Oni (v1.0)

A rain-soaked future of corporate towers, armed patrols, and locked-down laboratories gives this cult action thriller an unusually tense atmosphere. You play Konoko, a highly trained agent working for a technology-crimes unit as she tears through the criminal Syndicate’s operations. Her investigation quickly becomes personal, with fragmented memories and strange abilities raising doubts about who she is and whom she can trust. The tone feels like a playable late-’90s anime OVA: stylish, grim, occasionally strange, and more interested in momentum than lengthy exposition.

Konoko fights through compact missions using a mix of hand-to-hand combat, firearms, stealthy positioning, and environmental interaction. The close-quarters system is the star, letting her punch, kick, counter, throw enemies, and disarm opponents before turning their own weapons against them; ammunition is limited enough that relying solely on guns is rarely wise. Levels send you through warehouses, city streets, research facilities, and industrial complexes, usually with terminals to activate, doors to unlock, hostages to protect, or security systems to bypass between fights. Checkpoints and dated save design can make tougher encounters punishing, while enemy gunfire and awkward camera angles demand patience, quick reactions, and a willingness to learn each arena.

What makes Oni memorable is its commitment to blending brawler combat with third-person shooting long before that combination becomes standard. Its cel-shaded visual style, expressive animation, and techno-industrial setting still give it a personality that separates it from more realistic action games of its era, even if the presentation shows its age. The campaign is a focused single-player experience rather than an open-ended sandbox, and its appeal comes from mastering Konoko’s moveset and pushing through its increasingly hostile encounters. Fans of Max Payne’s era, Ghost in the Shell’s cyberpunk mood, or old-school action games that expect players to adapt will find plenty to appreciate, while newcomers should arrive ready for classic PC rough edges.