, stylized as ''ω Labyrinth'', is a 2015
roguelike
Roguelike (or rogue-like) is a subgenre of role-playing computer games traditionally characterized by a dungeon crawl through procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, grid-based movement, and permanent death of the player characte ...
dungeon crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video games an ...
er
role-playing video game
A role-playing video game (commonly referred to as simply a role-playing game or RPG, as well as a computer role-playing game or CRPG) is a video game genre where the player controls the actions of a character (or several party members) immers ...
developed by
Matrix Software
, commonly referred to as Matrix Software, is a Japanese video game development company located in Tokyo. Founded in July 1994 by former members of Climax Entertainment and Telenet Japan, the company has since created games for a number of syst ...
and published by
D3 Publisher
is a Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on February 5, 1992. The company is known for the ''Simple'' series of budget-priced video games. Their games have been released for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Ninten ...
for the
PlayStation Vita
The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territo ...
. The game follows a group of girls as they explore a dungeon in search of the fabled "Holy Grail of Beauty", which is said to be able to grant any wish.
Protagonist Aina Akemiya searches for the Grail in order to increase her chest size, as she feels uncomfortable about her small breasts.
''Omega Labyrinth'' has been noted for its heavy
fanservice content and was released on November 19, 2015, in Japan.
Gameplay
''Omega Labyrinth'' is a roguelike dungeon crawler role-playing game. The dungeon is
randomly generated
In computing, procedural generation is a method of creating data algorithmically as opposed to manually, typically through a combination of human-generated assets and algorithms coupled with computer-generated randomness and processing power. In ...
; each time Aina and her accomplices enters the dungeon, its map, monsters, and available items change.
As players move within the dungeon, the monsters also move in a
turn-based
In video and other games, the passage of time must be handled in a way that players find fair and easy to understand. This is usually done in one of the two ways: real-time and turn-based.
Real-time
Real-time games have game time progress cont ...
fashion. Players accumulate experience by defeating monsters and characters become stronger as they level up. If they leave the dungeon, the characters are reduced back to level 1, and all items are lost when the health bar reaches zero.
Thus, missions must be completed all in one go.
The goal of the game is to search for and obtain the "Holy Grail of Beauty", whilst defeating monsters and avoiding traps through utilizing items, armor, and weapons.
When entering a dungeon, players can either choose another computer-controlled
character to act as their partner and enter with them, or go in alone. Although partnering up has tactical advantages in battle, it is also more risky, as the partner's items are also lost when the team gets defeated.
Through defeating monsters in the dungeon, players accumulate Omega Power in addition to experience points; this increases Aina's chest size. This is accompanied by an increase in stats and if Aina reaches maximum Omega Power she enters "Hatsumune Mode", greatly powering up her status. When leaving the dungeon, Aina's chest returns to its normal size, though accumulated Omega Power can be used to purchase items.
Items obtained in dungeons are initially unidentified, with their name and effects not known. They need to be revealed using Omega Power, with an animated sequence where the player places said item between a characters breasts and shaking achieving this.
Any character can be selected for this sequence, allowing players to choose their favorite. Players who do not wish to go through the scene may choose to skip it entirely.
Players can also choose to strengthen their characters through the system, which is triggered by special dungeon items; this leads to one of the girl characters going into an "excited" state. Touching her during this time allows Omega Power and status increases, and are unique to each character.
In dungeons, players can also find panties and bras, which can be equipped to increase the defense of the characters, along with weapons and shields. Combinations of these can also trigger special effects.
Various categories of weapons are obtained through dungeon exploration, this includes swords, lances, axes, sickles, and
katana
A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...
s.
Items can be synthesized in dungeons using Omega Power to strengthen them.
As players progress through the dungeon, characters may sometimes be captured by monsters and tapping the screen is required to free them; this provides opportunity for
fanservice,
as well as screenshots of characters upon falling into a dungeon trap.
Omega Power can be spent and various items purchased at the in-game shop. The game features
downloadable content
Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enablin ...
which can also be picked up at the shop.
Story
Characters
* (voiced by
Haruka Yamazaki
is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with Arts Vision. Yamazaki has had main roles in several anime shows including as Tomoyo Kanzaki in ''When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace'', Lilith Bristol in ''Absolute Duo'', and Mero ...
