Mothergamer Plays Wax Heads

  *Note: I received the game for free for my honest review. Thank you to Renaissance PR and Patattie for the Xbox game key!

From the moment I started Wax Heads, I was instantly drawn in by the unique art style and the whole vibe of music bringing us together. Suddenly, I was a sixteen year old kid again hanging out with my friends after school at the local record shop bonding over favorite bands, excited about a new album discovered, discussing an epic live show, and just enjoying that moment right there, not worried about tomorrow because we were living for that day and having fun. The fact that Wax Heads did that for me right from the start is lightning in a bottle and it made me so nostalgic for the kid I was trying to figure out her place in the world as a young Queer Filipino woman and the music and community that got me through when I needed it most. 

In Wax Heads you play as an unnamed employee who everyone just refers to as "Kid" at Repeater Records the local music shop in town. The first day is a tutorial of how to solve the puzzle of what a customer is looking for and recommending an album to them. I did like that there were great accessibility settings in the game to make this easier which I did use. If you get the recommendation right the customer is very happy and if you get it wrong they let you know it's not good. They do give you clues that hint at what they're looking for. Sometimes it's comically funny how they misheard a band name or they just remember the album cover art. This led to a few amusing conversations with customers, but I always felt a thrill at nailing that recommendation for them and seeing them ecstatic over it.

A customer ready for some music help. 

I survived my first day at Repeater Records and got some words of encouragement from the store owner and my boss Morgan. I also got to chat with some of my fellow coworkers and I instantly loved them. I also loved the sense of community and belonging with all of them. That diversity and representation made me overjoyed. My personal favorite character among the coworkers was Paul because he was full of joy, but he also understood how important it is to show up for everyone in a community especially in Queer spaces. Paul also constantly made me laugh with his humor, his roasts, and his whole attitude. 

Morgan encourages the newbie. 

The main story itself hit close to home with me as it showed how vital it is to not lose our community spaces to corporate greed and how music is a universal language that can bring so many of us together in the best ways. The music throughout the entire game is incredible ranging from edgy rock to lighthearted pop and all of it flows effortlessly through the game and the story itself making Repeater Records feel real and authentic. That is pure beautiful artistry and I found myself tapping my foot and bopping my head to every tune. Yes, it's that good. 

I love the art on the shutters of the store. 

I loved the fact that we were not always at the record store and could hang out at the neighborhood bar with the Repeater Records gang seeing a live show and getting familiar with the local music scene. This also has a bit of deduction puzzles as you get to figure out what a person's favorite drink is or what type of drink they would like and buy it for them. That was a nice touch adding to the comradery between everyone. 

Wax Heads isn't just a game about music, it's about the beating heart of a community. It shows that individuality while also showing how that can shine brighter than any star when we lift each other up and face those challenges together. It's a lovely beacon of hope and optimism when we need it most and that is priceless. It also reminded that Filipino Queer kid in me that we don't have to fit in, we can stand out as our true selves without fear with love and support from our family, chosen family, and friends while celebrating those connections through music and art. I loved every single moment in Wax Heads and the ending moved me deeply because of how well it told this story in such a beautiful and thoughtful way. I was a little sad to say goodbye to the characters that I had come to know and love by the end, but I was so glad I got to experience those moments because sometimes that's all life really is; a series of moments that stay with us in our memories and our hearts reminding us that for all the bad that can happen, there is also so much good. We just have to take the time to take a breath and soak it all in and enjoy some great music along the way. 

Rocking jam session at a live show. 

*Wax Heads is available on the following platforms: Steam, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 5, and Nintendo Switch

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