What Makes OMORI Really Good?

When it comes to games, especially those RPG games with heavy psychological horror themes- there are a lot of types which players can explore and enjoy. But among all those games, one that is quite unique in its representation of what a horror game is the 2020 psychological horror RPG Maker, OMORI. 

OMORI itself was developed by OMOCAT and team over the course of six and a half years after delays on its release since its Kickstarter fundraising and initial Nintendo 3DS release in 2014 and 2015. It was first released in English in December 2020, before more upgrades were released. Now, the game itself is available in Japanese, English, Korean, and simplified Chinese. Much awaited, the game offers the player an amazing experience with its immersive soundtrack and stylized art that makes the game iconic. But other factors that reviewers have praised for, is of course, the storyline and underlying message. 

OMORI tells the story of a boy named Sunny, and his childhood friends that diverged away from each other after an accident that changed their lives forever, and how each of the friend groups learn how to navigate their fears, past, and present. It touches many subjects such as depression, anxiety, suicide, grief, and loss, all intertwined within the gameplay and its characters. From Kel and Hero who seemingly have moved on, Aubrey who has become more rebellious, Basil that is more anxious and fidgety, and Sunny who shut himself away- using his imagination as a way to escape the truth that haunts him. 

What is quite wonderful about this game is the way it handles and presents the characters' struggles despite the sensitive topics it brings. It doesn't immediately bring the topic straight away, though- the game introduces it slowly as the player shifts between the white space, the colorful world, and the truth in which they live. Through little hints and changes in the game, we learn the headspace of Sunny and how OMORI came to be. And eventually, through that we get to know of Sunny's older sister Mari and how exactly she died. 

 Depending on what route you want to get, either the hikikomori route, bad ending, or the true ending, all routes resonate well with the story and it just makes sense. It touches on the possibilities of redemption, repressed feelings, and entertains the idea of reconciliation after a traumatic experience that Sunny and his friends certainly experienced. And more importantly, whatever endings you might choose, as the game described it: the memories don't go away. It is simply just up to us, whether to confront the feelings and the past or to hide from it. Be it for everyone, or simply for ourselves. 

There are a lot of things to take away from this game, and for all the good and bad things in this game that game reviewers have expressed, playing OMORI is definitely worth it and such an enthralling experience for all who enjoys immersive gameplay with a simple yet touching storytelling. 

Sources: 

Fukunaga, J. (2021, January 12). 'Omori' is the horror RPG of your dreams (or nightmares). Wired. Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://www.wired.com/story/omori-rpg-review/ 

Mari/dialogue. OMORI Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://omori.fandom.com/wiki/MARI/DIALOGUE 

Omori (game). OMORI Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://omori.fandom.com/wiki/OMORI_(GAME) 

Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, July 1). Omori (video game). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omori_(video_game)