REVIEW : Omno (PC)
Over the last decade, there has been a growth of a specific style of gaming adventure, centred mostly on environment and travel as an enrichment of the self. Several instances range from individuals who have achieved immense success to those who have fared less well. It is a form of the game that is not overly expensive in terms of economic resources, and as a result, it is quite popular in the independent scene. Typically, these are adventures with a highly styled protagonist who goes into a mysterious place once inhabited by a magnificent, now-forgotten civilization. The player’s objective is to guide the protagonist on a pilgrimage to a site or source of primal power, experiencing numerous challenges along the road and certain allies with whom only actions and gestures may be communicated. As a result, we discover a fundamental lack of communication, which gradually evolves into a relationship at its core, which sometimes proves to be more significant than the destination attained.
Omno, the debut work of Jonas Manke (aka StudioInkyfox), a former animator who opted to go solo and received backing from gamers via Kickstarter, is positioned perfectly on this trend.
From the opening seconds of the game, it is clear how much Omno pulls from previous products that have managed to leave their stamp in the minds of players in recent years (especially from the award-winning Journey and the more recent Sky).
The player’s role is to accompany the main character, an anthropomorphic being (armed with a magical cane), on a pilgrimage to the old and narratively mistreated “light,” concealed behind a portal at the world’s edge. First, we come across a small green creature that leads the player to various points of interest during the journey.
A much-appreciated element is an initial fear of flying, which gradually transforms into a mutual friendship relationship (this too already seen, but very well staged).
Omno is a derivative title that, if we’re honest, didn’t want to take too many chances with. Yet, despite its imitative nature, it manages to be distinct, highly personal, and instantly recognizable. Perhaps the title’s appeal is from its idea and realization compactness, which provides a highly calming and especially “affable” general harmony.
Gameplay between powers and creatures
Omno is mostly a linear adventure, but it also has a more open platform structure and a penchant for puzzles. Everything remains reasonably straightforward, with nothing holding you back for more than a few minutes on the same puzzle. And it may be the rapidity with which you find the solution that makes these portions so fascinating; you never feel annoyed or bored. The puzzles are placed precisely in the space assigned for these aspects in an adventure of this type, which does not intend to involve the player too much but rather to calm him and transport him to a world devoid of challenges, where exploration is the true protagonist.
You can locate four “upgrades” for the stick along the journey, which allow you to sprint, slide (like on a snowboard), teleport to certain spots, and glide. These powers are married, of course, to the many places in which they can be obtained (a forest area, a mountain area, a desert area, and a celestial area), in which the new powers are used, but also blended with those previously available. It is not rare to find oneself combining teleportation with the slide or the glide with the sprint. Everything is dynamic and fluid, which is not to be taken for granted in this type of production.
Each region (or chapter) is made up of an initial zone to which the new power is assigned and two or three larger areas that can be freely explored and are inhabited by diverse animals, one more specific than the other. Aside from being catalogued in a bestiary, you can interact with them to recover unidentified bits (which we will return to in a moment). Each creature reacts differently to our presence: some hide, some approach and others follow our path as we slide with the stick.
