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Every time I hear someone talk about “good” examples of female video game protagonists. I automatically start to think about Bungie´s game “Oni” and Konoko (she´s the female lead of Oni). As Konoko was (and still is) pure “girl power” to the bone, because not only was she a martial arts expert. Konoko could also handle pretty much every weapon, there is (handguns, lasers, rocket launchers. You name it!). In a way, Konoko was like a combination of Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell) and Jun Kazama (Tekken).

I have to say that I like Konoko more though, as she´s even more bad ass than all of them together. So what about “Oni” as a whole then? Well, the game is still really good, and when “Oni” got released back in 2001 (Windows, MAC and PS2), the games-press praised the game for its unique combination of beat-em-up and third-person shooting.

Sadly enough though, Bungie never mad a sequel to “Oni,” and 2001 wasn´t exactly yesterday (could you believe that it´s been over 14 years since “Oni” got released?!). There´s a reason behind why Bungie hasn´t made “Oni 2” however, and it´s spelled “Halo,” Because the very same year that Bungie release “Oni” they also released “Halo: Combat Evolved” (in November for Xbox).

Konoko looks even better now thanks to the HD mod.

So Bungie has been pretty busy with the “Halo” series ever since 2001, and even though there’s been a lot of requests for a “Oni 2.” Bungie never picked up on it. I have some good news to share with you guys (although the fact that there might never be a “Oni 2″), because last night a Oni” hardcore fan informed me that the “Oni” mod community is still going strong, as “Oni” has been given new life thanks to fan-made mods and updates. For example, there´s a Konoko HD update for “Oni,” which gives Konoko a much-needed graphical facelift.

There are plenty of more updates and mods for “Oni” as well, so you could basically make an “Oni Remake” if you have the time for it (kind of like that one time when I tweaked Quake 1 for hours and hours). Sure, it´s not “Oni 2”, but at least it´s better than nothing. Besides, if enough people start to play Oni again. Bungie might change their minds about making “Oni 2” (Kickstarter anyone?).

Resources:
http://oni.bungie.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1727

http://oni.bungie.org/forum/index.php