Omori is a beautiful, terrifying RPG

Rafael Magana, Arts and Entertainment Co-Editor • January 13, 2021

The battle system is turn-based, harkening back to JRPG systems that have been used in games before. In Omori, players emotional states are used in battle to inflict status buffs and debuffs on party members and enemies. Photo credit: Image Credit: OMOCAT, LLC. and PLAYISM

Omori is one of the most captivating games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. In my 30 hours spent in its world, I had to keep reminding myself that this RPG (that’s primarily set in a cutesy dream world) is a horror game.

Art for the game released 4 days before the game launched. Image from the official @OMORI_GAME twitter account. Photo credit: Image credit: OMOCAT

There are shockingly long periods of time where the game is not flaunting its horror aspects. There are lighthearted story beats and quests that are genuinely funny and entertaining. It allows you to get comfortable and immerse yourself in it’s simple (yet fun) turn-based combat system and connect with the beautifully written characters that it presents to you.

Its soundtrack reaches such incredible heights, with many of the game’s boss themes being a highlight. The art style is beautiful as well, with many of the character designs being a notable point of interest.

When the game decides to dive into its darker themes, however, it reminds the player that they’re playing a psychological horror game and that’s when it truly shines.

A horror game with a cute art style is nothing new, but what sets Omori apart from games that share the same space it inhabits is the way that the game tackles its themes of depression, anxiety, and suicide. It presents these themes in a way that’s tasteful yet doesn’t hold back from showing the harsh effects that they can have on an individual.

The &squot;White Space" is an area in the game that players will become very familiar with. — The ‘White Space” is an area in the game that players will become very familiar with. Photo credit: Image Credit: OMOCAT, LLC. and PLAYISM

The game’s finale is one of the most memorable sequences I have experienced in any medium. Once I saw the game’s ending and the credits rolled, I was legitimately left in shock at what I had just experienced. It was one of the most beautiful endings I’ve seen.

It was also terrifying.

It’s incredible to think that this was all successfully pulled off in an indie title that was funded on Kickstarter.

The Neighbor's Room is another area that players will become increasingly more familiar with the more they play the game. — The Neighbor’s Room is another area that players will become increasingly more familiar with the more they play the game. Photo credit: Image Credit: OMOCAT, LLC. and PLAYISM

Omori was developed by a small team led by OMOCAT, an artist who has been devoted to completing the game ever since it first emerged on Kickstarter in late 2014, where the project was funded.

OMOCAT and her team were originally aiming to release the game in early 2015, but a long development cycle led to many doubting whether the game was canceled. Countless posts were made online by fans, who questioned if the game would ever be released.

As a result, when the game released on December 25th in 2020 (nearly 6 years since its initial announcement), many were in shock. Many were surprised, while others had built up high expectations for the project that they expected it to live up to.

One only must look at the reviews for the game on its Steam page to see its overwhelmingly positive reception. The game has proven to be a huge hit, and its fanbase is steadily growing.

A section in the game that the player experiences later in the game. The horror aspects of the game are among the best parts of the game. — A section in the game that the player experiences later in the game. The game’s horror sections never fail to surprise players. Photo credit: Image Credit: OMOCAT, LLC. and PLAYISM & Image Credit: Steam

My time with the game had me going through such an insane roller coaster ride of emotions. I laughed quite a bit, and there were also moments where I had to pause the game due to the game putting me through a downright chilling section.

Through it all, I knew I was experiencing something special. Omori is available now on Steam, and there are plans to port the title to consoles in the future. It’s a title you absolutely should experience.

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About the Contributor

Rafael Magana, Co-Arts and Entertainment Editor

Rafael Magana is one of the co-editors for the Arts and Entertainment section for Talon Marks this semester. He plans to transfer to Cal State Long Beach, Cal State LA, or UC Santa Barbara in the Fall of 2021. He’s an avid lover of all things arts and entertainment, yet holds a special place in his heart for video games and music.