Oninaki Reviews
Oninaki is an abundance of compelling ideas enveloped in a fog of stammering expression. An extensive progression system, myriad combat options, and a sincere and original premise aren't enough to overcome the rote execution of its world, characters, and basic combat. Oninaki's only viable curiosity is what kind of game it may have been with more time, budget, and expertise.
Oninaki is an enjoyable RPG if you’re looking for a melodramatic hack-and-slash RPG from yesteryear, and if you properly explore its Daemon mechanics. The game may have some missteps, but I think Tokyo RPG Factory could really shine with more time and a bigger budget.
A decent yet dispassionate game that takes its creators' name (Square Enix's Tokyo RPG Factory) a little too far --it really looks like a game assembled in a factory.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Oninaki is a game that excels at exploring the hefty themes of life and death without compromising its status as a fun and simple action RPG.
Oninaki is a fairly traditional action RPG with intriguing characters. The price is a bit steep, but if you liked the studio's previous works, you won't be disappointed.
Oninaki has some good ideas, but they're overshadowed by a weak story and tedious combat.
It isn’t often that a game truly succeeds as art, but every part of Oninaki goes back into its core motif and that’s why it is an essential action RPG.
Oninaki manages to pull off some interesting story beats and has some great environment designs. However, the excessive padding and re-use of several gameplay elements leaves a sour taste in the mouth with 20 hours of gameplay stretched into 30 and beyond.
Tokyo RPG Factory's Oninaki is the studio's most ambitious project yet with characters and themes that are as fascinating as they are tragic.
If you want a different RPG story with familiar elements, Oninaki is a fine choice but if you want the next big thing, well, this simply isn’t it.
Meditative action role-playing game with a very successful, thoughtful story, but stumbling block in the flow of the game.
Review in German | Read full review
Pacing issues and a lack of variety hold it back from being truly great, but Oninaki is absolutely worth a playthrough, if you're not averse to the solemn subject matter. The stellar combat feels almost like hack-and-slash, and the overall story compels you through the experience. If this is the reincarnation of Tokyo RPG Factory, they've come back less a factory and more an artisan.
Oninaki is one of the best JRPGs I've played this year (so far). It's a heartwarming yet heartbreaking adventure that never, ever fails to keep you wanting more from beginning to end. After two worthy attempts, Tokyo RPG Factory has crafted something truly special that I won't stop thinking about for quite some time.
ONINAKI is by no means the best in the genre but offers a strong foundation for Tokyo RPG Factory to build off of in the future.
Tokyo RPG Factory's newest game has a lot of great ideas on paper, but never manages to fully realize them.
Oninaki has big goals, but it isn't able to follow up on them. While it has an exciting premise and even some cool systems to explore, it ends up mired in the sameness other games in the genre have.
Oninaki is a solid-action JRPG that experiments lightly with the foundations of the genre creating a world with personality and appeal. The game does not disappoint by mixing tradition with novelty.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Oninaki takes dark themes and a child-like visual style and combines them with the potent themes of life and death wonderfully. Combat can be a little restrictive and the presentation takes a hit in cutscenes, but its successes make it more than worth your while. The game flows with darkness and hope, and Oninaki shines because of it.
Oninaki is a nostalgic throwback to old-school action RPGs such as Secret of Mana and Brave Fencer Musashi that doesn't quite stick the landing.
A brave choice at something different by Tokyo RPG Factory finds a game that's good but crying out for new ideas