10 Painfully Overlooked Video Games From Iconic Studios

Since establishing themselves in the ‘90s with the Marathon series, Bungie have become synonymous for blockbuster titles Halo and Destiny, both of which revolutionised the shooter genre in a multitude of ways. One of their games that doesn’t get anywhere near the same level of praise, though, is Oni.

Heavily inspired by anime classics like Ghost In The Shell and Akira, Oni takes place in a dystopian future where pollution has made the planet almost uninhabitable.

Players take control of Konoko, an elite member of a police task force who soon discovers her government employers have been lying to her about her past. Determined to uncover the truth, she fights against various higher-ups and a dangerous criminal organisation during a fun, twisting narrative.

In addition to a stylish, anime-inspired presentation, the combat was the star of the show. Combining third-person shooting with fluid melee brawling, executing Konoko’s arsenal of flashy moves was hugely satisfying. Moreover, clever ideas like enemies only having one magazine of ammo put a unique twist on combat that hasn't been seen in many games since.

With the release of Halo: Combat Evolved coming less than a year later, Oni was resigned to being a fond memory.