A critical disconnect hamstrings potential of ‘Oninaki’

The afterlife inspires plenty of art. Movies, music and novels tackle the subject. But for video games, it’s largely virgin territory. Few games discuss the weighty issues about what happens after you die.

That is because of how video games traditionally handle death. When characters perish, a life is lost and players start over. It’s treated as a momentary setback. There’s no dwelling on what happened or the larger ramifications. They just continue the game.

“Oninaki” is different. It’s an action role-playing game that’s based in a world that’s defined by death and reincarnation. The belief — taken as fact — is that when people pass, they move to the Beyond and are reborn as another person. The idea creates a fascinating environment where death is regulated and an authority called The Watchers acts as a police agency that sends off lingering spirits and prevent anyone from abusing reincarnation.

In “Oninaki,” players take on the role of a Watcher named Kagachi. He and his partner, Majura, investigate a series of loosely tied incidents. The uneven campaign unfurls hesitantly, in stops and starts, but picks up steam as players discover that all may not be right in the Inner Kingdom. A being called the Night Devil is stirring up trouble and Kagachi comes across a mysterious girl from his past named Linne.

The main issue that “Oninaki” faces is that the narrative isn’t balanced with the gameplay. Players spend more time in the action RPG elements, and that leaves “Oninaki” glossing over important relationships and character development. Much of the story is told in the dialogue, where much of the nuance is lost. More effort in detailed cutscenes or an internal monologue could have helped players bond with the protagonist and secondary characters.

Although the narrative falters in places, it manages to hold players’ interests through gameplay inspired by “Diablo.” Players will spend most of their time running through dungeons defeating a horde of adversaries that pop on the screen. What’s notable is that Watchers have the ability to cross the veil and explore the world of the dead and return to the living. That’s how they talk to the deceased and help them move to the Beyond.

The developer, Tokyo RPG Factory, leverages this feature to block off parts of dungeons. If players

reach a dead end in the living world, they can find an alternate route in the spirit realm. To do that, players usually have to defeat a miniboss that lifts a barrier called Veil Blindness so Kagachi can move freely through the world of the dead and advance.

Along with this ability, Kagachi also has access to several Daemons. These are special lost souls that have become weapons after they have died. Each are distinct and give the protagonist a weapon and a new move. For example, Aisha offers a sword that attacks quickly and she gives Kagachi a dash. Wil deals heavier damage with his ax but his slow attacks can be a detriment, opening players up to damage even though they have a blocking move for defense.

Each Daemon requires a certain strategy and players have to switch between weapons to adapt to adversaries. Some may require the long range gun attacks from Dia while others may be vulnerable from the warping strikes of Izana.

What creates depth in the combat is the progression system that lets players upgrade the Daemons. As they defeat enemy hordes, they’ll pick up stones that can be used to add new weapon skills, stat boosts or attack powerups. Players can switch out skills and Daemons themselves to create a mix of four that can handle various situations. As players progress, it becomes even more important to build a Daemon squad with abilities that complement each other.

It’s almost like playing “Diablo” by yourself using a hero that can switch out among the different classes on the fly.

The downside to this is that powering up Daemons requires grinding and the pacing of that in “Oninaki” is off. Players will need to replay maps to earn stones that level up Kagachi and his Daemons. Unfortunately, the grind takes players out of the narrative flow. That’s not to say the grind is a chore. Far from it: New Daemon powers are fun to use and experiment with, making Kagachi more powerful and the game easier, but at the same time, it’s awkward finding the right moment to leave a mission to level up.

Thankfully, the gameplay is enjoyable enough that players can almost overlook the rough pacing, but ultimately, that’s what holds this release back.

SQUARE ENIX “Oninaki” puts players in the shoes of Kagachi, a Watcher whose job it is to guide lost souls on the path of reincarnation.