*EPILEPSY/SEIZURE WARNING!!!*
Today I've got a treat for you readers. A to the point review of two new retro games that are coming out on the Nintendo Switch. One of which is "Odallus: The Dark Call", and the other "Oniken: Unstoppable Ed.". I will go over key points, and give my opinionated verdict based on time spent with the game at the end of each breakdown. I hope you enjoy reading up on these two DigeratiDM releases! ...
Onto Odallus & Oniken ...
Odallus is an RPG metroidvania created in an old 8-bit style graphics with a chiptune soundtrack fitting of the era. It's story is light in content, but the in-game tells of a deep seeded tale about a world where the old Gods have abandoned the people. In the mix of it all Haggis, a lone warrior, embarks on a mission to save his son. He faces off against 8 grueling stages filled with a wide variety of enemies, and tough as nails bosses. His main weapon is a sword that can be leveled up to dish out more damage as well as a throwing weapon. On person, Haggis, is limited in what he can carry, but carries with him his weapon, his armor, and a satchel that can be upgraded to increase carrying capacity. He will earn orbs for defeating foes, and in turn use said orbs as a currency at the shopkeeper's stand which stands at key points within a stage alongside checkpoints that can be activated. As you purchase everything from health refill items to revive amulets, and even throwing weapon refills the price for wares will increase making the journey from beginning to end all the more perilous. Along the way there are secrets to find, puzzles to solve, and treasure to loot. It's what you'd expect from a game of this sort, and on the Switch it plays out perfectly. Keep in mind the game also comes with a map menu that allows for character skin change (default, red gargoyle, vampire hunter, and knight). Ultimately paying homage to retro platformer heroes of old. Also to note is that this game comes in a couple of difficulty settings with 'Veteran' being among those. An optional challenge for an already challenging game.
The presentation of Odallus is simple, and to the point. Story tidbits are scattered throughout the game including within the intro opening, and the key character conversations you'll encounter throughout your playthrough. Visually it is a colorful 8-bit game with it's own theme. A theme that borrows some things from old NES classics. Controlling Haggis is smooth enough leaving the challenge with learning enemy patterns, and environmental hazards. Bosses also require individual strategies to defeat, but with the right approach can be defeated. When it comes to the soundtrack it too harkens back to the bygone 8-bit era with chiptunes that are quite nicely done. Overall it's definitely a game worth adding to any metroidvania fan's Switch library. A retro gaming delight for hardcore gamers.
In a similar fashion as to Odallus, Oniken is a game that pays tribute to 8-bit console classics. In this case the game seems to borrow mechanics from game series such as Strider, Captain Commando, and Contra among others. It is an action platformer set in the 20XX A.D. future in which a cybernetic alien race known as the Oniken look to take advantage of a war ravaged Earth. You play as Zaku, a supposedly unstoppable super soldier who has joined the last remaining human resistance. Your weapons of choice are a sword, and grenades. You will use these tools of destruction along with vehicles to dispatch the alien Oniken, and traverse the post apocalyptic terrain that stands between you, and them.
Oniken comes complete with six stages including bonus stages. Along with that you will fight through over 18 challenging bosses in both the main story, and outside said story in a boss rush mode. The game allows you to select a mission from a list of completed missions, and keeps track of your score which incorporates things such as enemies killed. You will encounter cinematic cutscenes along the way in the vain of older NES-like games as well. Games like Ninja Gaiden come to mind. Beyond the core experience you can challenge yourself to a single life playthrough in the game's hardest difficulty. Trust me when I say this game is hardcore hard without said hard mode though.
In the way of presentation Oniken feels a little more fast & fluid than it's Odallus counterpart. It is done up in a different 8-Bit art style more reminiscent of Capcom's Strider. It also comes with an upbeat, and fast paced chiptune soundtrack, unlike the gothic one of Odallus. One fitting of the future scenario that the game is based upon. While I enjoyed my time with the game into the second mission I realized the game has a major bug that needs fixing. When you die to a 'Game Over' or even die the game will glitch out to a blue screen, and back into the game. At a 'Game Over' screen, when prompted to either continue, or go back to the title screen opting to go to the title will cause a glitch, and put you right back in where you left off. It is a serious bug. In it's current state Oniken is not worth recommending, but I have confidence that the developer will fix the bug with a patch. Once it's fixed it gets my seal of approval.
