Quotes/Manual: Difference between revisions

This page is a wiki-formatted transcript of a physical copy of the [[:Category:Manual (English, Windows)|Oni game manual for Windows in English]], which can be considered the [[wikt:canonical|canonical]] version. Sideboxes and footnotes are used to document the differences from the version of the manual that was available on Rockstar's [https://museum.rockstarnexus.com/websites/2011-05/games/oni/ Flash site], additional differences from the PS2 and PDF versions of the manual, and to provide various commentary, updates and corrections. The section names are taken from the manual, but for aesthetic reasons they are in [[wikt:title case|title case]] here rather than the all-caps found in the manual.

[[:Category:Manual (English (UK), Windows)|A PDF version of the manual]] was prepared in England by the localization office Tarantula Studios UK using the PC manual as a base. The changes they made are not major, but include added details in the game instructions, a couple minor corrections, and some censorship of language. British spellings were used for the inserted text, e.g. "colours" and "Equaliser", but these have been corrected to American English for consistency wherever excerpts from this text appear below. The PDF manual also fixes layout issues found in the printed manual, mainly errant line breaks and sloppy indentation.

|'''In the PDF, these halfhearted instructions are replaced by more in-depth instructions later in the manual (see "Getting Started").'''

It's 2032 and the world ain't<ref group=lower-alpha>Changed to "isn't" for the U.K. manuals.</ref> what it used to be.

Things are pretty good in the big cities if you don't mind the fact that the World Coalition Government tracks your every move. They claim they do it in the interest of the common good but it can make you feel insignificant and pretty damned helpless.<ref group=lower-alpha>The words "pretty damned" are omitted in the U.K. manual.</ref> No matter where you go "they" are watching you.

The poor bastards<ref group=lower-alpha>"wretches", web site; "people", U.K. Win/Mac manual, but not U.K. PS2 manual which preserves "bastards".</ref> who can't afford to live in the cities get as close to the atmosphere processors as they can and eke out a miserable (and dangerous) existence working on the reclamation teams who beat back the corrosive stain of the wilderness.

From time to time someone tries to improve public awareness of the ecological nightmare but the World Coalition Government controls the media and silences them before any outcry can gain momentum. Despite this repression<ref group=lower-alpha>This clause is omitted by the web site.</ref>, there is a growing awareness that something has gone horribly wrong and that something has to be done.

Something has to give. It's only a matter of time.<ref group=lower-alpha>All the paragraphs starting from "Things are pretty good…" were combined into this text in the U.S. PS2 manual: "In the cities most people have enough money to live quite well by the standards of the old world - if you don't mind the fact that the World Coalition Government tracks your every move." However the U.K. PS2 manual preserves all the original text.</ref>

On January 12th, 2032 the newborn World Coalition Government annexed 80% of the countries of the world. The holdouts either<ref group=lower-alpha>Changed to "both" in all U.K. manuals.</ref> reconsidered and signed treaties or were "dissolved" in a matter of months.<ref group=lower-alpha>This sentence is omitted from the PS2 manual.</ref>

Years of boom markets and reckless spending finally took their toll, leaving small countries bankrupt and superpowers teetering on the brink of collapse. By uniting the economies of the world all of the old debt was erased and everyone got a clean slate. It was a real mess but at the time it seemed like the only way out.<ref group=lower-alpha>"At the time it seemed like the only way out.", U.S. PS2 manual.</ref>

At first the World Coalition Government gave a lot of lip service to representing the annexed governments. There was even an advisory council modeled on the United Nations. As the representatives began to enjoy the benefits of a global marketplace they fell silent.<ref group=lower-alpha>These three sentences are omitted in the U.S. PS2 manual.</ref> In a matter of years all traces of the old governments faded away. It was an economic coup on an unprecedented scale.

It is a golden age for the privileged. Their ivory towers are everything we hoped the future would be.<ref group=lower-alpha>The preceding three paragraphs are combined in the U.S. PS2 manual into: "The WCG created a golden age for the privileged. Their ivory towers look like a modern utopia - but the poor are getting poorer and more restless every day."</ref>

One of the excuses the World Coalition Government used to grab the reins<ref group=lower-alpha>"Reigns" in all manuals, corrected here.</ref> was the use of biological weapons by a few of the countries involved in border skirmishes at the time.

