Onigiri (video game)

Onigiri
Genre Fantasy
Game
Developer CyberStep
Publisher CyberStep
Genre Action MMORPG
Platform Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Released
  • JP: February 6, 2013
  • NA: October 6, 2015
Anime television series
Directed by Takashi Yamamoto
Written by Takamitsu Kouno
Music by Yutaka Yamada
Studio Pierrot+
Licensed by

‹See Tfd›

Network Tokyo MX, BS Fuji
English network

‹See Tfd›

Original run April 7, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Episodes 13

Onigiri (鬼斬, lit. Demon Cutter) is an action massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) by CyberStep. It is set in a fantasy land reminiscent of ancient Japan in which humans and non-humans such as Oni and other Yōkai coexist. The game was originally released in Japan on February 6, 2014[1] and in North America on July 1, 2014. The English console versions were released on October 2, 2015[2] for the Xbox One and on October 6, 2015.[3] for the PlayStation 4. The game's title means "oni cutter", reflective of the player characters' background as an Oni; the title can also be taken as a pun on onigiri, the Japanese rice ball.

Plot

The game is set in a fantasy version of ancient Japan that is filled with creatures of myth. Ages ago the terrible Kamikui wreaked trail of death and destruction across the land before being stopped by the goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu Oomikami. The goddess places three great Seals that forced the Kamikui to retreat. Now one of the Seals has shattered.[4]

The player character is an Oni whose peaceful life in the Western island of Onigashima is disturbed by the revival of the Kamikui.[5]

Gameplay

The game has different servers for the PC, Xbox One, and PS4 versions but the gameplay is the same for all versions.

Unlike most other MMORPGs that have different races or classes, in Onigiri players can only play as Oni and choosing a class involves picking a favored weapon to specialize in. When creating a character, players choose one of five traits that will determine which weapons they can use. The traits are Power (Axe, Oodachi, Spear, and Sword), Defensive (Spear and Staff), Kind (Staff and Wand), Daring (Axe, Oodachi, Dual Swords, Bow, and Sword), and Cautious (Dual Swords, Bow and Wand). Characters level up five basic stats: Power, Vitality, Wisdom, Mind and Dexterity. [6]

Partner System

In Onigiri players have eight NPC partners that each have distinct personalities and abilities.[7] which can be improved as they gain more affection for the player. Affection levels can be raised by giving the companions gifts that they prefer.[8]

