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Oni 2 (Angel Studios) (view source)

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linking to coming Levels subpage; moving existing level info to Levels; moving Story section above lengthy Controls section
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[[Image:Oni 2 - Title screen.jpg|right|300px]]
[[Image:Oni 2 - Title screen.jpg|right|300px]]
:''For instructions on how to run the game, see [[/Running|HERE]]. For technical information on the game, see [[OBD:Oni2AS|HERE]].''
:''For instructions on how to run the game, see [[/Running|HERE]]. For information on each level in the game, see [[/Levels|HERE]].''
:''For technical documentation of the game, see [[OBD:Oni2AS|HERE]].''
'''Oni 2: Death & Taxes''' was a sequel to [[Oni]] which was in development from 2001-2002 before being cancelled. The game was being developed by Angel Studios for the PlayStation 2 under publisher Take-Two Interactive before Angel was acquired by Rockstar and renamed [[wikipedia:Rockstar_San_Diego|Rockstar San Diego]]. An ISO of a late or final development build of the game leaked in 2016. The build was documented by the game preservation YouTube channel PtoPOnline [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItobLIJJMY here]. The title of the game seen on the main menu was likely a working title or a light-hearted placeholder; the game data internally uses the name '''Oni 2: Rebirth'''.
'''Oni 2: Death & Taxes''' was a sequel to [[Oni]] which was in development from 2001-2002 before being cancelled. The game was being developed by Angel Studios for the PlayStation 2 under publisher Take-Two Interactive before Angel was acquired by Rockstar and renamed [[wikipedia:Rockstar_San_Diego|Rockstar San Diego]]. An ISO of a late or final development build of the game leaked in 2016. The build was documented by the game preservation YouTube channel PtoPOnline [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItobLIJJMY here]. The title of the game seen on the main menu was likely a working title or a light-hearted placeholder; the game data internally uses the name '''Oni 2: Rebirth'''.


==Development==
==Development==
[[Image:Oni 2 - Konoko profile.jpg|right|300px]]
[[Image:Oni 2 - Konoko profile.jpg|right|220px]]
[[Image:Oni 2 - Konoko figure.jpg|right|300px]]
[[Image:Oni 2 - Konoko figure.jpg|right|220px]]
Shortly after Oni was released, it was [http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2001/apr01.html rumored] that Take-Two had put Oni 2 into production; however, no sequel was ever officially announced. In 2007, the rumor of a cancelled sequel was bolstered by [http://www.lostlevels.org/wordpress/2007/11/07/such-things-that-never-was/ a leak] which asserted that Oni 2 had been under development by Angel Studios for the PS2. In 2016, the full story finally came out when an actual development build of the cancelled game was leaked, documented by PtoPOnline, and covered by [http://kotaku.com/bungie-s-cult-classic-oni-almost-had-a-sequel-1789693658 Kotaku].
Shortly after Oni was released, it was [http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2001/apr01.html rumored] that Take-Two had put Oni 2 into production; however, no sequel was ever officially announced. In 2007, the rumor of a cancelled sequel was bolstered by [http://www.lostlevels.org/wordpress/2007/11/07/such-things-that-never-was/ a leak] which asserted that Oni 2 had been under development by Angel Studios for the PS2. In 2016, the full story finally came out when an actual development build of the cancelled game was leaked, documented by PtoPOnline, and covered by [http://kotaku.com/bungie-s-cult-classic-oni-almost-had-a-sequel-1789693658 Kotaku].