Once the puppet masters behind the World Coalition Government had what they wanted they continued to exploit techno-phobia to keep them on top. They told us that abuse of technology was the enemy and that the Technology Crimes Task Force was our guardian. In the name of the common good they granted the TCTF blanket authority to investigate wherever and however they saw fit.<ref group=lower-alpha>The preceding three paragraphs were combined into this one in the U.S. PS2 manual: "The puppet masters behind the World Coalition Government preached techno-phobia to keep the public in fear. They told the public that abuse of technology was the enemy, and that the Technology Crimes Task Force was our guardian. In the name of the common good they granted the TCTF blanket authority to investigate wherever and however they saw fit."</ref>

The real abuse of technology begins and ends with the government and its TCTF enforcers.<ref group=lower-alpha>The preceding three paragraphs were combined into this one in the U.S. PS2 manual: "Sure, the TCTF does everything it is supposed to. They keep most of the 'cyber drugs' and illegal weapons off the streets, but law enforcement is a smokescreen to excuse their actual purpose - they want to suppress anything that could be used to undermine their authority. The real abuse of technology begins and ends with the government and its TCTF enforcers."</ref>

No matter what the truth is behind the Syndicate's existence<ref group=lower-alpha>"power", web site.</ref> one thing is for sure – the growing power of the Syndicate is due to one man, Boss Muro.<ref group=lower-alpha>"one thing is for sure - you have to steer clear of Boss Muro", web site.</ref> Muro came out of nowhere less than ten years ago and took out all of the old Bosses. He runs the whole show now. Since he became Boss things have gone from bad to worse. The TCTF doesn't like him. They have been at war with him for years but so far he has stayed one step ahead of the game.<ref group=lower-alpha>The preceding three paragraphs were combined into this one in the U.S. PS2 manual: "In the shadows of the cities the Syndicate thrives by providing the desperate and the downtrodden with the opiates they need to distract themselves and the weapons they need to kill each other. One man is credited with the growing power of the Syndicate: Boss Muro. Muro came out of nowhere less than ten years ago and seized power by taking out all of the old Bosses. Since his rise things have gone from bad to worse. The TCTF has been at war with him for years but so far he has stayed one step ahead of the game."</ref>

You are Konoko, a specially trained agent of the Technology Crimes Task Force, charged with your first mission. Your instincts tell you that something insidious is afoot as you infiltrate the cold underworld of the Syndicate. Commander Griffin, Regional Commander of the TCTF, is your mentor, boss, and even father figure. Shinatama is your SLD<ref group=lower-alpha>The U.S. PS2 manual inserts this parenthetical note here: "(Simulated Life Doll - a child-like android whose systems and structures imitate human biology)".</ref> assistant, confidante, companion, and friend, and the two of you share a special bond, one that is both neural and emotional.

Shinatama<ref group=lower-alpha>Misspelled as "Shinitama" in all manuals.</ref> is an SLD, or Simulated Life Doll. The SLDs were the first attempt to create an android - a manufactured organism whose systems and structures imitate human biology. An SLD breathes, eats, sweats and can feel pain.  They aren't actually human so are more durable than their flesh and blood counterparts. The brain of an SLD is created from the patterns and engrams of a human brain, often forming a close bond or link between the SLD and its human "pattern."

The Syndicate have also been experimenting with SLD technology, but their efforts have been progressing much more quickly without all the rigorous safeguards used by more respectable scientists. The Tankers are the result of this experimentation: super tough,<ref group=lower-alpha>"and", U.S. PS2 manual.</ref> super strong SLD warriors with a seriously bad attitude.

|'''This section is only found in the PDF manual and replaces the "Installation" section found above in the printed manual. For the Mac version of the system requirements and installation instructions, see [[:Image:English (UK) Mac manual 05.jpg|HERE]].'''

|'''This is the text from the PDF manual. The U.K. office which wrote it cared more about documenting the details of the interface than Bungie did.'''

|'''This is the version of this section from the PDF manual. It is titled "Controls" instead of "How to Play Oni".'''

