, leading to moments where players may need to seek external help to progress.
- The relationship system feels unbalanced and opaque, making it difficult for players to understand how their choices impact character dynamics.
- There is a lack of quality-of-life features, such as the ability to skip previously viewed scenes or a checkpoint system, which can hinder the replay experience.
- story38 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and engaging nature, with many players appreciating the replay value offered by multiple endings that enhance understanding of the narrative. While the intricate details and emotional resonance are highlighted, some reviewers feel that certain relationships could be better developed, and a more focused storytelling approach would have improved the experience. Overall, the combination of a whimsical atmosphere, compelling mechanics, and a heartwarming narrative makes it a recommended choice for fans of interactive stories.
“The story is well presented, the art is really cool, and the music is too.”
“It's clear that a lot of thought has been put into all the different pieces of the story puzzle down to the smallest details.”
“This story is full of heart!”
“- The story could have been more fleshed out.”
“It's a lot harder to develop a distant relationship between the two rather than a close one since translating the tones and contents of the diary excerpts to the post-it notes isn't always straightforward (and sometimes you are just relegated to one choice). In general, the whole relationship between Frank and Drake seems silly because the interactions they have with each other don't actually impact the story, except for the ending you get.”
“I still don't understand the story fully, but I'm only a short time into my second playthrough.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, enhancing the overall experience alongside the art and narrative. Many reviewers express a deep appreciation for the soundtrack, with one composer even calling it their best work to date. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and storytelling.
“I very much underestimated how much I was going to love the music.”
“The story is well presented, the art is really cool, and the music is too.”
“The art, the music, the narrative are incredible.”
“Written by a music composer of this game, my review may feel too praising.”
“[h1] Buy the special edition if you even remotely like the music.”
“[/i] I personally don't mind the walking portion, but as with the music and graphics, it really helps keep you in place with not only the story but with which character you're playing.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style, particularly the unique "flickering" animation and detailed backgrounds that enhance the immersive experience. The combination of art, music, and narrative elements effectively draws players into the story, making it a standout feature that captivates and engages throughout gameplay. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, with many players expressing a deep appreciation for the artistic presentation.
“I found that the art style, animations, music, and the way your characters' thoughts and impressions are presented all make for a really immersive experience.”
“The art style is incredible - both the rotoscoping animation and the beautiful details on the objects and background.”
“I particularly liked the sort of 'flickering' art style, the soundtrack, and the overall narrative.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and lack detail, making the overall experience feel flat.”
“The character models look outdated and don't match the quality of modern games.”
“The environments feel lifeless and lack the vibrancy that would make them engaging.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its multiple endings and the need for players to explore thoroughly to uncover the full story. Players appreciate the detective-like experience of discovering hidden details, with many expressing a desire to replay the game to make different choices and see how they affect the narrative. Overall, the replay value is considered significantly stronger than in other narrative-driven games.
“I love that in order to solve everything, not only do you have to play several times, but you need to search every bit of the world. I adore games like this; it gives great replay value for me because I need to play several times to see everything the game has to offer, and I get to play detective and see all the small stuff (and there's a lot).”
“I am very intrigued, and it seems that the replayability is very high as I started my second playthrough, and it was vastly different from the first one.”
“I saw one ending, but there are 5 more, so I'll go back to it and change my choices. The replayability factor seems to be a lot stronger than in other narrative games.”
“It has a lot of replay value because you need to get multiple endings to fully understand the story.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players experience a mix of emotional engagement, with some noting the impact of their choices on character relationships, leading to significant emotional journeys. However, others feel that the game's large cast and limited interactions prevent them from forming deep connections, resulting in a lack of emotional payoff by the end. Overall, while some players find the emotional aspects compelling, others feel it falls short due to insufficient character development.
“Going to play the other choices soon, to get more in depth of these touching characters.”
“So go ahead, be a detective and make smart decisions (means: don't be like me because I somehow managed to make Frank and Drake almost enemies in my first playthrough and that was an emotional journey I do not wish to repeat hehe).”
“This game has such a huge cast, but you don't really end up caring for any of them since they're usually confined to one 'scene' and you don't actually interact with said character, and the emotional payoff the game expects you to have about them at the end just isn't there.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with strong mechanics and an intriguing story; however, some players feel that the gameplay could be lighter to enhance the narrative and atmosphere. Additionally, the pacing between gameplay segments and their conclusions is noted as jarring, impacting the overall experience.
“The story and mechanics in this game are great.”
“Personally, I would have preferred lighter gameplay to focus more on the story and atmosphere, but I found it well worth getting through those parts.”
“It's really intriguing, but the pacing between the actual gameplay and their respective endings is incredibly jarring.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as whimsical and dreamy, effectively immersing players in its narrative through philosophical elements woven throughout. While some players wished for lighter gameplay to enhance the focus on story and atmosphere, they ultimately found the experience rewarding.
“There are these bits of philosophy that are strewn about that add to the overall dreamy atmosphere of its environment.”
“Personally, I would have preferred lighter gameplay to focus more on the story and atmosphere, but I found it well worth getting through those parts.”
“There are these bits of 'philosophy' that are strewn about that add to the overall dreamy atmosphere of its environment.”
“There is a whimsical atmosphere in all aspects that drags you into the story.”
