Onigiri (video game)
| Onigiri | |
| Genre | Fantasy |
|---|---|
| Game | |
| Developer | CyberStep |
| Publisher | CyberStep |
| Genre | Action MMORPG |
| Platform | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| Released | |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Takashi Yamamoto |
| Written by | Takamitsu Kouno |
| Music by | Yutaka Yamada |
| Studio | Pierrot+ |
| Licensed by | |
| Network | Tokyo MX, BS Fuji |
| English network | |
| Original run | April 7, 2016 – present |
Onigiri (鬼斬, lit. Demon Cutter) is an action massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) by CyberStep. It is set in a fantasy land reminiscent of ancient Japan in which humans and non-humans such as Oni and other Youkai coexist. The game was originally released in Japan on February 6, 2014[1] and in North America on July 1, 2014. The English console versions were released on October 2, 2015[2] for the Xbox One and on October 6, 2015.[3] for the PlayStation 4. The game's title means "oni cutter", reflective of the player characters' background as an Oni; the title can also be taken as a pun on onigiri, the Japanese rice ball.
Plot
The game is set in a fantasy version of ancient Japan that is filled with creatures of myth. Ages ago the terrible Kamikui wreaked trail of death and destruction across the land before being stopped by the goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu Oomikami. The goddess places three great Seals that forced the Kamikui to retreat. Now one of the Seals has shattered.[4]
The player character is an Oni whose peaceful life in the Western island of Onigashima is disturbed by the revival of the Kamikui.[5]
Gameplay
The game has different servers for the PC, Xbox One, and PS4 versions but the gameplay is the same for all versions.
Unlike most other MMORPGs that have different races or classes, in Onigiri players can only play as Oni and choosing a class involves picking a favored weapon to specialize in. When creating a character, players choose one of five traits that will determine which weapons they can use. The traits are Power (Axe, Oodachi, Spear, and Sword), Defensive (Spear and Staff), Kind (Staff and Wand), Daring (Axe, Oodachi, Dual Swords, Bow, and Sword), and Cautious (Dual Swords, Bow and Wand). Characters level up five basic stats: Power, Vitality, Wisdom, Mind and Dexterity. [6]
Partner System
In Onigiri players have eight NPC partners that each have distinct personalities and abilities.[7] which can be improved as they gain more affection for the player. Affection levels can be raised by giving the companions gifts that they prefer.[8]
Characters
- Shizuka Gozen
- Voiced by: Aina Suzuki
- Yoshitsune
- Voiced by: Eriko Matsui
- Ibaraki-dōji
- Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori
- Kaguya
- Voiced by: Izumi Kitta
- Amaterasu
- Voiced by: Natsuko Hara
- Veronica
- Voiced by: Yuki Nakashima
- Uzume
- Voiced by: Monya Nakane
- Kijimuna
- Voiced by: Nozomi Kishita
- Sakura
- Voiced by: Mimori
Reception
Onigiri has garnered a number of favorable reviews. Bradly Storm of Hardcore Gamer felt that it was "a fairly competent and enjoyable hack-and-slash experience" even though the launch suffered from server-side latency issues.[9] Reviewer Angelique Stokes praised the game's combat and wrote that the game was "bursting with personality."[10] Sheattack's Charnelle Schindel found the plot "lackluster" but overall she felt Onigiri was generally "great fun to play."[11] Crunchyroll called it "a very solid title."[12]
Other Media
Anime
A television anime adaptation of the game was announced by CyberStep on January 27, 2016 and is currently in production. It will begin airing on April 7, 2016 on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji.[13] Pierrot+ is producing the anime, with Takashi Yamamoto directing the series, Takamitsu Kouno handling series composition, Takashi Aoshima and Atsushi Oka writing the scripts. Yukiko Ibe is designing the characters and is the series' chief animation director.[14]
Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series for North America.[15]
Episode list
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Curtain Raises on Onigiri" "Onikiri kaimaku" (鬼斬開幕) | April 7, 2016 |
| 2 | "Pandora's Box!" "Mōryōbakko" (魍魎跋扈) | April 14, 2016 |
| 3 | "Burning Hakata" "Hakata enjō" (博多炎上) | April 21, 2016 |
| 4 | "Leap in the Darkness" "Anchūhiyaku" (暗中飛躍) | April 28, 2016 |
| 5 | "Marital Vows" "Hiyokurenri" (比翼連理) | May 5, 2016 |
| 6 | "Lottery First Prize" | May 12, 2016 |
References
- ↑ "Made in Japan" MMORG Onigiri Released for Alpha Testing". Animenewsnetwork. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "MMORPG "ONIGIRI" OFFICIAL SERVICE DATE ANNOUNCED FOR JULY 1st". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Onigiri Facebook Page Announcement". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Onigiri - Official Website, World and Story". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Onigiri - Official Website, Characters". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Onigiri Online Hands-On - A Taste of Ancient Japan". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Action-packed MMORPG Onigiri Online Released New Screenshots". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Onigiri Official Website Partner System". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ Storm, Bradly. "English Version of Onigiri Out Now on Xbox One, on PS4 Next Week". Hardcoregamer. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ Stokes, Angelique. "Onigiri Review (Xbox One)". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ Schindel, Charnelle. "Onigiri Review: A Japanese MMORPG Headed West". Sheattack. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "FEATURE: "Onigiri" Review". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Onigiri Fantasy MMORPG Gets TV Anime in April". Anime News Network. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ↑ "Onigiri Fantasy Anime Announces Main Staff, April Premiere Date". Anime News Network. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Onigiri Anime (Updated)". Anime News Network. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.