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==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
Oni 2's melee combat was shaping up to be considerably more complex than Oni's, incorporating the grappling and parrying that some Oni fans have wished for in a sequel. Other additions to Oni's gameplay include ledge grabbing, AIs that can disarm the player, contextual attacks, and blocks that stun the attacker. Gunplay is still present, and is as simple as it is in Oni. Konoko retains her agility, with the ability to perform melee strikes in all four directions, strafe sideways, and perform a jump-flip while still using her weapon. A curious choice was made in allowing Konoko to double-jump as if she is a character in a platformer (of course, no design decisions were finalized at this point in development). Konoko can also perform wall flips (see "Controls" section). When she is facing a wall, the wall flip sends her backward away from the wall, but when her back is to the wall, she comes back into it with her flip, and can continue to perform additional backward wall flips ad infinitum. This allows her to climb any wall, which is essential to clearing level 8, The Rooftops.
Oni 2's melee combat was shaping up to be considerably more complex than Oni's, incorporating the grappling and parrying that some Oni fans have wished for in a sequel. Other additions to Oni's gameplay include ledge grabbing, AIs that can disarm the player, contextual attacks, and blocks that stun the attacker. Gunplay is still present, and is as simple as it is in Oni. Konoko retains her agility, with the ability to perform melee strikes in all four directions, strafe sideways, and perform a jump-flip while still using her weapon. A curious choice was made in allowing Konoko to double-jump as if she is a character in a platformer (of course, no design decisions were finalized at this point in development). Konoko can also perform wall flips (see "Controls" section). When she is facing a wall, the wall flip sends her backward away from the wall, but when her back is to the wall, she comes back into it with her flip, and can continue to perform additional backward wall flips ad infinitum. This allows her to climb any wall, which is essential to clearing level 8, The Rooftops.
==Story==
[[Image:Oni 2 - WCG.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The WCG is still around in the sequel.]]
It doesn't seem that the Oni 2 project actually had any writing done for it yet, so any story-like elements in the build are probably placeholders. This is the likely explanation for the fact that Konoko is depicted as working for the TCTF, an organization that previously tried to kill her, not to mention that Mai is called "Konoko" again instead of her real name (though that may be because she is working for the TCTF). Konoko is briefed on missions by an artificial being named Amaya who looks more like a robot than an SLD. The organization of bad guys is simply called the Neo-Syndicate, also likely a placeholder. The setting of the game is a traditional cyberpunk atmosphere. We see all sorts of cyborgs, as well as scavengers living off collected junk.


==Controls==
==Controls==
Oni 2 is meant to be played in analog mode so that the left thumbstick can be used for movement and the right stick to move the camera. In digital mode (the "Analog" light on the DualShock 2 is off), the D-pad has to be used as the movement control, but in analog mode, the D-pad is freed up to serve as the inventory control. In the following tables, analog mode is assumed to be on unless otherwise noted. Note that ledge grabbing does not work everywhere, only where the devs intended it to.
Oni 2 is meant to be played with the DualShock 2 in analog mode, so that the left thumbstick can be used for movement and the right stick to move the camera. In digital mode (the "Analog" light on the DualShock 2 is off), the D-pad has to be used as the movement control, but in analog mode, the D-pad is freed up to serve as the inventory control. In the following tables, analog mode is assumed to be on unless otherwise noted. Note that ledge grabbing does not work everywhere; only where the devs intended it to.


