I have a fondness for RPG Maker horror games. When I couldn’t access a console, I could always use the family computer or my cheap laptop. While I didn’t have the specs or money to get into PC gaming, I eventually found games I could play. A common factor in many of these games was that they were made with RPG Maker. This lined up with a love of horror I was developing that I still have. It’s these reasons I have nostalgia for RPG Maker horror games of the late 2000s/2010s, which is why I did a double-take when I was told about Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen.
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen is the latest entry in the Ao Oni franchise. The first came out in 2008 and achieved a following in Japan largely due to people uploading their playthroughs. That popularity has spawned quite a series of novels, films, and even anime shorts. It even became popular in the West. Ten years ago, YouTube was dominated by game playthroughs, which is how I first found it. So, how does Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen hold up? It’s an RPG Maker horror game plucked out of the 2000s for better or worse.
The Terror of Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen
In Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen, you follow a group of kids who go to investigate an abandoned hot spring. The hot spring is the talk of the rumor mills, with many believing it is home to monsters. Not to mention the supposed Blueberry Hot Spring, which was said to be hidden in the abandoned inn. None of that stops these kids from investigating it for their reasons, but nothing could prepare them for what the hot spring has in store.
You control Hiroshi, the smartest of the group, who tags along to investigate the source of all these rumors. Your friends are Takeshi, Mika, and Takuro, and while all of them want to explore, some are more motivated than others. Mika wants to explore the hot spring the most, hoping to catch monsters on camera for her “Mika Channel”. Takeshi is the scared one of the group, while Takuro is the courageous one. Besides them, you encounter a mysterious man here for his reasons, and a suspicious girl named Ai.
There isn’t much more to say about these characters, which is where my criticisms start. Outside of the short description I gave each of them, they all feel like blank slates. This is a short game, so I’m not shocked the characters are just there. It makes some sense, as many of the RPG Maker horror games I played in the past had this problem too. Usually, the main character is a bit interesting, but sadly, not here. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it does cement my main criticism that this is trying to replicate an almost 20-year-old game. It’s a point of criticism that sticks the more I write about this game.
Followed by the Blue Creature
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen is a horror game. It’s core gameplay involves walking around, solving puzzles, and running from monsters. The rumors are true, and the hot spring is home to blue humanoid monsters that stalk the grounds. The main monster that follows you is the Ao Oni, a blue creature with a huge head that won’t stop until it gets you. You escape by outrunning it and going into a hiding space when he’s not looking. You’ll still hear him when you hide, but you can explore again when the noise stops.
This is how you’ll play a majority of the game, and I enjoyed it for the most part. There are some clever puzzles here, and most felt good to solve with none annoying me. Escaping monsters was a decent distraction for the most part, and later in the game, when you have to combine both, it can be pretty fun. The monsters have fun designs too. They all look weird and funny, but something about them gave me a chuckle. It’s not all fun and games, though, as I’m reminded about what type of game this is.
One problem I have always had with Ao Oni is the monster’s spawn rate. It always felt unfair to keep you playing, which continues in the new one. Most of your deaths will be from the monster spawning on you as you approach a door. You are put in impossible situations to escape so the most you can do is save scum and be careful around exits. It feels like they made it more unfair in this new game, and I stepped away on more than one occasion. Easily the worst part of the original, and it’s annoying to see it still here.
Modernized to an Extent
This is a brand new title in the Ao Oni franchise, and they have added some “modern” features. These new features do make sense, but are a bit odd. The store page talks about a chat function and cooperative play, but these are just things that happen in the story. It has multiple endings now, too. While I originally wanted to get all of them, I stopped wanting to after a second playthrough.
The game has a “high speed mode” which lets you increase the entire game speed. I would not recommend this as it’s not balanced and quickly gets annoying. They also added an online ranking system that ranks you based on how your run went. This addition made sense to me, and I wondered how high I could make it. If I’m being honest, most of these don’t add to the game. The only one I liked was the online ranking system, but the rest don’t bring it down much.
The Final Verdict on Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen
Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen feels like it could’ve come out 15 years ago. While it boasts some modern additions and looks new, it still feels like it’s learned nothing since the first game came out. Clever puzzles with gameplay that’s sometimes fun are paired with some of the worst monster spawn rates I’ve seen. The characters and narratives are nothing to write home about either.
Despite my grievances, I can say I had some fun. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, and the leaderboard did make me want to try again. Nostalgia may also be playing a factor, as the things that annoy me are strangely endearing. I don’t know if I can recommend Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen to someone who doesn’t already have some connection to the series. But to those interested, I still say it’s worth a play.
Disclaimer: Game Studio Inc. provided Final Weapon with a Steam key of Ao Oni: The Horror of Blueberry Onsen for review purposes.
