Oninaki Preview – Meaning of Life

Square Enix’s next original RPG, Oninaki centers around the cycle of reincarnation. Tokyo RPG Factory’s third game features similar themes to its previous efforts but goes in a new direction with its action-oriented, hack-and-slash gameplay. Oninaki is a whole new story starring a lone Watcher who fights alongside Daemons to uncover the world’s mysteries. From the hands-on time I had with Story and Battle mode, I got a crash course into the worldbuilding and gameplay approach of the different Daemons. 

Visually, Oninaki showcases its striking anime and manga-style aesthetic as well as fully voiced Japanese dialogue. One story aspect I was fascinated by was the studio’s approach to the act of taking lives within the game. Tokyo RPG Factory’s Director, Atsushi Hashimoto, elaborates here. “Games have always been about trying to progress by defeating your enemies to secure victory and taking the lives of others, and I think Oninaki has become what it is through trying to make a game where that unwritten law is the main theme firmly at the center of the game’s story and themes.” I’m curious to see how the “let’s kill a bunch of things” ultimately ties into the narrative. 

Speaking of gameplay, from the start Oninaki’s leaves behind its turn-based predecessors (I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear) and focuses on an action role-playing style reminiscent to the games from the genre. From the almost top-down camera angles, dungeon style map, and hordes of enemies on-screen you could almost mistake this as Square Enix’s attempt at one. A customized loadout and unique approach to battles can be found through the Daemons you’ll collect in the story. Each Daemon offers different abilities and enhanced with new skills, passive abilities from the progression tree in Oninaki. I encountered a bit of trouble adjusting to the game at first, especially during the first boss encounter. Thankfully, at certain junctures, you can switch difficulty modes without hesitation so that was a welcome addition. You’ll also switch between reality and the so-called “dark” plane. One thing I noticed from this is that certain enemies can instantly kill you here. 

Diving into Battle Mode, you’ll have the opportunity to bring four Daemons along. It’s a great mode to practice and customize your playstyle. For a time, I was switching back and forth between Story and Battle modes to refine my optimal loadout. Those eager to try out Oninaki like I did can check out the playable demo available today on Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Progress from the opening chapter will carry over to the full release as well.   

Oninaki releases August 22nd for Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Steam for PC.