Review: Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines

Well, I’ve dug out my PlayStation Vita, so that must mean it’s time to write about a JRPG. I’m not complaining; I’ve pumped countless hours into the likes of Persona 4 Golden and Danganronpa on my Vita and loved each because of their quirky, pick-up and set-down natures.

Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines is no exception.

A sequel to a game I’ve never heard of, Tainted Bloodlines lets you spend half an hour tweaking not only your main character, but his or her entire bloodline… only to have them all wiped out in an anime immediately afterward. It turns out your clan was chosen to be sacrificed in order to achieve order and prosperity to the land. That sacrifice was all for naught, as the Gods didn’t really ask for anything resembling it.

Sympathetically, the Gods decide to help your poor family – after you’ve all been killed, natch – and bring you back to life in order to exact revenge. Well, more of a half-life. The evil Sorcerer advising Japan’s Emperor placed two curses upon your entire bloodline, meaning each member can only live for a further two years. Moreover, none of your family members can mate with any other human to prolong the family line; instead, you have to procreate with other Gods.

Oh, and when you’re all initially back to life, the cutesy family you’ve spent so much time with looking just right? They go full zombie on a poor girl in order to be placed back among the living.

Let’s stop there for a second, shall we? This game has it all. Gorgeous anime? Check. Customisation to not only feel connected with your main character, but with your main character’s entire bloodline? Check. A crazy setup involving short lifespans and intercourse with deities? Double check.

Oh, and you’ve also got a weasel-turned-girl as your advisor.

I grew pretty attached to said weasel, Kochin. She basically will set your game up, or at lease provide you with information you need to get going. I relied on her entirely throughout the game’s 30 hour playthrough (on casual); she told me where to go, who to kill, when to mate and so on. The same can be said for the way I handled combat – I ran up to enemies and then went auto-fight all the way. I didn’t have to, of course, but I was more interested in seeing how the story panned out than in the game’s mechanics.

Before you think the game’s shallow, there’s a lot to master if you’re going to take the reins yourself. Combat is a turn-based affair, allowing for different attack styles and magicks. If the leader of either side’s party is defeated in battle, then it’s all over. It’s a balancing act, though; if you simply rush into battle and attack a leader, you won’t get as much experience as if you took out the entire opposing team. Doing that can also be risky; if you whittle away at an entire team, its leader may run away in fear.

In-between battles, there’s a lot to manage as well. Since every character is only alive for two years, you really have to plan what they do. You’re tasked to fight Oni to gain experience, but also to free trapped deities that you’ll knock boots with later on. It’s up to you to decide if you want to spend an all-too-valuable month ploughing through a dungeon or using it for other means.

Either way, it can be a bit grindy. But we’re talking a JRPG here… so I’m sure there are people reading that with nothing but excitement and glee.

It’s not a great idea to judge a book by its cover, but with JRPGs on the Vita, it’s hard not to. At first glance, this game looks like any other Vita JRPG, and after countless hours, it’s safe to say that statement is accurate. Tainted Bloodlines is a classic, quirky JRPG that joins the ranks of other polished and fun JRPGs in the Vita’s library. From this write-up, you’ll surely know if it’s another one you want to add to your list or pass on. Choose wisely.

Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines was reviewed using a promotional code on PS Vita, as provided by the publisher.