What are you doing, looking at negative reviews? Just go and play the game already. I honestly would give this game an overwhelmingly positive review, but I do want to address a common complaint about this game below, and I want people who filter for negative reviews only to view this other perspective.

This is one of those rare games with a story so compelling, it makes you sit back and reassess who you are as a person. OMORI is a tale of the human condition and suffering, and there is something to take away for everyone who plays it. This is a game I think everyone should play, but not the kind of game I would recommend to everyone because of how real it is. Don't look anything up and just give it a go. The horror elements are used masterfully. Jumpscares don't feel cheap or like they're there for the sake of just being there, but to further the plot or add to the atmosphere of the world. The horror doesn't just rely on gimmicks either for the sake of marketing, there's genuinely horrific things going on in the game. The art style is very charming, and the atmosphere is well-balanced, with a fun soundtrack to match. There are some interesting innovations to the usual RPG mechanics that makes this game unique in its own way, and the mechanics also tie into the themes of the story well instead of feeling like changes for the sake of changes.

I know negative reviews say this game has bad pacing and can be quite grindy, and sometimes that is the case. However, I don't think that this detracts from the story at all or the game that much- in fact, it kind of adds to the game-play. You don't HAVE to grind- negative reviews saying they had to grind for a long time wanted the game to be easy. If you want a challenging (but not difficult) game, you don't have to grind. That being said, certain dungeons do take a while, and the pacing at the start of the game can be frustrating. This game requires a lot of reflection and introspection, and I find if you consider the purpose of why these sections take so long, and use the opportunity to explore what feels like a dream, the time will fly by.

� �� �� �� �⣤� �� �� �� �� �� �� �⡄� �� �
� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �⣤⣿� �⣿� �� �� �� �⣤⣿⢻⡇� �
� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �⣤⣿⡛� �⣤⣿⣿⣤⣤⣿⣿⣤⢸⡇� �
� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇� �
� �� �� �� �� �� �� �⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡗� �
� ⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷
⢸⣿⣿⡟� �� �⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣤⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣤⣼⣿⣿
� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟� �� �

Meow? (Waiting for something to happen?)

Recommended! The horror is cool, and the crying effect is real..