Characters

Shizuka Gozen (静御前)
Voiced by: Aina Suzuki (anime), Mari Kirimura (game)
Birthday: April 8th/Blood Type: O/Height: 158 cm/B85-W58-H83
Good Points: Strong/Bad Points: Stubborn
A princess of the shogunate who has a large mansion in Edo. She runs away from home because of the strict discipline she has to undergo as a princess since she was little. She uses bow and arrow as weapon.
Her catchphrase is "I'm sure this is also the influence of Kamikui!" (きっとこれも神喰いの影響だよ！ Kitto kore mo Kamikui no eikyou da yo!)
Yoshitsune (義経)
Voiced by: Eriko Matsui (anime), Emi Ito (game)
Birthday: September 18th/Blood Type: A/Height: 156 cm/B77-W55-H79
A steady girl who is strict to others, but even stricter to herself. Though, she likes to spoil Shizuka Gozen. A person who is given responsibility by Bakufu to suppress evil spirits. She is a relative of Shizuka. If it doesn't involve Shizuka Gozen, she is a person with common sense, but when something involves Shizuka Gozen, she becomes irrational. She acts cute when drunk, which Kijimuna points out even cuter than Veronica. She uses a katana as weapon.
Ibaraki doji (茨木童子 Ibaraki Dōji)
Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori (anime), Manami Honda (game)
Birthday: February 3rd/Blood Type: B/Height: 177 cm/B98-W62-H91
The daughter of the Oni who runs Nagare tavern. She drinks sake thrice as much as she eats rice. Her favourite is matatabi sake. She has a cheerful personality, and she loves to do foolish things with her friends. Even though she runs an alcohol bar, she is always drunk (as pointed out by Shizuka Gozen). Her weapon of choice is an axe.
Kaguya (かぐや)
Voiced by: Izumi Kitta (anime), Mayumi Noda (game)
Birthday: August 15th/Blood Type: AB/Height: 160 cm/B90-W57-H80
A weird girl whose deeds and words can't be understood. What does she thinks or where does she comes from is also not known. Her hobbies include surfing internet and reading "large-electron tile block print" (electronic newspaper). In her free time, she can be found posting a fresh thread or being a troll. She wears an eyepatch, and suffers from chuunibyou. She uses a staff as weapon.
Amaterasu (あまてらす)
Voiced by: Natsuko Hara (anime), Natsumi Hara (game)
Birthday: January 1st/Blood Type: A/Height: 142 cm/BXX-W52-HXX
She is formerly the sun goddess who sealed Kamikui in the past, Amaterasu Oomikami herself. When an incident of a large barrier gets destroyed occurred a few years ago, her form turns into a little girl. She feels good that she can conduct herself skillfully in her little girl form.
Veronica Vasilyevna Vonitsky (ヴェロニカ・ワシーリエヴナ・ヴォイニーツカヤ Veronika Vashīrievuna Voinītsukaya)
Voiced by: Yuki Nakashima
A boy. He used the power of Kamikui to be like a girl (at least in appearance) to take part in "Her Party". He is the so-called "male daughter". His physical ability is low, but in exchange, he is clever, a genius scientist. He always stand in the way of Shizuka Gozen's party with his dubious invention. His name is always should be read in full. She hates anyone who is cuter than her.
Uzume (うずめ)
Voiced by: Monya Nakane from STARMARIE
"Her Party"'s symbolic goddess. She is a real goddess. Even though she is a good-hearted goddess with twisted personality, she hates the unnatural existence=male daughter=Veronica Vasilyevna Vonitsky. Firstly seeming to hate Shizuka Gozen, she falls in love with her after an incident where both of them are drunk.
Kijimuna (キジムナー)
Voiced by: Nozomi Kishita from STARMARIE
Seems to be a Yōkai who originally is a tree brimming with curiosity. It can die by not saying Veronica Vasilyevna Vonitsky's name properly. Alongside Uzume and Veronica, they secretly is on a journey to get the shogun's hidden treasure. It has a habit of saying "muna" at the end of its sentence.
It has a running gag where it would give experience and coins upon dying, in which the other characters take advantage of.
Sakura (さくら)
Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori
Birthday: December 12th/Blood Type: O/Height: 157 cm/B84-W55-H83
The descendant of an Oni who once lived in Onigashima, but are now separated from this world. Since now Onigashima is crowded with tourist, she lives her daily life just by training herself. Along with fellow Oni descendants Jin and Shizuka Gozen, she travels to destroy the Kamikuis.
Jin (ジン), stylized as Zin in the anime
Birthday: December 18th/Blood Type: AB/Height: 174 cm
The only male in Shizuka Gozen's party, he is with Sakura when they get separated. Since Onigiri only has female voices, his dialogue is always written ADV-style, like in Visual Novels.
Narrator
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi
The narrator of the story, who provides the background story of each episode, and mostly act as the tsukkomi to Shizuka Gozen's party.
His catchphrase is "This is the story of the Kamikui who brings disaster to this world, and the brave girls who fight them!" (これはこの世に災厄をもたらす神喰いと戦う少女たちの物語! Kore wa kono yo ni saiyaku o motarasu Kamikui to tatakau shōjo-tachi no monogatari!)
Miroku
Voiced by: Motoshi Kuwahara
Uses a spear. Appears only in the game and related promotional materials.
His catchphrase is "With you around, it's like having my own army! Let's see if we can put that power to use."
Momotarou
Voiced by: Tomonori Otsuka
Uses a pair of katana. He is often hungry. Appears only in the game and related promotional materials.
His catchphrase is "I'll bury every Oni I see. That includes you. "
Susanoo
Voiced by: Shogo Nishihara
Amaterasu's brother. Uses a large sword shaped like flames. Appears only in the game and related promotional materials.
His catchphrase is "Come with me. I'll put that power of yours to good use!"

