Oni2:A Storyline

"A storyline for Oni 2" was a brainstorming thread on Oni Central Forum that ran from April 2005 to May 2006. It is summarized by topic below.

The World

Society

• After 20 years, most of the damage to the atmosphere has been fixed by the brilliant scientist Mukade [or Hasegawa or...] as the head of WCG. Order has been restored quickly by martial law, as the people are mostly concerned with burying their dead after the Cataclysm. (geyser)
• Even after 20 years, society is likely to be in chaos because the atmospheric damage is irreversible. The Syndicate drew its strength from the underprivileged who lived outside the cities, therefore we should expect to see chaos increase when the ACCs (and thus the cities) fall. (guido)
• After 20 years, most of the ACCs have been repaired, but there are also Daodan symbiotes living in settlements outside the cities. (typhen)

WCG & TCTF

• The poor outside the cities have clean air doled out to them by dispensers from the WCG. (guido)
• The WCG has at least some good intentions (allows protests and free speech such as report on Jamie Kerr's death, cleans air within cities). Possibly the manual is right and the WCG allows the Syndicate to exist, or possibly the TCTF is just cowardly. Because the WCG is too weak (possibly de-militarized), it cannot stand against the Syndicate after the Cataclysm hits. The WCG is possibly not concerned enough about the plight of those outside the cities to ship air to them, but they did strengthen the ACCs after Jamie's death. (geyser)
• WCG only pretends to allow free speech. They cover up the real story when reporting on Jamie's death because the gov't has no intention of acknowledging the extent of the pollution problem. (TheTurnipKing)
• WCG is diminished by the Cataclysm but still holds onto some territories. (Snake007x)
• WCG of Oni 2 will be less about oppression and more about propaganda. (Nyctasia)
• WCG has to join forces with the Syndicate to save humanity. (Gatkowski)

Syndicate

• One of the main advantages in the Syndicate is that they are not bound by the legal restrictions that the TCTF have, so they can develop new tech more quickly (such as adult SLDs). TCTF didn't try to take down Syndicate simply because they were afraid the Syndicate was stronger. (TNT)
• Syndicate will make grab for world power because they were prepared for the Cataclysm, unlike WCG. Likely, in Oni 1 the TCTF was out-matched by the Syndicate already. (geyser)
• Syndicate cannot easily overwhelm TCTF, as both sets of character classes have their advantages. (TNT)
• Syndicate has the most power outside the cities, but they are in the cities too. Symbiotes living in settlements got their Chrysalises (inferior to Mai's) from Syndicate. (typhen)
• Syndicate only gave Chrysalises to a few key people. (geyser)

Science

Daodan

• The Daodan is a non-sentient organism that simply wants to survive. (TNT)
• The Daodan wants whatever the host wants, because the Daodan is the host. The Chrysalis is just a beneficial organism, not self-aware. Hosts do not need to eat as much as they used to, since the Daodan draws its own energy. Although one cannot communicate with the Chrysalis, it might be possible to guide its development [this idea is based off this console ]. There may be a stage beyond even Imago. Source of Daodan should be left open to interpretation. The Daodan may have also infected the general food chain. (TheTurnipKing)
• The Daodan is aware, or at least intelligent in a sense. An amazing organism, it is essentially composed of stem cells which can re-task themselves indefinitely. It's therefore unlikely that Hasegawa developed the Chrysalis in so short a time. It might be a smart cancer from "outer space", which is to say, perhaps the same alternate dimension where Screaming Cells and Mukade's Devil Star come from. (geyser)
• Perhaps the Daodan was developed by an immortal and immaterial alien race that wants to direct our evolution for their own purposes. These aliens could be the "Oni" of the game's title, and may be what becomes visible during a Daodan overpower state, as they are actively guiding the Daodan's development. It's also possible that the Daodan (or the Oni) are affecting people's minds. Their purpose might be benevolent towards us, or only serve their own purposes. (geyser)
• The Daodan's effect on the host is not as harmless as Kerr posited. Note how Konoko becomes more violent when overpowered; another "nature" is replacing hers. This leads to a schizophrenia of sorts as the Daodan wages a battle for the host's mind. As the host develops in a direction away from normal humanity, not having the same biological needs, they become distanced from their old self and from others. (geyser)
• The Daodan needs a certain amount of time to learn about its host before it can safely transform. Muro rushes the transformation and becomes monstrous (and unstable) as a result. Reproduction of the host may be asexual, taking place by "budding". (geyser)
• Although an SLD cannot be implanted with a Chrysalis, a cyborg can. (geyser)
• The Daodan and its host may be able to exist in an equilibrium if the host continues to fight mentally against being replaced totally. (guido)
• Daodan transformations are reversible and can serve as the overpower mode in the next game. (Kumo)
• The beings behind the Daodan are using it to create human ambassadors, to serve as a bridge between their immaterial world and ours. Perhaps there's a threat to their existence which is rooted in the physical world, so they need our help. (Seraf Ethifeo)

