Oni

"A sublime mix of hand-to-hand combat and gunplay, coupled with a great story."

I have always been a fan of Bungie, from the Marathon and Myth days to right now and Halo. I was expecting much from Oni, and it certainly delivered.

Graphics

Yes, the graphics are dated (this is an old game), but they all work well, and the detail in the faces stands out well. All of the graphics are functional, and I never had any clipping or slowdown problems.

Gameplay

Ah, the cream of the crop. The gameplay is unmatched in a hand-to-hand combat game, and the addition of many weapons make it that much more fun. Although the game is not heavy on the puzzles, it can at times be challenging and inspire you, the gamer, to think of how to solve a particular problem. The great moves you can perform, and the varied levels make this an even better game.

Story

While trying to not give anything away, I can safely say that this is one of the best plots in a game I have ever played. In keeping with stellar Bungie storylines, it grips you and doesn't let you leave. You begin feeling rage at the bad guys, and are relieved at certain places. You are in the game with this story.

Music

While there isn't much of it, the music certainly sets the tone for this game. Whether it's the ''stealth music'', or the ''fighting music'', they all fit the game perfectly.

Controls

Although I have heard people disliking the controls, they all loved them once they had gotten used to them. Myself, I loved them from the start, and I think the game is that much better for them.

Sound Effects

The sound effects are great and match all their real life counterparts. It is not merely the weapons either, every punch, kick, and throw of your enemies sounds realistic. The weapons themselves are even better, with the solid *bang* of the handgun and the constant shots of the Uzi, not to mention the firing of the rifles, rocket launchers, and sniper rifle. All of the sounds fit great with the game, and it makes it that much more believable.

Final Score: A perfect 10. I can think of no more fitting score than a 10 for this wonderful game. You can find it for extremely cheap at your local games store (I saw it for $5), and there is also a PS2 version, although I have never played it myself. The bottom line: If you do not have this game, get it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/04