Oninaki
Tokyo RPG Factory’s Oninaki is a return to form for the relatively new studio, channeling the best parts of I Am Setsuna with some fresh JRPG form.
It ’s a bit of a weird time for JRPGs . One of thegreatest RPGsin recent memory released just this class in the cast ofFFXIV Shadowbringers , but its soma is wildly different , occupying an entirely different literary genre despite meeting the criterion many have for the classic build . TheFinal Fantasy 7 Remakewill arrive in former 2020 , completelyreimagining one of the definitive JRPGsin video play history . In both example , a point of stress is to shake - up most of what fans know about the genre in an effort to make it more palatable to modern audiences - which is perhaps why Tokyo RPG Factory’sOninakiis at once a breath of saucy air and a tightly - tuned homage to the JRPG classic that pave the mode for it several decades ago .
Oninakiis the latest effort from developer Tokyo RPG Factory , a studio owned by parent caller Square Enix that has been send with ensuring that diehard JRPGs are n’t just a thing of the past . The team ’s cause so far have been mixed , withI Am Setsunastanding out as a startlingly memorable first drive beforeLost Sphearunderwhelmed as a follow - up . For concerned parties , there ’s no want to fear , asOninakiis much closer in timber toI Am Setsunaand the changes that have been made make it an even best twirl on some clip - tested qualities .
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Some of that is a product of the fact thatOninakihits on some of the subtleties that madeI Am Setsunaso cracking . The music is low - key but move and stirs the sodding emotions when it ’s ask , and the type pattern are simplistic but exude spell and personality despite this . The history , likewise , is middling withdrawn for much of the game ’s progression thanks to the most coherent thematic concern , death . Everywhere players go inOninaki , demise is n’t far behind - and the world is obsess with it . The only church is build around the concept of renascence , going so far as to allow people to ante up them to execute them and bring them to their next go at lifespan . It ’s grim , but it works , and it ’s challenging - once the mysteries set about unraveling and main graphic symbol Kagachi gains enough agency to start questioning the world , Oninakibecomes instantly memorable .
It ’s difficult not to spend an entire review praising the way thatOninakiis unafraid to explore complicated themes of death , rebirth , belief , and regret . This is a major step up for Tokyo RPG Factory and , if this is the quality of story the studio is comfortable telling now , gravid things are in entrepot for the squad in the near future tense . Do all JRPGs need to make their thespian question their own relationship with expiry by the end of them ? utterly not . But some of them prompting that head are nice , even if the subject subject distinctly is n’t .
Of course , Oninakiis far more than just its intriguing narrative . The game is also a solid blend of traditional JRPG elements meld with some interesting innovations , specifically the power to careen between the even existence and The Veil . The Veil is where the dead spirits reside , while monsters also populate the landscape . That is n’t to say that the real world is dependable , either , though . Any single-valued function that allows players to thrust The Veil is essentially two maps or else . Destroying debris in the real world can also have pernicious effects on The Veil , where chest may appear with goodies that were previously impede or passageways can be uncovered . The esthetic of the mapping also change dramatically , hold on thing refreshful and making get over through the same map repeatedly interesting .
Another change is the combat organisation , which feel a lot like a keep crawler at time despite far fewer foe populating the single-valued function . Kagachi can attest Daemons - more powerful version of Lost soul inOninaki- which let him to wield different weapon , power , and forms of movement . The latter , despite vocalise the least exciting , was by far the most interesting . transfer movement dynamics is spectacular . A scythe - wielding Daemon can let Kagachi to teleport across unretentive aloofness as his dash , while another has long , lanky leaps over top of enemy . There are so many different way to approach the biz , and it love it -Oninakialso lets players swap Daemons on the fly , with the power to fit up to four of them at a clip . Daemons can also expend some peaceful abilities that allow them to have effects on battle even when they ’re not possessing Kagachi at that head in time , allowing players to take care for broken combinations of passive that complement each other nicely .
Oninaki ’s skill tree is also worth mentioning . It ’s exchangeable toFinal Fantasy X ’s sphere grid , which was divisive among some fans but has ultimately withstood the test of time ( and re - release ) as one of the better acquisition systems the series has ever employed . Using a Daemon will generate spheres bear on to their weapon that can then be spent on their skill Tree . Embedded in those acquirement tree are also the memories of the Daemons , who will commence explicate their back story and why they ended up where they did . There ’s both fighting and report motivator to cut into deeply into a favorite character ’s accomplishment tree - fashioning grinding a lot more appealing than it commonly might be otherwise . party boss are an absolute pleasure , too , and they ’re the representative where sphere power grid navigation and team layout will be at their most authoritative .
If there ’s one thing that holdsOninakiback it ’s that at its core it ’s a pretty simplistic secret plan . have a ton of option is terrific , but the enemies themselves are n’t particularly various . Even in area where it is copiously clean that the game wants players to try out a new Daemon they ’ve just acquired , it ’s incredibly easy to just power through with whatever Daemon a player has puzzle with for most of the game . Environments change a spate ground on artistic , but layout never really develop beyond a few little twists on former mechanics . Some minor reference are almost indistinguishable , visually and tonally , from just random NPCs . All of these things add up , andOninakiclearly could use a fleck more deepness to some of its gameplay . It ’s deserving revisiting areas to mash up some more Daemons for memories and passives , and characters are still fun to interact with even when they ’re not middle degree , but there ’s a lingering sense that there could have been a bitmoreunderneath the control surface combat of the plot .
Still , Oninakiis a wonderful title of respect . It ’s deserving playing through just for some of the means it interrogate how we as humans view something as chilling and all - encompassing as decease . There are some shocking extremes , but there are also some in - between philosophy that really baffle in the back of one ’s head long after they ’ve first been discussed . Between an engrossing tale and diverse , exciting armed combat , Oninakiis probable Tokyo RPG Factory ’s best secret plan yet . For JRPG fans , it ’s a must - play , but for those unsure about how interested they are in the genre , it ’s also a wonderful pick to taste and see ifOninakiis to their liking .
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Oninakireleases August 22 , 2019 for Nintendo Switch , PC , and PlayStation 4 . Screen Rant receive a PS4 download code for the intent of this review .
