Big-budget production games don’t all the time offer the spookiest adventure. I’d even contend that the lowest-quality horror games are the very best. Consider the 2004 freeware survival horror game Ao Oni. Due to rampant playthroughs and live streaming on the time, it became quite a world gaming sensation. And now, the series is making a comeback.
So far, the trailer stays true to the unique game. From the gameplay to the graphics, it seems the brand new game goals to evoke nostalgia somewhat than to make significant leaps in innovation. In any case, you’ll be able to expect an identical fun experience as before, taking within the hilarious exchanges between Takuro, Mika, Takeshi, and Hiroshi.
As the discharge date draws closer, we’ve compiled every thing we could find about Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen below.
What’s Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen?
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen is an upcoming puzzle-solving horror action-adventure game. The unique Ao Oni was released in 2004. Nonetheless, it was later ported to Nintendo Switch and Steam on July 26, 2024. While Ao Oni was an interesting game that quickly became a web sensation, Game Studio guarantees to deliver a “completely new edition” of it.
Based on Steam’s description, you’ll be chased by “fear,” which is actually blue demon variations from Ao Oni. The goal will likely be to navigate the various rooms of a haunted constructing on the lookout for an escape. There’ll be puzzles to resolve in addition to dark mysteries to uncover to flee the monsters hot in your tail.
Story
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen will happen in a Hot Spring Inn called Blueberry Onsen. The constructing was once popular for having hot springs that may enhance beauty. Nonetheless, a rumor began to spread about its halls being haunted. Since then, the constructing has been abandoned.
This sparks intrigue among the many Hiroshi, Mika, Takeshi, and Takuro solid. They resolve to explore the constructing and record their findings via Mika Channel. Nonetheless, their expedition is soon cut short after they meet Ai from the unique game in addition to a mysterious man who gets of their way.
A dark mystery awaits the most important characters somewhere contained in the constructing, and it’s as much as you to find what it’s. It seems Ai’s presence on the Inn will likely be a component of the mystery you’ll must uncover. Ai is the protagonist of the unique Ao Oni. However the over-arching mystery will likely be checking out what lies within the Blueberry Hot Spring contained in the Inn. On the entire, you’ll must guide Hiroshi and the opposite characters to their escape.
Gameplay
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen is a puzzle horror action-adventure game. For essentially the most part, the gameplay appears to be the identical as the unique Ao Oni game. Nonetheless, Steam’s description affirms that the brand new game will bring “many recent systems.” As an example, you’ll unravel the story through conversations between the characters. There’ll even be co-op play with friends in addition to a chat function.
Moreover, you’ll be able to stay up for plenty of recent monster sorts of the blue demon species from the unique Ao Oni game. There’ll even be a monster that appears like a humanoid dog.
Meanwhile, you’ll give you the option to play the sport in High-Speed mode. This will range between fast-forwarding 2x or 16x the traditional pace. It’ll doubtlessly increase the problem of escaping the Ao Oni creatures chasing after you at such high speeds. But in addition add more chaos and fun.
The brand new game will add a web based rating feature. It will rank your high scores against those of other online players each time you complete a game. Your rating will likely be calculated based on how briskly you’ll be able to beat a game without making mistakes. Given the motivation to beat your individual rating and that of other players, Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen will potentially be highly replayable.
Overall, you’ll be able to stay up for a terrifying survival horror experience of escaping the Oni and uncovering dark mysteries. You’ll solve difficult puzzles via retro-style visuals that enhance the sport’s dark, eerie atmosphere.
Development
LiTMUS, in collaboration with Game Studio, is working on Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen. Each LiTMUS and Game Studio operate from Tokyo. Game Studio describes itself as a “dynamic and revolutionary” development team that “creates fascinating and immersive gaming experiences for players world wide.” They’ve developed multiple cutting-edge multiplayer games using the Unity engine.
As LiTMUS and Game Studio proceed working on the upcoming game, you’ll be able to keep yourself within the loop by playing the Ao Oni version on the Crunchyroll Game Vault app. It includes a haunted mansion where you are attempting to flee relentless Oni monsters in a bone-chilling survival horror adventure. You’ll solve puzzles, uncover mysteries, and survive in a terrifying but thrilling retro-style gameplay system that mimics the upcoming game to a T.
Trailer
For a greater picture of the story and gameplay to expect, you’ll be able to try Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen’s trailer within the video embedded above. Based on the gameplay, it appears the brand new game won’t be changing much from 2024’s Ao Oni Nintendo Switch and Steam port. In truth, you may argue the gameplay from the port and the upcoming game are nearly similar.
You’ll still be exploring a haunted constructing, solving puzzles while unraveling an attractive story. From the trailer, you’ll be able to see each old and recent characters. Probably the most unforgettable antagonist is Fuwatty, who’s a lightweight blue, rectangular-shaped monster with stubby legs and arms from the unique Ao Oni game. Besides Fuwatty, there’ll be more variations of old monsters in addition to recent enemies, including a dog-like species.
Release Date, Platforms, & Editions
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen will launch sometime in Spring 2025. Further, you’ll be able to expect the sport on Nintendo Switch and PC platforms via Steam, where you’ll be able to add it to your wishlist. Information on editions, if any, is unconfirmed right now. Be at liberty, though, to maintain track of any updates via the official social handle here.
