Looking for an Oni feel-alike

[Galad]

Hi folks,

I'm going to assume that there are at least a few people here that remember fondly Oni.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oni_(video_game)

I'm looking for any (I assume) newer games that have the same fluid feel of hand-to-hand combat that Oni had, and are not restricted to a corridor of movement, like any Tekken game, for example. Can I get some pointers please?

I also seem to recall some modding community of Oni, not sure if it's still active though.

Thanks in advance

 

[DoPo]

Well, Remember Me did remind me of Oni. To a certain extent, at least, but it did. The hand to hand combat is different, though - you are building the combos yourself and even then, they are somewhat fixed, so, for example, you can have one combo that is [Kick]-[Punch]-[Kick]-[Punch]-[Kick] where the one in bold is fixed (you always have a kick there), the rest of the moves you choose from a set of moves you have unlocked (which would be different kicks and punches). The actual difference between the different kicks and punches is rather small (you have four categories of moves in total, and just several different animations for kicks/punches within them) but mixing them in a combo, and in exactly which combo you use does make a difference. Longer combos are more difficult to pull off till the end, but do give bonuses, for example, also, you can make your combo do a lot of damage, or you could put life regenerating moves which are weaker but make you more durable, or a mix of the two, but in this case you won't do as much damage or as much healing (which may be fine).

All in all, the combat was interesting. The game is a bit...linear, though - it more or less going in one direction all the time with small offshoots here and there with some extras. Still, I liked the game. The memory remix mechanic was also interesting, but you'll only get to use it very few times over the game (about 4 or 5 in total, I think).

 

[shrekfan246]

Well, as far as melee combat alone is concerned, I suppose maybe the Batman: Arkham series?

It's a bit more simplistic, but they're the gold standard for brawler combat these days in my opinion. Most other games which have used hand-to-hand combat in the past few years have tried to crib the Arkham mechanics, including the aforementioned Remember Me.

Otherwise, there isn't much that comes to mind. It's another style of game I've looked up extensively in the past, and there just isn't really anything quite like it, interestingly enough.

If you don't discount games which use melee weapons and are perhaps a bit more spectacle fighter in their execution, you could always check out Platinum/Clover's catalog. Bayonetta, God Hand, Viewtiful Joe, and Metal Gear Rising are all fairly well-known and remembered for their style and gameplay, and they're all primarily brawling titles.

 

[Meximagician]

Haven't though of Oni in a while, fun game.

OT: Most of Oni was based on Ghost in the Shell, and there have been a few GitS games. The version for PS2, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is the only one that plays similar Oni. It was a later PS2 game, so it has better graphics and smoother controls.

The only downside is that guns are a lot more effective and you find ammo for them more often than in Oni. Also, fences act as bullet proof walls and enemies can't see through them. Still, it's fun to go melee while dodging from time to time, especially with the stun equipment.