This review contains spoilers
Omori is a highly acclaimed indie RPG that, unfortunately, doesn't live up to the reputation I was expecting. While it undoubtedly possesses uniqueness and has its artistic charms, the game's shortcomings outweigh its strengths, making it somewhat disappointing to play through.
The quirky nature of this indie RPG is evidently influenced by Earthbound, but it falls flat by not fully grasping what made Earthbound so great to begin with. Earthbound is known for its humor and its parody of American culture. While Omori attempts similar funny moments, it often feels like a mere imitation of what Earthbound achieved. The game struggles to escape its identity as a quirky Earthbound-like RPG, which might not be a drawback for some, but it feels like it could have taken more steps to distinguish itself from that title.
The game is divided into two distinct sections: the real-world segments and the dream world segments. While I was initially invested in the dream world segments, as they are where the game begins, once you finally transition to the first real-world segment, you find yourself losing interest in the dream world segments. Knowing that the dream world is entirely imaginary and a construct of Sunny's mind, I struggled to feel invested in its plot. The fact that I know none of this is real and that none of these stories matter in the grand arching plot, makes me not care to be invested in whatever dream-world plot is currently happening like with space boyfriend or the casino. The two segments don't connect until the very end when you unravel the mystery of Sunny's depression. Otherwise, the dream world feels entirely disconnected from the main plot and becomes a slog to go through.
However, the real-world segments are where this game truly shines. The story of Sunny and his friends is genuinely heartbreaking and kept me engaged. The entire cast shines in this moment between the interactions of Kel, Basil, Sunny, Hero, and of course Aubrey. It's a shame that it's often interrupted by the dream world segments, which made me dislike them even more. If the entire game took place in the real world, it would have likely resulted in a stronger experience.
Combat is somewhat interesting. It employs classic turn-based combat reminiscent of Earthbound, which I can appreciate. However, the major problem is that the "emotion" system feels superficial. There isn't enough time spent in the dream world to fully utilize this system, and it's entirely absent from the real-world segments. This makes it challenging to engage with combat, and it became a chore during the later stages of the game. I even started skipping fights just to progress through the game.
In conclusion, Omori is a game that had the potential to be a standout indie RPG but ultimately falls short of its promise. While it boasts unique artistic charms and attempts to capture the quirky spirit of Earthbound, it often comes across as a mere imitation rather than a distinct creation. The potential is there, as seen with the excellent narrative, just never fully realized
The quirky nature of this indie RPG is evidently influenced by Earthbound, but it falls flat by not fully grasping what made Earthbound so great to begin with. Earthbound is known for its humor and its parody of American culture. While Omori attempts similar funny moments, it often feels like a mere imitation of what Earthbound achieved. The game struggles to escape its identity as a quirky Earthbound-like RPG, which might not be a drawback for some, but it feels like it could have taken more steps to distinguish itself from that title.
The game is divided into two distinct sections: the real-world segments and the dream world segments. While I was initially invested in the dream world segments, as they are where the game begins, once you finally transition to the first real-world segment, you find yourself losing interest in the dream world segments. Knowing that the dream world is entirely imaginary and a construct of Sunny's mind, I struggled to feel invested in its plot. The fact that I know none of this is real and that none of these stories matter in the grand arching plot, makes me not care to be invested in whatever dream-world plot is currently happening like with space boyfriend or the casino. The two segments don't connect until the very end when you unravel the mystery of Sunny's depression. Otherwise, the dream world feels entirely disconnected from the main plot and becomes a slog to go through.
However, the real-world segments are where this game truly shines. The story of Sunny and his friends is genuinely heartbreaking and kept me engaged. The entire cast shines in this moment between the interactions of Kel, Basil, Sunny, Hero, and of course Aubrey. It's a shame that it's often interrupted by the dream world segments, which made me dislike them even more. If the entire game took place in the real world, it would have likely resulted in a stronger experience.
Combat is somewhat interesting. It employs classic turn-based combat reminiscent of Earthbound, which I can appreciate. However, the major problem is that the "emotion" system feels superficial. There isn't enough time spent in the dream world to fully utilize this system, and it's entirely absent from the real-world segments. This makes it challenging to engage with combat, and it became a chore during the later stages of the game. I even started skipping fights just to progress through the game.
In conclusion, Omori is a game that had the potential to be a standout indie RPG but ultimately falls short of its promise. While it boasts unique artistic charms and attempts to capture the quirky spirit of Earthbound, it often comes across as a mere imitation rather than a distinct creation. The potential is there, as seen with the excellent narrative, just never fully realized