Oni is a one-player game. It's just you, on your own, matching wits and blows with the Syndicate. If you like, you can recruit a friend to be your own real-life Shinatama -- hang out, watch you play, offer advice, maybe even bring you cookies and other foodstuffs of dubious nutritional value.<ref group=lower-alpha>This sentence is totally omitted in the U.K. manuals.</ref>

TCTF Training – This is where your game begins. Utilize this training facility as if your life depends on it — because it does. Take the time and put in the effort to master all of your moves, because Boss Muro and his Syndicate are not fooling around. Remember the time-honored axiom: Practice – you don't win just by doing it, but you can't win without it.<ref group=lower-alpha>The U.S. PS2 manual places the axiom in quotes.</ref> Note: TCTF Training is optional. To bypass TCTF Training, select Load Game instead of New Game on the Main Menu, and select Syndicate Warehouse.

Escape Moves – Press CROUCH + any DIRECTION. These are useful for avoiding hand-to-hand attacks — and picking up objects!<ref group=lower-alpha>The em dash before "and picking up" was removed for the U.K. manuals.</ref>

Slide – While running<ref group=lower-alpha>This should actually say "While dashing". This was corrected in the U.K. PS2 manual but nowhere else.</ref> press CROUCH to avoid traps, knock enemies off their feet, or pick up objects!

Sledgehammer Heel – Press PUNCH, PUNCH, then KICK. Slow move to get off but very, very powerful! Use with Caution<ref group=lower-alpha>This word isn't capitalized in the U.S. PS2 manual.</ref>.

|'''"Missile warheads" should read "missile engines", because the warheads are in fact armed and will do massive damage to the target if fired point-blank.'''

*Fire Rate...................................????????<ref group=lower-alpha>Instead of all the stats with question marks, the U.K. manuals simply state, "No further data has been recorded about this weapon".</ref>

'''[Our wiki version of this section has been enlivened with pictures of the characters, something the printed manual sorely lacked (though the PDF manual includes pictures for most characters/enemies). The sections on Strengths, Special Moves, and Weaknesses for each character are not present on the web site and the Description is part of the Bio Data. Thus for Dr. Kerr and Muro, found on the web site but not in the manual, we only have the Bio Data/Description.]'''

'''Strengths''': Expert in hand-to-hand combat, skilled marksman, powerful [Special Moves.]<ref group=lower-alpha name="special">There seems to have been some typesetting confusion in the printed manual caused by the repeated phrase "Special Moves" on this line and the next one. Someone seems to have viewed the text as a duplication and "fixed" it with a find-replace operation. They may have been misled by an error on p. 21 where a missed line break caused the two lines to run together, probably producing the result "…powerful Special Moves. Special Moves: Volt Stomp…". Due to either a find-replace operation or a single deletion followed by copy-pasting, the "Strengths" sections for TCTF SWAT and all three Ninja classes end with the word "powerful" and no period. However both the Rockstar Flash site and the PDF manual from Tarantula Studios <u>do</u> have "Special Moves" at the end of these "Strengths" lines, so it has been restored here.</ref>

'''Strengths''': Expert in hand-to-hand combat, skilled marksman, powerful [Special Moves.]<ref group=lower-alpha name="special" />

'''Strengths''':  Expert in hand-to-hand combat, skilled marksman, powerful [Special Moves.]<ref group=lower-alpha name="special" />

'''Special Moves''': <ref group=lower-alpha>"Volt Stomp" is also listed here in the PS2 manual, which is likely correct since it's listed as a move for the higher and lower ninja classes.</ref>Volt Suplex, Skorp Kick.

'''Strengths''':  Expert in hand-to-hand combat, skilled marksman, powerful [Special Moves.]<ref group=lower-alpha name="special" />

|'''This section is called "Inventory Items" in the PDF manual.'''

Governments and markets welcomed the emergence of the World Coalition Government, or were crushed beneath it. As hostilities subsided the WCG began to standardize "fundamental technical elements" across all market regions. The ubiquitous Energy Cell has replaced all other portable power sources.

Troubleshooting

<div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"><references group=lower-alpha/></div>