Off, created by the Belgian team dubbed Unproductive Fun Time, is a French-language RPG that was released in 2008. In short, you play the game as the “puppeteer” of the game’s main character known as the Batter and aid him in his goal to purify the world. As the gameplay continues, you slowly begin to question the main character that you are assisting. Every combat scenario ends with blood and the message: “Purification complete.” As you go back into areas that you have already beaten, you notice that you and the Batter have completely wiped out all the life in those areas and they are left colorless and void, you begin to question if helping the Batter is really a good thing.
In terms of the music, I believe that it is the most potent weapon this game uses in its storytelling. As the game begins, there is not a real melodic component to the gameplay, just ambient noise of water falling. It is calming, its simple construction matching the bright colors of the tutorial portion of the game. Combat generally plays the same song entitled “Pepper Steak” which has become a classic to the cultish fanbase. It uses a lot of brass and horns, is relatively fast-paced and upbeat, yet still sounds somewhat serious as the player is effectively murdering people to this track for the majority of the game. However, in my own play through, the track that really gave me a visceral reaction is entitled “Not Safe.” “Not Safe” is the song that plays in areas of the game that have already been purified. It is immensely ominous, comprised of uncoordinated chiming, wind gusts, mostly indecipherable whispers—some have been translated to “I am happy you killed me”— banging on metal, and a muddled voice begging for help. The idea that this song is what comes after your “purification” gives the player a massive slap in face and begs them to reevaluate the morality of their actions in-game thus far. While the plot of the game is loosely explained through cut-scenes, the majority of the emotional impact that players get is through the stark contrast in music and ambient noise as the game continues.