Alt-Frequencies
By Paul Semel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Clever audio mystery tests your listening skills.
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Alt-Frequencies
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Based on 1 parent review
Great game, but has some strong language
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What’s It About?
In ALT-FREQUENCIES, you have to listen to the radio if you want to solve the mystery of why everyone on the radio seems to be repeating themselves. And no, not in the way talk show hosts say the same thing over and over; these DJs are clearly caught in some kind of time loop. By changing stations, recording parts, and playing them for people, you may unlock this mystery ... or get caught in a loop yourself. It's up to the player to piece together the clues and expose the truth to everyone before it's too late.
Is It Any Good?
Though seemingly simple, this audio puzzle game will entice anyone who loves mysteries and podcasts but wish that the latter were more interactive. In Alt-Frequencies, you have to listen to the radio, switching back and forth between stations, in an attempt to figure out why everyone seems to be caught in a time loop. To do this, you have to record things off the radio and then play them for other people. Which sounds simple enough, and the controls just involve you tapping and swiping, but this gets increasingly intricate as it progresses. In fact, the gameplay can reach the point where some people might grow bored or frustrated if they can't figure some of the puzzles out, or if they have no patience.
It helps if you're not looking for something realistic -- we are talking about time loops here -- although this never gets super technical or scientific. Think of the game like this: as if Bill Murray from the movie Groundhog Day did a podcast, and you had to help him break out of his rut because he's genuinely worried. Action fans and the impatient won't take to Alt-Frequencies, but podcast lovers and mystery fanatics will find it to be fascinating listening.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about spending money. Do you feel differently about Alt-Frequencies because you have to pay for it, instead of the game being free? Or does the lack of ads and microtransactions make you feel like something's missing, since it seems like all apps have these included?
To solve the mystery in Alt-Frequencies, you have to pay attention to what people say. How do you think doing this in real life might be useful? Can you see how not paying attention could lead to you missing important details?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: May 16, 2019
- Category: Puzzle Games
- Topics: Adventures
- Publisher: Plug In Digital
- Version: 1.2
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 10.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated: May 20, 2019
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