Reception

Onigiri has garnered a number of favorable reviews. Bradly Storm of Hardcore Gamer felt that it was "a fairly competent and enjoyable hack-and-slash experience" even though the launch suffered from server-side latency issues.[9] Reviewer Angelique Stokes praised the game's combat and wrote that the game was "bursting with personality."[10] Sheattack's Charnelle Schindel found the plot "lackluster" but overall she felt Onigiri was generally "great fun to play."[11] Crunchyroll called it "a very solid title."[12]

Other Media

Anime

A television anime adaptation of the game was announced by CyberStep on January 27, 2016 and is currently in production. It will begin airing on April 7, 2016 on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji.[13] Pierrot+ is producing the anime, with Takashi Yamamoto directing the series, Takamitsu Kouno handling series composition, Takashi Aoshima and Atsushi Oka writing the scripts. Yukiko Ibe is designing the characters and is the series' chief animation director.[14]

Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series for North America.[15]

The opening theme is "Hime wa Rankiryuu☆Goikkou-sama" (姫は乱気流☆御一行様, The Princess is Turbulence☆Her Party) by STARMARIE.

Episode list

No. Title Original air date
1 "The Curtain Raises on Onigiri"
"Onikiri kaimaku" (鬼斬開幕) 		April 7, 2016
While arguing about who will deliver the final blow, Shizuka Gozen and party get attacked and are scattered. Yoshitsune and Shizuka arrives at Satsuma, where they fight a group of Kamikuis. While eradicating Kamikui, Shizuka attempts on using secret weapon, which is detected as a faulty tool, which makes their account suspended for a week. 
2 "Pandora's Box!"
"Mōryōbakko" (魍魎跋扈) 		April 14, 2016
Shizuka Gozen and Yoshitsune arrives at Chikuho, where they meet Ibaraki Douji. They end up helping a girl on making Pi-yoko by hunting Kamikui. Ibaraki's attempt on using a secret weapon once again resulted in their account suspended for another week. 
3 "Burning Hakata"
"Hakata enjō" (博多炎上) 		April 21, 2016
Master Kamikui Mephistopheles appears, and is heading towards Hakata. Amaterasu tries to fend it off alone, while Shizuka, Yoshitsune and Ibaraki are enjoying themselves somewhere. It turns out Mephistopheles is just a maiden insecure about her height (1,870 meters). Out of jealousy, Mephistopheles attacks Kannaru City Hakata, a popular spot for dates. 
4 "Behind the Scenes"
"Anchūhiyaku" (暗中飛躍) 		April 28, 2016
Shizuka Gozen, Yoshitsune and Ibaraki arrives at Nagato, where Shizuka and Yoshitsune gets poisoned by eating blowfish. In Akiyoshi cave, Uzume, Veronica Vasilyevna Voynitsky and Kijimuna introduce themselves, before succumb into the same blowfish poison. 
5 "Marital Vows"
"Hiyokurenri" (比翼連理) 		May 5, 2016
Separated from Shizuka and others, Sakura and Jin fight the Kamikuis at Oki. Sakura then reminisce on the romantic comedy story of how she and Jin met and start hunting Kamikui, in which the narrator points out it has nothing to do with Kamikui at all. Shizuka Gozen at Yoshitsune pray so that they will meet Sakura and Jin soon. 
6 "Lottery First Prize"
"Ichiban tomikuji" (一番富籤) 		May 12, 2016
Shizuka Gozen, Yoshitsune and Ibaraki goes to Tottori to look for Kaguya, who is still trying to hit the lottery for a rare prize from a 10-times rare prize campaign. Shizuka wants to do the lottery to, and pulls out a Super Rare Special Lorelei's Holy Staff on the first try, to Kaguya's dismay. She throws it away a few seconds later due to a misunderstanding, which sparks a new story, Legend of the Holy Girl Who Conquered the Devils (not related to Onigiri at all). Kaguya tries the lottery many times, but gets Creepy Lucky Charms each time. 
7 "Dreaming a Life Away"
"Suiseimushi" (酔生夢死) 		May 19, 2016
Shizuka Gozen and party arrives at Onigashima to fight Satan, who is not there at all, so they spend their time drinking in Ibaraki's stall, alongside Uzume, Kijimuna and Veronica. Being drunk, love sparks between Uzume and Shizuka. 
8 "A Transient Dream"
"Utakata no yume" (泡沫之夢) 		May 26, 2016
While fighting Mud Boat Tanuki, Shizuka Gozen and party got cursed, and they turn into Super Deformed characters. At Tosa, they meet Shako Kamie, a producer of God Smile Company, who scouts them to become idol unit named Onigiri5. 2 years later, they perform a concert at Ten Teratron, where they sing Hime wa Rankiryuu☆Goikkou-sama. 