Screaming Cells

• Screaming Cells are from the same place as the Daodan (and the Devil Star). (geyser)
• They are sentient, that is, they feel or sense other life forms, but are not intelligent. (geyser)

Iron Demon

• Griffin planned to use the Iron Demon to stop Muro if Mai could not do the job. (TheTurnipKing, TNT)
• The Iron Demon will be used by the TCTF to hunt Mai in the future. (guido)
• Mai could fight the Iron Demon using a mechanical suit. (geyser)

Pollution

• In twenty years' time, mankind would find ways to make the air decent in at least confined areas (esp. if "Mukade-Hasegawa" is in charge of the world), and in 20 years the city streets should be clean enough that only a mask is needed. Living outside the cities, however, might be impossible. The only green areas might be inside city domes. Some cities might be abandoned, but not destroyed, as the air simply went bad and people had to move out. (geyser)
• The pollution is too bad to be reversed, even after 20 years. Most of the ACCs blew up in the cities and caused devastation (however, some ACCs might not have blown up). We should expect a post-apocalyptic setting in Oni 2 with toxic rain. People living outside the ravaged cities get shipments of clean air in tanks from the WCG. (guido)
• 20 years later, mankind now uses the Chrysalis to survive, but the pollution drains them of most of their Daodan-enhanced energy. (Snake007x)
• After 20 years, some ACCs have been repaired, but some people also live outside the cities in settlements, using Chrysalises. These Chrysalises are made by the Syndicate and inferior to Mai's. Normal humans can venture outside in suits for a limited time, which are manufactured and controlled by the TCTF. (typhen)

Vehicles

• A high-speed hover-Humvee (or perhaps on wheels) for Mr. Big. (geyser)
• Battle hardsuits (a la Bubblegum Crisis). (Pierre)
• One-wheeled motorcycle for Mai, or perhaps two wheels that attach to Mai's legs. (geyser)
• Akira-style motorcycle for Mukade. (guido)
• Something more stealthy for Mukade like a web-slinger or grappling hook, or a hover vehicle. (geyser)

Themes

• The TCTF and Syndicate have to join forces to save the world. The story focuses on characters and their back stories. (Gatkowski)
• Humans have acted like a cancer that depletes the resources of the body (the planet). The Daodan Chrysalis represents a benevolent cancer that will change our attitude to one of living in harmony with nature. (TheTurnipKing)
• Details of character and world should be kept on the side, in consoles. Some darkness is okay, but story should overall remain light, with humor. The story may contain multiple red herrings or dead-ends, leaving the ultimate truth up to the player (or at least revealing it only at the end). Can also touch on "government and rebellion, friendship and betrayal, mercy and vengeance, insanity and kinslaying, questionable humanity (androids, cyborgs, clones, symbiotes [referring to the Chrysalis replacing the mind of the host]), non-human intelligence [the Oni], [and] grand design [referring to the Oni guiding our evolution through the Chrysalis]". (geyser)
• The world is increasingly thrown into chaos by the Chrysalis as government and environment deteriorate. A lone, charismatic individual survives the destruction to bring about a new order. Daodan hosts who fight to maintain an internal equilibrium can overcome the influence of the Chrysalis and remain in control. (guido)
• Story should focus less on details and secondary characters, and more on archetypes and motivations and how characters fit together. Compelling story is more important than continuity with Oni 1. Ditto geyser's console remark. (Seventeen Seconds; Owldreamer agrees)
• Oni 2 can be consistently dark in tone and still be effective through careful use of visual language. The noir genre is also known for its detective work. We can be subtle and let the player fill in some details using their imaginations. (TNT)

Settings

The time period for Oni 2 is generally given as 20 years after Oni 1 (geyser, various other members). Cities may now be under domes, but the pollution is mostly under control and citizens only wear masks. Guido pushed for a sequel set only a few years after Oni 1, in a more chaotic environment with destructive weather. Here are some concepts for levels:

• Cave in Wilderness. (geyser)
• Vansam City, not totally ruined, but perhaps abandoned. (geyser)
• Dingy warehouse-turned-nightclub. (geyser)
• Skyscraper lounge. (geyser)
• Streets and suburbs. (geyser)
• Mall closed for the night. (geyser)
• Natural settings with grass and trees. (geyser)
• Half-ruined cities with toxic rain. (guido)
• Secret installations. (guido)
• Offices in new cities. (guido)

Characters

Mai

• big decisions AKA big mistakes by geyser.
• schizophrenia of the 3rd kind
• destiny

Hasegawa

• Mukade=Hasegawa

Kerr

• Kerr's tirades

Mukade & Ninjas

• Mukade=Hasegawa