AMATA K.K. has released the debut trailer for its recently announced virtual reality action adventure game The Tale of Onogoro, as well as confirmed it will be available for Quest platforms when it launches this spring.
Here is an overview of the game, via AMATA K.K.:
Story
Just as the player is putting on their virtual reality headset to try out their new game, they are suddenly connected to a parallel world, where Haru Kose, a Japanese shrine maiden, lives. This world is similar to Taisho-era Japan, but since the invention of the steam engine during the Meiji Restoration, the people use a combination of steam technology and the mysterious ancient power of Ki to create new marvels.
This world is also home to giant, beast-like beings called “Kami.” These Kami often manifest as “Incensed Kami” and go on rampages, causing havoc in their wake. Shinto priests and priestesses are dispatched by shrines to quell each Incensed Kami that manifests, risking their lives to protect the citizens.
One day, it is reported that five Incensed Kami have manifested on the sacred floating island, Onogoro Island. Haru, as the High Priestess of the Grand Holy Shrine: Daijingu is dispatched to the island to see to the matter. However, the man responsible for the appearance of the five Incensed Kami on the island, Masatake Arakida, attacks Haru and steals parts of her body. He then chains her to a quelling stone and locks her away in a shrine. In a desperate attempt to summon reinforcements, Haru accidentally summons the player to her world.
Upon meeting the player, Haru asks for their help, stating, “Masatake Arakida has stolen parts of my body and taken my weapon. If we do not return them to me and quell all of the Kami on the island, a great calamity will occur.”
The player and Haru join forces to solve the mystery of the Divine Boundaries, quell the Kami, and put a halt to Masatake’s plans.
Characters
- Haru Kose (voiced by Alexis Jassmin Broadhead in English, Yoshino Nanjou in Japanese） – The 223rd High Priestess of the Grand Holy Shrine: Daijingu. She is a Shinto high priestess and becomes the player’s partner. She was captured by Masatake Arakida, who stole parts of her body as well as her sacred weapon, the Astral Hunting Bow. After having her powers sealed away, she makes a desperate attempt to summon help, and accidentally summons the player from a parallel world. Because she is chained to the quelling stone and cannot move freely, she needs the player to move the quelling stone for her.
- The Player – A virtual reality game player. Just as they were trying to play a new VR game, Haru summons them to the world of The Tale of Onogoro via their VR headset. Her summoning was incomplete, giving the player a ghost-like appearance. The player cannot interact with this new world, but for some reason, they are able to wield divine ancient relics called the Celestial Weapons.
- Masatake Arakida (voiced by Ray Chase in English, Yugo Sato in Japanese) – A powerful Shinto priest and Elder of the Grand Holy Shrine: Daijingu, and Haru’s childhood friend. He took Haru’s weapon and parts of her body, then sealed her away. He was seen as a candidate to become the next head of the Grand Holy Shrine due to his talents. One day, he disappeared, taking two sacred relics, the Mafutsu Mirror and the holy sword Soul Slayer, with him. He later manifested the five Kami causing mayhem on Onogoro Island. His motives are unknown.
Music production by Berens, the Amata Sound Team
The main theme as well as all other sounds in The Tale of Onogoro were created by the Berens sound team. The theme song vocalist is Yumiko Takahashi, who has also sung for numerous other video games and music pieces.
—Yumiko Takahashi Profile
Yumiko Takahashi began studying Japanese folk songs at the age of 16 and won an award at the 1996 Japan National Folk Song Contest. After graduating from a design college, she began working in game development as a CG artist and game designer. She currently works freelance in graphic design, game development management, and writing. Additionally, she works as a vocalist and voice artist at Ethtronic Music Unit AKANE, under the name Yumibo.
Watch the trailer below. View a set of screenshots at the gallery.