"At that time...
Even though what we needed the most was each other's company, everyone chose to go their separate ways.
This time... we can't make the same mistake again."
- The Hero
:::danger Spoiler Warning
This article may contain spoilers for the main plot or important plot points of OMORI.
:::
Long time no see.
A few days ago, I relying on my own abilities stumbled upon the video below on Bilibili, and that's how I discovered the game OMORI.
Before purchasing it, I went to places like the Moe Girl Encyclopedia to look up information about the protagonist, and guess what I found?
I got addicted
Back to the point. This game has many aspects that attracted me, such as:
- Psychological horror
- I have always been limited to a few monotonous games and have hardly tried new ones. (Although there are also reasons related to computer specifications)
- Pixel art style
- Although I don't play Undertale, comparing OMORI and Undertale reveals some similarities between them.
(That's all I noticed at first glance)
For me, OMORI has a perfect rendering of game scenes. Almost every scene and battle has its own music. Even when you're fighting the Crocodile Man, the music can instantly make you feel elegant.
The battle mechanics are turn-based, which I am familiar with, but with the unique emotion system, different emotions have different effects on the characters.
The art style is very unique, combining pixel art and hand-drawn styles to create a warm and eerie atmosphere. There are many details and easter eggs in the game, allowing players to constantly discover new things. The music in the game is also outstanding, with contributions from various musicians including Toby Fox, slime girls, Bo en, and more. The game features many touching melodies and intense battle music, allowing players to experience different emotions and atmospheres.
I spent over 30 hours to achieve the Happy Ending and an additional cutscene. (Sunny and Basil smiled at each other, and "that thing" disappeared forever)
During these thirty-plus hours, I witnessed the difficulties that OMORI and his friends faced while searching for Basil in their mindscape. I also felt the shadow that seemed to never fade away in the hearts of Sunny, Basil, and everyone else in the real world, as well as the loneliness Sunny felt during the four years of seclusion.
The scene where Sunny enters the white space and faces OMORI with a knife is extremely oppressive, and the longer the battle lasts, the more oppressive the scene and music become.
"OMORI will not yield."
In the final battle, Sunny's guilt is fully revealed through OMORI's attacks on him. OMORI constantly reminds Sunny of what he did to Mari and that he doesn't deserve forgiveness, ultimately defeating him.
However, if you choose to continue in the unique GAME OVER screen that appears at this moment, Sunny will stand up again, regain his fighting spirit, and prepare to play his violin. He will perform a duet with Mari, reminiscing about the wonderful times they spent together with their other friends.
After waking up in the hospital, he starts crying, with his right eye covered by a bandage from being stabbed by Basil's gardening shears earlier. He leaves his hospital room and sees his friends and strangers in the version of his mindscape, following a stranger to Basil's room. After entering the room, facing his friends, he finally decides to tell them the truth behind Mari's death.
Since I don't have much time to explore other endings, I plan to witness them through watching playthroughs.
In conclusion, OMORI is worth playing for anyone who loves games and stories.
"You can forgive yourself... right... Sunny?"
- Mari