Today I've got a treat for you readers. A to the point review of two new retro games that are coming out on the Nintendo Switch. One of which is "Odallus: The Dark Call", and the other "Oniken: Unstoppable Ed.". I will go over key points, and give my opinionated verdict based on time spent with the game at the end of each breakdown. I hope you enjoy reading up on these two DigeratiDM releases! ...
Onto Odallus & Oniken ...
Odallus is an RPG metroidvania created in an old 8-bit style graphics with a chiptune soundtrack fitting of the era. It's story is light in content, but the in-game tells of a deep seeded tale about a world where the old Gods have abandoned the people. In the mix of it all Haggis, a lone warrior, embarks on a mission to save his son. He faces off against 8 grueling stages filled with a wide variety of enemies, and tough as nails bosses. His main weapon is a sword that can be leveled up to dish out more damage as well as a throwing weapon. On person, Haggis, is limited in what he can carry, but carries with him his weapon, his armor, and a satchel that can be upgraded to increase carrying capacity. He will earn orbs for defeating foes, and in turn use said orbs as a currency at the shopkeeper's stand which stands at key points within a stage alongside checkpoints that can be activated. As you purchase everything from health refill items to revive amulets, and even throwing weapon refills the price for wares will increase making the journey from beginning to end all the more perilous. Along the way there are secrets to find, puzzles to solve, and treasure to loot. It's what you'd expect from a game of this sort, and on the Switch it plays out perfectly. Keep in mind the game also comes with a map menu that allows for character skin change (default, red gargoyle, vampire hunter, and knight). Ultimately paying homage to retro platformer heroes of old. Also to note is that this game comes in a couple of difficulty settings with 'Veteran' being among those. An optional challenge for an already challenging game.
The presentation of Odallus is simple, and to the point. Story tidbits are scattered throughout the game including within the intro opening, and the key character conversations you'll encounter throughout your playthrough. Visually it is a colorful 8-bit game with it's own theme. A theme that borrows some things from old NES classics. Controlling Haggis is smooth enough leaving the challenge with learning enemy patterns, and environmental hazards. Bosses also require individual strategies to defeat, but with the right approach can be defeated. When it comes to the soundtrack it too harkens back to the bygone 8-bit era with chiptunes that are quite nicely done. Overall it's definitely a game worth adding to any metroidvania fan's Switch library. A retro gaming delight for hardcore gamers.
In a similar fashion as to Odallus, Oniken is a game that pays tribute to 8-bit console classics. In this case the game seems to borrow mechanics from game series such as Strider, Captain Commando, and Contra among others. It is an action platformer set in the 20XX A.D. future in which a cybernetic alien race known as the Oniken look to take advantage of a war ravaged Earth. You play as Zaku, a supposedly unstoppable super soldier who has joined the last remaining human resistance. Your weapons of choice are a sword, and grenades. You will use these tools of destruction along with vehicles to dispatch the alien Oniken, and traverse the post apocalyptic terrain that stands between you, and them.
Oniken comes complete with six stages including bonus stages. Along with that you will fight through over 18 challenging bosses in both the main story, and outside said story in a boss rush mode. The game allows you to select a mission from a list of completed missions, and keeps track of your score which incorporates things such as enemies killed. You will encounter cinematic cutscenes along the way in the vain of older NES-like games as well. Games like Ninja Gaiden come to mind. Beyond the core experience you can challenge yourself to a single life playthrough in the game's hardest difficulty. Trust me when I say this game is hardcore hard without said hard mode though.
In the way of presentation Oniken feels a little more fast & fluid than it's Odallus counterpart. It is done up in a different 8-Bit art style more reminiscent of Capcom's Strider. It also comes with an upbeat, and fast paced chiptune soundtrack, unlike the gothic one of Odallus. One fitting of the future scenario that the game is based upon. While I enjoyed my time with the game into the second mission I realized the game has a major bug that needs fixing. When you die to a 'Game Over' or even die the game will glitch out to a blue screen, and back into the game. At a 'Game Over' screen, when prompted to either continue, or go back to the title screen opting to go to the title will cause a glitch, and put you right back in where you left off. It is a serious bug. In it's current state Oniken is not worth recommending, but I have confidence that the developer will fix the bug with a patch. Once it's fixed it gets my seal of approval.
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