My initial experience with ONI: Road to be the Mightiest Oni has been positive, despite some noted issues. The game offers a slower-paced, casual action experience that I found enjoyable. The addition of a companion combat mechanic added a unique layer to the gameplay, and the game boasts a stunning Breath of the Wild-inspired aesthetic with beautifully designed text overlays. The combos used for dodging and quickly eliminating enemies added to the gameplay’s excitement, and the entertaining and unique boss fights offered an added level of enjoyment, especially when inheriting abilities from defeated bosses. The game’s humor and lovable characters were also a welcomed addition, and the starting music was exceptionally well done.
However, there were also some negatives that I noticed during gameplay. For instance, I experienced a large gap between frame rates on my 3070Ti, which may pose a problem on lower-end devices. Additionally, some animation frames, such as those for picking up mushrooms, felt unnecessarily long, and the combat system relied heavily on interacting with stationary, non-attacking avatars before initiating real-time combat, which felt out of place. The game’s world was also not entirely open, consisting of closed areas with boss fights to unlock the next stage. Furthermore, the game lacked graphic setting options, and playing with a keyboard and mouse felt awkward. Finally, after extended gameplay, the game’s loop became repetitive and somewhat monotonous, and at times, the music felt out of place.
In conclusion, I would recommend this game to a younger audience. While the game presents a mixed bag of experiences, I found the combat mechanics refreshing and enjoyable. Overall, my impression of the game is positive, but with some additional work and diversity, the gameplay loop could be improved further. To be clear, the game can be considered “half-baked,” but I feel it leans towards a positive experience rather than a negative one. If the option were available, I would rate the game as “natural” on Steam.