Omensight (2018)

Much like its spiritual predecessor Stories: The Path of Destinies, Omensight is another game checked off my bucket list.

My interest piqued when I first discovered Omensight on the Steam store, which I would describe as an hack n' slash RPG with a murder mystery plot. As the harbinger, I get summoned in the middle of an ongoing conflict between the animal factions, only for it to get caught in an apocalyptic eruption across the realm. Following this thrilling event, I take upon my god-given mission to collect the clues behind the murder of an important priestess, which precedes the coming of an evil spirit that would destroy the world. The whole premise is set upon the day before the world's end and I can choose the key character to assist, intending on unlocking new answers and access to new plot points through different means I discover. The result of this is a refreshing experience that makes me want to come back and try new routes for progress' sake. Since the Stories game, the skip function is a big time-saver when I can jump directly to a pivotal event in a played-through scenario, considerably reducing the grind that plagued its predecessor.

Granted for the murder mystery plot, the major characters have a nuanced background with secrets waiting to unfold, be it by lore or the current events. Some clichés are to be expected, although learning more about different character's motives and relationship between one another helps make them more memorable. I really appreciate the fact that each character have their own voice actors as the current feature, compared to Stories.

The combat system is easy to get into but there's also some depth added in by special powers like time-freeze field and psychic grabbing. Even certain environments and escort battles calls for tactical approach in battle; I can recall losing and retrying several times due to my carelessness. Enemies' numbers did put pressure on my skills and priorities. The difficulty rises with each chapter but in contrast, the experience points I gathered helped unlock new abilities and skills for me to negotiate the battles with some ease. The combat is simple but tactful approach will come a long way.

Without spoiling the game, I can say that the ending you get at first might leave a bittersweet taste in your mouth, for better or worse. But exploring gamers can rejoice in the fact that there is a another ending waiting to be unlocked when you've gathered the rest of clues, which were non-essential for the headline plot. While the dodgy, self-moving camera and some melodramatic antics of the characters might rear a few ugly heads, Omensight is worth playing for the possibility to participate and influence the story events, in a Groundhog Day movie fashion.

Song for the mood: Doomsday by Globus (Soundtrack/cinematic rock)

I finished Omensight a few days after release, but I haven't posted anything here. The spiritual followup to Stories: The Path of Destinies, Omensight again plays with game temporality and narrative repetition that opens up new branches in the story. I enjoyed Omensight. There were aspects that I enjoyed more than Stories, and others that were not quite up to par. The story was more intriguing, with clever mystery built upon a very simple set of events that take place over three days. I found the characters more compelling, with interesting back stories accompanied by engaging revelations as the mystery unfolds. The combat is fun, but I think I enjoyed the combat in Stories a bit more. One of Omensight's issues is the camera. For most of the game it presents little problem, the semi-fixed nature doesn't hinder progression. But there is one area, in one stage where the camera is infuriating, and the fact that the camera pans away from the action even more so. The reason is that the moment the camera pans away, you can no longer see the action, but enemies can still hit you. It is brief, but it happens three times during this section of the level, and you repeat the level several times with the difficulty ramping up each time. Furthermore, the section of the game is particularly hectic, especially on the hardest setting. On several occasions I died while the camera had panned away from my character on cue, or I took enough hits (it doesn't take much on the hardest setting) that I could not make it through the multiple waves of enemies and the two subsequent cues during which the camera again pans away. I think it is a glitch in he game code, I don't imagine Spearhead intended this and hopefully it is patched. It was frustrating because I would transition from clearing whole stages in a single attempt (there is an XP bonus for this) to dying 5-10 times on this one level. It's an annoying little quirk in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable game.

Omensight is also the second new indie game from 2018 that I have played recently that relies on repeating a single day (the other is The Swords of Ditto). I haven't played Minit, but that game also relies on repetition, however only one minute at a time. It is an interesting mechanic that seems to have made it's way into a small handful of indies this year, and I wonder if there will be more. Is this the beginning of a tend for 2018? (Probably not, but it's fun to wonder).