Oniken
Developer(s)Joymasher
Publisher(s)Joymasher
Designer(s)Danilo Dias
Pedro Paiva
Thais Weiller
Programmer(s)Danilo Dias
Marco Galvão
Platform(s)Windows, OS X, Linux, Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
ReleaseWindows
  • WW: June 21, 2012
OS X/Linux
  • WW: November 20, 2012
Switch
  • WW: February 1, 2019
Xbox One
  • WW: December 23, 2019
PlayStation 4
  • WW: March 23, 2020
Genre(s)Action, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Oniken is a side-scrolling action platform video game developed and published by independent Brazilian studio Joymasher for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux. The game was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows on June 21, 2012, on OS X and Linux on November 20, 2012, and on Nintendo Switch on February 1, 2019 as Oniken: Unstoppable Edition. In August 2012, the developers have announced that the game was accepted on Steam Greenlight.[1]

Gameplay

Zaku (left) encountering a boss battle with an Oniken commander (right).

The game has an 8-bit style and follows a classic slasher gameplay formula similar to Strider, Ninja Gaiden and Shatterhand.[2]

The objective in the game is to get to the end of each level and beat the boss for the level. There are six levels in the game and an extra mission with an additional character in Contra gameplay style after you beat the game.

Plot

Taking place in a post-apocalyptic future, human kind has nearly been completely destroyed by global war. Those few humans that have managed to survive are being oppressed by a cybernetic armada known as the Oniken. A small resistance led by General Zhukov attempt to defend against the Oniken but are ultimately overwhelmed by their forces. Zaku (a legendary ninja mercenary, with an unknown past) who is believed to be the only one capable of stopping the Oniken, is approached by Zhukov and asked to join the resistance movement against the robotic forces, to which Zaku obliges.[3]

Development

Thais Weiller of JoyMasher presenting at the 2017 Game Developers Conference

Oniken was developed by the duo consisting of friends Danilo Dias (JoyMasher) and Pedro Paiva (then Arcaica, now Menos Playstation) as a means for them to pay homage to their favorite games from the 8-bit era, such as Ninja Gaiden, Contra, Kabuki Quantum Fighter, Shadow of the Ninja and Vice: Project Doom. Zaku's character design was highly inspired by that of Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star fame.[4]

Reception

Shortly after release, Oniken was included in the July Jubilee bundle, part of the series of bundles on Indie Royale, a Desura indie bundle service.[5] It received a score of 7/10 on Destructoid. Multiplayer.it gave it 8.0/10.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Joymasher (August 28, 2012). "Oniken will be on Steam!". Joymasher. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ Pinsof, Allistair (June 7, 2012). "Review: Oniken". Destructoid. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Oniken JoyMasher". JoyMasher. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  4. ↑ "Oniken Reminds Us Why We Still Love 8-bit Games". GeekParty. Archived from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  5. ↑ Tonci (July 24, 2012). "Indie Royale July Jubilee". Indie Game Bundles. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ Tagliaferri, Simone (June 25, 2012). "Oniken (PC Windows): Recensione". Multiplayer.it. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
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