Oniken

PlayStation console exclusive

When a global war nearly decimates humanity, an evil military organization called Oniken takes advantage of the situation to dominate and oppress the remaining survivors. Even though any resistance to this organization seemed hopeless, a small rebel movement organizes strikes against Oniken. One day, a ninja mercenary named Zaku offers his services to the resistance for unknown reasons. His moves are lethal and now he is the resistance's only hope.

Released: 21 June 2012
Platforms: Linux PlayStation 4 Windows macOS
Genres: Arcade Indie Ninja Platformer
Developers: JoyMasher
Publishers: JoyMasher
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Science fiction
Engine: Clickteam Fusion

About

Oniken is a side-scrolling action platform video game developed and published by independent Brazilian studio Joymasher for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux. The game was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows on June 21, 2012, on OS X and Linux on November 20, 2012, and on Nintendo Switch on February 1, 2019, as Oniken: Unstoppable Edition. In August 2012, the developers have announced that the game was accepted on Steam Greenlight.

›Story

In a post-apocalyptic future where global war has nearly wiped out humanity, the survivors live under the iron rule of the Oniken, a merciless cybernetic army. A small resistance led by General Zhukov fights to hold the machines back but is steadily being overwhelmed. Desperate, Zhukov turns to Zaku, a legendary ninja mercenary with a mysterious past who is said to be the only one capable of stopping the Oniken, and Zaku agrees to join the fight against the robotic legion.

Keywords

cybernetics
retro
1980s
bloody
ninja
mech
2d
death
robots
steam
steam trading cards
revenge

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game has an 8-bit style and follows a classic slasher gameplay formula similar to Strider, Ninja Gaiden and Shatterhand.

The objective in the game is to get to the end of each level and beat the boss for the level. There are six levels in the game and an extra mission with an additional character in Contra gameplay style after you beat the game.

Story

Taking place in a post-apocalyptic future, human kind has nearly been completely destroyed by global war. Those few humans that have managed to survive are being oppressed by a cybernetic armada known as the Oniken. A small resistance led by General Zhukov attempt to defend against the Oniken but are ultimately overwhelmed by their forces. Zaku (a legendary ninja mercenary, with an unknown past) who is believed to be the only one capable of stopping the Oniken, is approached by Zhukov and asked to join the resistance movement against the robotic forces, to which Zaku obliges.

Development

Oniken was developed by the duo consisting of friends Danilo Dias (JoyMasher) and Pedro Paiva (then Arcaica, now Menos PlayStation) as a means for them to pay homage to their favorite games from the 8-bit era, such as Ninja Gaiden, Contra, Kabuki Quantum Fighter, Shadow of the Ninja and Vice: Project Doom. Zaku's character design was highly inspired by that of Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star fame.

Reception

Shortly after release, Oniken was included in the July Jubilee bundle, part of the series of bundles on Indie Royale, a Desura indie bundle service. It received a score of 7/10 on Destructoid. Multiplayer.it gave it 8.0/10.