Oniken: Unstoppable Edition (PS4)

What can a ten dollar bill buy you in the world of PS4 gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic? Well, if you fancy a retro inspired action platformer of the 8-bit kind then developer Joymashers and publisher DigeratiDM might just have the game for you. That game being "Oniken: Unstoppable Edition". Oniken isn't anything new outside of it's own lore and design, mind you, but it holds it's own as a unique experience regardless. It personally reminds me a lot of games like the OG Ninja Gaiden back from the NES era without being a mirror image of said games. The plot, as it were, is your run of the mill sci-fi warfare setup with humanity ravaged by an invading cybernetic alien species known as Oniken, and the world falling apart due to the invasion. All taking place at a generic 20XX date with a heroic protagonist named Zaku who is working with a resistance leader and two tag along partners to thwart the extenction agenda at hand.

You basically play as Zaku, a sword wielding and grenade chucking warrior of legend, who looks like a mix of that dude from Berserk or a lost concept version of Mad Max. As Zaku you'll clear armies of lesser enemies of varying types along with bosses with multiple attacks using your sword, grenades, and a berserk power that is activated by collecting a sword power-up. It is with this trio of weapon options that you will have to figure out strategies, and an approach to each of the given six stages plus additional bonus missions or succumb to the "Surprise MF'er!!!" moments which happen so often they will no doubt catch you offguard time and time again in your initial playthroughs. It is ultimately learning the layout of each stage, and where enemies lie in waiting that will either help you accrue a leaderboard score worth noting, or keep you repeating the whole entire thing as you continue via GAME OVER prompt after exhausting each of your allotted lives.

Aside from the main mission inclusive story that includes plenty of oldschool pixel panel art with character to character dialogue you'll find replay value in both a boss rush mode, and a one life hard mode that will test your skills as an Oniken player. The gameplay isn't anything routine or static, and does change from mission to mission for those of you wondering. You'll find regular platforming areas with different themes as well as vehicle focused levels that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you advance ever forward facing enemies that often times pop-up from just out of view. The bosses you'll face each have predictable attack patterns that can be learned as do the lesser enemies which appear at the same time, and place every time you encounter them.

You are given a set amount of lives as Zaku in the main mode of play, and must mind your health bar that depletes from both hazard damage, and enemy damage alike. At your disposal is a quick forward slashing sword that is used by pressing the SQUARE button, and grenades that when stocked can be thrown by pressing UP + SQUARE. Supposedly you can also activate a berserk mode when you press CIRCLE after having collected a sword power-up, but it appears to me that it automatically applies a powered double slash to your standard sword attack until you get hit. Whatever the case may be you have enough weapons to deal with the threats. It's merely a matter of efficiency, and learning the best way to play through each mission. As you do so you'll earn some easy PSN trophies to add to your PSN profile.

Visually the game looks like the type of game it was modeled after. That being an 8-bit pixel constructed experience with a limited color palette, and special effects. It does, as I previously mentioned, contain oldschool cutscenes with character cameos and conversation via subtitled text. For what it's worth it is the complete oldschool package, especially with the chiptune soundtrack that goes along with it all. Control-wise it is kind of stiff, and like everything else mimics the style of game it was modeled after. For added flair you can adjust the screen size (4:3), and add or take off a CCTV filter.

The Verdict ...

For ten dollars you are getting your money's worth here with Oniken. That being said some might be put off by how by the book it is in retro design. It mimics those oldschool challenges almost to a fault. The surprise attack moments can feel cheap at times as can the moments where movement slowdown due to being hit causes an untimely death. If your not against that type of experience, and love the retro gaming era then this might still be worth a buy for you. Even in the current pandemic situation it's not a bank breaker, yet. I think it earns it's price with the additional modes, and content, but that is me, and you are not me. You might think differently. I'll leave the decision up to you.