| Oni Remember classics such as Streets of Rage and Final Fight...well Oni takes a step in that direction in one way, but what it does different is offer you big bad guns too as well as martial arts. Konoko is a female TCTF (Technology Crimes Task Force) operative with purple yes purple hair. Set in a Japanese Manga style world, Konoko and co would not look out of place in a Japanese comic book, well actually there is a comic book to promote the game. It is the stylish presentation of the game that really stands out, loading screens have Manga style drawings and are pleasing to the eye in a way that will cut loading frustrations down, not that it has bad loading times though. The graphics are sadly not up to the usual PS2 standard, too many rough edges litter the playing areas, the worst flaw about the visuals is the way enemies and even Konoko herself merge in to the walls, kill a bad guy next to the wall and he will collapse in to the wall, but thats not the end of it, if he merges through a wall you can even go to the other side of the wall and see him through it, it really is that bad, but somewhat comical at the same time. Also the actual graphics could of looked more Mangarish in the same type of style as Fear Effect, but the graphics do the job and thats all that really matters. The actual game is straight foward look for a console to open the door etc, while you crack bad guys skulls, but thats no bad thing, the simplicty may not be for everyones tastes but when you see Konoko do her martiel arts you will be gobsmacked, there is so many different moves to master depending on the current situation, one of my personal faves is the back breaker move, sneak up on an enemy and kick him in the back= an instant kill. Each time you hit an enemy colour clouds show the state of his health, green means the bad guy has a lot of power and red means near death etc. The guns are sometimes unreliable in a fight, but there still is some great firepower, all the usual machine guns, pistols and even missile guns are here, the battle system allows you to knock an enemy down and steal his gun, the same goes for you, the enemies can disarm you too, the beauty of this system is that it is such a clever and well worked mixture of gaming. Oni isn't without its flaws though, some I already have mentioned, one of the most irritating flaws of the game is the camera angles, during a fight you have to turn the camera in to view so you can see everything, otherwise you will be caught out. Be warned the in game controls also need a load of paitence. The game is also very difficult on the easy mode, which could have been avoided. Oni is quite good despite a few serious flaws, martial arts and guns have never been mixed so well. Chris Wigham 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |