Ao Oni
2008 Japanese role-playing horror game

Ao Oni
Title screen
青鬼
Video game
Developernoprops
EngineRPG Maker XP
PlatformMicrosoft Windows
ReleasedNovember 2008

Ao Oni (青鬼; lit. 'Blue Demon') is a freeware horror game developed by noprops.[1] It was first released in Japan in November 2008.[not in body]

It gained a cult following in Japan due to livestreams and playthroughs. Ao Oni was later adapted into a variety of media, including two feature-length movies, a series of light novels, and a manga. A remaster was released on Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2024.[2][not in body]

Gameplay

The eponymous demon, who is the antagonist of Ao Oni

The player controls Hiroshi as he explores the locked mansion, gathering items and solving puzzles in order to escape.[3] The creature (the Ao Oni) will begin to chase the player at both random[4] and scripted moments, similar to the Nemesis in Resident Evil 3. This forces the player to evade the Oni by either outrunning him or hiding from him, since Hiroshi is unable to fight back against him.[5]

Plot

A boy named Hiroshi, alongside his classmates (Takuro, Takeshi, and Mika), investigates a deserted mansion at the edge of town that is rumored to be haunted. They discover Ao Oni, a mysterious creature who pursues the group. Ao Oni will give chase until the player outruns him. If one of Hiroshi's classmates dies within the mansion, they are transformed into an oni. Hiroshi proceeds to explore the mansion, solving puzzles and evading the Oni as he tries to find a way to escape while saving the lives of his friends. In the end, Hiroshi and the other survivors get out, but never find what the Ao Oni was or what really happened in the mansion, with their lost friends remaining missing ever since.

Reception

Cultural impact

Ao Oni gained a cult following online in Japan, gaining notoriety through websites such as Niconico and YouTube where Ao Oni-related videos exceeded 50 million views by 2013.[6] The popularity of Ao Oni revolves around the effectiveness of its horror aspects despite being a simple game, with the background music cited as a key contributor to the chilling atmosphere used to incite fear.[1]

Adaptations

Ao Oni was adapted into a variety of media, including novels, two live-action film, anime and manga.

References

  1. ^ a b "Horāgēmu 'Ao Oni' Kōshiki Noberu no PV ga YouTube to Niconico Dōga de Kōkai ni" ホラーゲーム「青鬼」公式ノベルのPVがYouTubeとニコニコ動画で公開に [Horror Game "Ao Oni" Official Novel PV Released on YouTube and Niconico]. 4Gamer (in Japanese). Aetas. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  2. ^ "7月26日（金）に『青鬼』Nintendo Switch™/Steam®版が発売決定！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES (in Japanese). 5 July 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  3. ^ Mateo, Alex (10 December 2020). "New Ao Oni Game Launches for iOS, Android in December". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. ^ Vas, Gergo (24 April 2014). "Cult Horror Game Is Getting A Live-Action Film". Kotaku Australia. Pedestrian Group. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  5. ^ Dgrixti, D. Robert (22 July 2012). "Ao Oni [Review]". Dark Gaia Studios. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ^ Sakurai, Akihiro (8 April 2024). "Legendary Japanese horror game Ao Oni gets first-person 3D reboot on Steam". Automaton Media. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  • Game official website at noprops (in Japanese)
  • Light novel official website (in Japanese)
  • Anime official website (in Japanese)

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