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==Story and levels==
[[Image:Oni 2 - Initial Attack.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Characters will usually be "blacked out" due to an issue with the lighting code.]]
[[Image:Oni 2 - The Rooftops.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The un-textured Rooftops level.]]
[[Image:Oni 2 - WCG.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The WCG is still around in the sequel.]]
It doesn't seem that the Oni 2 project actually had any writing done for it yet, so any story-like elements in the build are probably placeholders. This is the likely explanation for the fact that Konoko is depicted as working for the TCTF, an organization that previously tried to kill her, not to mention that Mai is called "Konoko" again instead of her real name (though that may be because she is working for the TCTF). Konoko is briefed on missions by an artificial being named Amaya who looks more like a robot than an SLD. The organization of bad guys is simply called the Neo-Syndicate, also likely a placeholder. The setting of the game is a traditional cyberpunk atmosphere. We see all sorts of cyborgs, as well as scavengers living off collected junk.
There are 15 levels in the game (once again, 14 are only accessible through the Load Game menu):
:1. The Blast Chambers. This level seems closest to being finished, at least out of the material burned to the disc. Konoko must chase Neo-Syndicate bad guys through the subterranean blast chambers of a launchpad. The game hangs when Konoko is about to exit the chambers and face a female opponent, likely a boss. She can be seen, and fought, in level 3, Brawler.
:2. Protect the Statue. This is a test of a "defend the target"-type mission. You must defend a statue from Neo-Syndicate bad guys who are shooting it.
:3. Brawler. This level is simply a large floor grid, on which are placed (apparently) all the characters created so far. They then begin fighting one another, "reservoirdogs"-style. Konoko can attack any of the characters, and some will randomly target her. Among the combatants is an old model of Konoko that resembles her appearance in Oni, but she apparently has no combat moves at her disposal and so she cannot attack other characters. Amaya also appears to be represented here.
:4. The Junkyard. This may have been a prototype of an actual level, but at such an early stage that there is no briefing screen, enemies, or known goal. It’s a fairly small yet intricate area that probably would have been expanded if made into a finished level.
:5. Destructible Building. This is a test of a scripted event in which parts of the floor of a building collapse, leaving holes you must navigate around.
:6. Initial Attack. Possibly another proto-level, this is the most polished level besides Level 1. You explore different areas of a facility, including an area in which Neo-Syndicate bad guys are attacking civilians that you are probably supposed to defend. There is no briefing screen, therefore no known goal, but upon reaching a dead-end in the level, you get a Mission Complete notice in your HUD ring and can advance to the next level, which is not the case for most of the 15 levels.
:7: Assault. Basically a single large area in the City where you face groups of enemies. Possibly a proto-level, this level is also a demonstration of friendly AI and a test of the AI awareness system. Your AI ally is capable of handling himself but makes little effort to stay with you, similar to the occasional help that the AI provides in Oni. One group of bad guys seems to be set as blind, but can hear you when you pass by. Another type of AI calls on their allies to attack you as a group when you're spotted. Once the bad guys in that area are defeated, there is nothing more to do and nowhere to explore.
:8: The Rooftops. Another proto-level, there is a great deal of environmental modeling evident in this level, but no textures. You must leap from rooftop to rooftop (although the structures you run on are not realistic), while being shot at by snipers and chased by enemies who can also leap from roof to roof to chase you. Eventually Konoko advances to an area with no enemies, just navigational challenges — most notably a section where the exhaust from large vents threatens to push her off the roof as she runs by them. Finally she slides down a slope to arrive at a dead-end, and the level is complete.
:9: Defend the Statue. Essentially the same test mission as level 2, except with a slightly different mix of enemies.
:10: Endless City. A test of a system that allows you to “fly” through a city by standing on a two-dimensional square as it travels through an endlessly looping circle, with walls on both sides and flying vehicles passing you by. There is a series of platforms that one can jump to, but after the first couple of jumps, advancement seems impossible due to the distance between platforms.
:11: Zipline Test 5. A simple test of “ziplines”, which appear as geometric lines and arcs drawn in the 3D space of the level. Some ziplines are hand-over-hand rails, and others are built for sliding down by holding onto an object that runs along the line, in the way that real-life ziplines work.
:12: Zipline Test 8. Another small level with multiples types of ziplines. The ziplines in this level are all hand-over-hand, and come in different shapes such as a square and a Y shape.
:13: Destroy the Statue. This level is a test of the "destroy the target"-type mission goal, taking place in the same kind of area as levels 2 and 9, with the statue you were protecting now set as your target. Numerous Neo-Syndicate bad guys defend it by shooting at you, and you have a time limit in which to destroy the target.
:14: AI Abilities Test. A tutorial level, either for the player or for internal testing purposes. By way of messages that appear onscreen, and different areas set up for specific purposes, the game demonstrates such features as: enemy spawning, manual aiming and lock-on for weapons combat, special contextual actions (such as pushing someone off a ledge), and various aspects of the enemy AI. The level has a definite endpoint, but no Mission Complete is granted for reaching it.
:15: Acrobatics Test. A small “playground” level that is designed for testing Konoko’s acrobatic maneuvers. It consists of some spires and some ramps in a geometric space.
==Screenshots==
Besides the images displayed on this page, you will find about 80 more screenshots in [http://iritscen.oni2.net/oni2dt/ this FTP folder].


[[Category:Oni history]]
[[Category:Oni history]]
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