RPG Maker games are incredibly prevalent nowadays mostly due to the RPG Maker tools. However, the games made like this are a dime a dozen, and true masterpieces are hard to come by. A lot of the games tend to use sprites that are available for public use, and it’s common to see similarities between games. This is why it’s such a joy to see a game like OMORI, the game we’re going to talk about today.
Today, we’re going to talk about how the game was made, in addition to its plot and the game’s mechanics. Last but not least, we’ll talk about whether or not the game deserves the hype that it got and what direction it’ll go in the future.
What Is OMORI?
OMORI is an RPG Maker psychological horror title. The game is co-published by PLAYISM and created by OMOCAT. OMORI was fully released back on December 25, 2020, for PC and macOS and it’s available on Steam. The developers also plans to have a PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox 1 release of the game available at a later date. That is in addition to localization for other languages.
The game is directed, illustrated, and written by OMOCAT and her team. All of this, independently. These include the OST that’s provided by CLOVER & SEALIFE and SLIME GIRLS. The game’s 2020 trailer OST was composed by Pedro Silva and written by bansheebeat (Dylan Browne).
The game is incredibly inspired by the Mother video game series. A lot of people have also noted that the game might also be inspired by another RPG Maker game called Yume Nikki. The game’s art direction fuses incredibly drawn pixel art with various hand-drawn arts. The game’s overworld and characters are shown by pixel art. The cute art is incredibly pleasing to the eye, though it has a limited color palette. Meanwhile, battles with enemies, item illustrations, and any important cut scenes in the game are represented with hand-drawn illustrations.
If you are looking for other horror titles, here is our list of the top horror games.
Price
OMORI is available on Steam for $10. The game will eventually make its way on other consoles as stated above. However, there’s still no word on the price on those platforms.
Story
Well, first off you have to understand that OMORI deals with a lot of heavy themes. These include suicide, depression, and a whole lot of other things that go into spoiler territory.
The story of OMORI starts when the titular character awakens in the White Space. He speaks to a cat that’s with him in this space and after that, a knife falls somewhere in the room. OMORI will then go outside the room after getting the knife. And he’ll then go to the neighbor’s room where he sees his friends. These friends are going to be the characters you’ll use in the entire game alongside OMORI. They are Aubrey, Kel, and Hero.
After you meet them, you’ll go on an adventure, exploring the PLAYGROUND that they’re in. In there, you’ll meet several other characters that will help or hinder your journey. However, there’s another thing.
The Playground isn’t the only place you’re going to.
Enter the Real World, like the actual world. To get there, OMORI has to stab himself. There, you’ll find some incredibly uncomfortable things about OMORI’s past and what might happen in the future. Also, it’s up to the player to figure out OMORI’s past, and how you can prevent an incredibly bad ending.
Anything more than what is said right now would lead to some very big spoiler territory. So we should stop here.
Gameplay
If you know the Mother series from back in the early 1990s, then you pretty much have the gameplay for OMORI. There’s a lot of traditional RPG styles in the game as well, chief of which is the four-person party. Other than that, you can also pick up numerous important items as you play the game. Lastly, going to piles of fruit heals the whole party, while interacting with picnic baskets allows players to save.
In terms of its battle system, there are some things that players need to consider. Overall, it’s a traditional turn-based battle system. However, the status effects are different from the norm. How different? Well, they’re based on human emotions and conditions. Make of those as you will, but they’ll be important. In battle, OMORI and friends are displayed on the four corners of the window, while the enemy’s in the center.
Typical of an RPG, the characters have HP and MP, with the terms being Heart and Juice respectively. As per usual, running out of HP or Heart will faint or Toast characters. Depletion of the juice bar will prevent you from using skills. In addition to this, other stats are taken into account in battle. These are Attack, Defense, Speed, Luck, and Accuracy.
Last but not the least, FOLLOW-UPS allow characters to perform an additional action after a normal attack. Each character has specific FOLLOW-UP abilities that you’ll obtain.
Emotions
Emotions in OMORI act as status effects. Both friends and enemies can be affected by emotions and can be used to charge skills or items in battle. In addition to this, the emotion can be stacked up at least two more times. The game has five different emotions that players can be affected by. These are:
Neutral
All the characters will start with a Neutral emotion. This is pretty much typical unless a Charm is equipped by the character that changes it. Some charms, like the punching bag, change the starting emotion of a character. In this case, it changes the emotion to anger.
Happy
Next up on the list, is the Happy emotion. A happy friend or enemy gets increased Luck and Speed stats. However, they hit enemies less.
Happy, if stacked can go to Ecstatic, and then Manic. With each stack giving more stats on Luck and Speed but affecting Accuracy.
Sad
This is the emotion that deals with defense. Sad friends and enemies have increased Defense, but their Speed will be lower as a result. In addition to this, a percentage of damage dealt with that character will instead lower Juice.
Sad, if stacked can go to Depressed, and then Miserable. Each stacking will add more stats on Defense and lower Speed.
Angry
Angry, on the other hand, gives increased Attack stats but lowers the Defense of a character.
Getting more stacks on Angry can go to Enraged and then Furious. Giving more Attack stats but decreasing Defense.
Afraid
Last but not the least, the Afraid stat. This stat isn’t listed on the normal emotion chart and something related to the game’s plot. It can’t be inflicted on enemies or your characters using skills and effects as well. Afraid friends cannot use Follow-Ups.
Graphics
The game’s graphics style is unique in that it’s mostly based on OMOCAT, the developer’s art style. There are several instances that this art style shines through in the game. These include the characters and the game’s overworld. And those styles are incredibly clean.
The game used to have a different style though, one that seems a bit more on the gangly side in terms of its characters. It was then reworked into the style that you currently see in the game today. Due to some questioning of the fanbase on the OMORI subreddit, though, that was changed into the current style.
Overall though, a lot of the game’s fans seem to think that the change was a good one. It’s pretty much one of the most beloved things about the game.
Is OMORI Worth the Hype?
As for whether OMORI’s worth the hype? Well, the game was shown on Kickstarter back in 2014. Also, for the past seven years, the game’s developers have been interacting with the people who pledged. They asked for feedback about the game, what they think about things, et cetera. The result was an incredible game that deals with a lot of heavy subjects. And perhaps, one of the best RPG Maker games that ever came out last year.
Final Word: Where Is OMORI Headed?
OMORI is an incredibly good RPG Maker game that deals with a lot of uncomfortable things. The characters have their personality, and the game’s plot is incredibly good. If you’re going for an interesting RPG with a great plot and a lot of references to Earthbound, then try out OMORI.
For now, they still have to release the game on other consoles like the PS4 and Xbox 1. However, it’s incredibly possible that we might get a sequel if this game’s reception goes well. Which we hope it does, as the game deserves it and more.