9 "The Pain of Separation"
"Aibetsuriku" (愛別離苦) 		June 2, 2016
Two gargoyle sisters Gako and Gagomi lives happily at Mountain of Shikoku, before they are attacked by a group of Kamikui killers. In an attempt to save her elder sister, Gagomi sacrifices herself as she push Gako into the river. Shizuka Gozen and party found Gako in Yoshino River and saves her, though she suffers amnesia. When she eats udon given by Ibaraki, tears run down her cheek, though she is yet to know why. 
10 "Illusions of Dreams"
"Mugenhōyō" (夢幻泡影) 		June 9, 2016
At Setsu, Shizuka and Gako acts like sisters, as Yoshitsune and Uzume engulf in jealousy. Shizuka and Gako collect stamps together to have a luxury dinner, as Gako gets Déjà vu more and more. After being attacked by a Kamikui brought by Uzume (which Shizuka effortlessly kill), Gako gets her memory back, as she introduces herself as Gako the Gargoyle, a Kamikui, and instantly harbor negative feelings for Shizuka, since she is a human, and her sister was killed by a human. 
11 "Battle of the Strongest"
"Ryūtōkosō" (竜闘虎争) 		June 16, 2016
Shizuka Gozen fights Gako in order to remind her that she is her friend, and tells her that human and Kamikui can coexist. Their fight is interrupted when a super massive Kamikui from outer space appears. Hearing that it would destroy Sanuki, Gako decides to fight the Kamikui to protect her memories with her sister, despite both of them being Kamikuis. Shizuka and party helps her, and in order to destroy the massive Kamikui, Gako uses all of her energy, sacrificing herself. In the epilogue, it is shown Gako in a white one-piece dress alongside her sister standing at a wheat field, smiling. 
12 "In High Spirits"
"Kienbanjō" (気焔万丈) 		June 23, 2016
Shizuka Gozen and party fights (Mecha) Mephistopheles, who wrecks havoc at Kyoto, with a Super Armor Human-form Robot, Benkei, which runs on mysterious energy called "SA-Kg Energy" (which actually just artists drawing the animation frame, portrayed by Onigiri characters Momotarou, Susanoo and Miroku). 
13 "Onigiri Final"
"Onikiri heimaku" (鬼斬閉幕) 		June 30, 2016
Shizuka Gozen and party are asked to reflect on themselves by System Representative (システム代表 Shisutemu Daihyō), while playing penalty game. Uzume, Veronica and Kijimuna (now returns to her original form after her life count becomes 0) brings a lot of Kamikui and beat Jin and Sakura. Before they deliver the final blow, Sakura and party appears. Both sides are now begins to engage on a fight, as the story continues (not). 

References

  1. ↑ "Made in Japan" MMORG Onigiri Released for Alpha Testing". Animenewsnetwork. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "MMORPG "ONIGIRI" OFFICIAL SERVICE DATE ANNOUNCED FOR JULY 1st". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Onigiri Facebook Page Announcement". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Onigiri - Official Website, World and Story". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Onigiri - Official Website, Characters". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Onigiri Online Hands-On - A Taste of Ancient Japan". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Action-packed MMORPG Onigiri Online Released New Screenshots". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Onigiri Official Website Partner System". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Storm, Bradly. "English Version of Onigiri Out Now on Xbox One, on PS4 Next Week". Hardcoregamer. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Stokes, Angelique. "Onigiri Review (Xbox One)". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Schindel, Charnelle. "Onigiri Review: A Japanese MMORPG Headed West". Sheattack. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "FEATURE: "Onigiri" Review". Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Onigiri Fantasy MMORPG Gets TV Anime in April". Anime News Network. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Onigiri Fantasy Anime Announces Main Staff, April Premiere Date". Anime News Network. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  15. ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Onigiri Anime (Updated)". Anime News Network. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.

External links

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