), the lively and energetic protagonist of the game. She is obsessed with the size of her small breasts, and thus enters the dungeon in search of the "Holy Grail of Beauty" to grant her wish of enlarging them. Although not an
honor student
An honors student or honor student is a student recognized for achieving high grading (education), grades or high marks in their coursework at school.
United States
In the US, honors students may refer to:
# Students recognized for their academi ...
, she is popular enough to be oftentimes the center of attention.
* (voiced by
Aya Uchida
is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She played Kotori Minami in ''Love Live! School Idol Project'' and Kaban in '' Kemono Friends''. She released the single "Sign/Candy Flavor", the song "Sign" was used as the ending theme for ''The Quintes ...
), a skillful cook and Aina's best friend, and was invited by her to challenge the dungeon together. She has a voluptous chest when compared to Aina.
* (voiced by
Mao Ichimichi
is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She started her career as a Japanese idol member of Horipro's HOP Club under the stage name and is a gravure idol. She started an extensive voice acting career under the stage name .
Biography
Ichimic ...
), a quarter-Russian girl who adores Aina. "Nimble like a ninja", Saeri is a low-key girl who was also invited by Aina to challenge the dungeon with her.
* (voiced by Emi Uema), a fairy girl who "loves breasts". Pai was saved by Aina from a monster attack and thus grew attached to her. She was the one who told the protagonists the story of the dungeon and Holy Grail.
Her name is a shortened version of Japanese slang word ''
oppai''.
* (voiced by
Yu Kobayashi), the student council vice president at Anberyl Girls Academy. Blessed with talent, she handles mostly everything flawlessly without effort. After experiencing her first loss to student council president Mirei, she is overcome with admiration for her.
* (voiced by Fumiko Uchimura), the student council president of Anberyl Girls Academy. Unlike Marika, she has little talent but has built her way up through hard work and discipline. She wishes to be nice to everyone.
* (voiced by Akira Nakagawa), the founder of Anberyl Girls Academy. A "woman of many mysteries", she is feared by students due to her strict rules but also well respected for her dignified behavior.
* (voiced by
Kikuko Inoue
is a Japanese voice actress, singer and narrator. She has been part of the singing groups DoCo and Goddess Family Club. She is the founder and manager of her voice-acting company, Office Anemone. Inoue tends to play the " perfect girlfriend" o ...
), a former student who now takes care of the shop and general affairs at the academy. She is extremely popular among the students and is a big sister-like figure.
* Rio Akanezaki (voiced by Ayaka Fukuhara), a new character introduced in Omega Labyrinth Z and Aina's rival. She hates rules and considers teachers a troublesome existence. It was her dream to use the Holy Grail to make her breasts smaller. However, because Aina destroyed it before she got the chance, she has developed a grudge towards her.
Plot
The game is set in the Anberyl Girls Academy, where a rumor of a "", an object that is said to be able to grant any wish, has surfaced. The grail is said to be hidden in an ancient cave that is only open on the school's founding day. Thus, at the beginning of the game, several girls have come in search of the mysterious grail, with protagonist Aina Akemiya setting out to find the grail in order to increase her chest size, which is smaller than the other girls'.
Beginning the game's storyline, Aina and Nako head into a nearby dungeon in order to find the grail but are immediately separated.
However, luckily Aina then meets the fairy girl, Pai. Pai explains that inside the dungeon, Aina will encounter monsters, and each one she kills will release Omega Power, a powerful source of energy which strengthens her stats and also enlarges her bust. However, upon leaving the dungeon, the Omega Power is dispelled and her chest returns to their normal size.
Promotion and development
The game was first announced in August 2015 through a teaser website, with additional information being later released in a ''
Dengeki PlayStation
is a Japanese video gaming publication by ASCII Media Works (formerly MediaWorks). It primarily features information pertaining to the PlayStation brand. Dengeki was originally founded as a magazine in 1994 and ran until 2020, when it ceased p ...
'' issue.
A debut trailer was subsequently released, and a second trailer was afterwards released in late October. Characters were teased in a series of silhouettes on ''Dengeki Online''. Initial copies of the game include the "Lightning Malance" weapon and "Butt Shield" armor; unlike the other in-game equipment, these can be repurchased upon losing them in a dungeon.
Reception
Four ''
Famitsu
formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the fo ...
'' reviewers scored ''Omega Labyrinth'' 7, 7, 7 and 8 out of 10, for a total score of 29/40. The game sold 25,000 copies during its first week on sale in Japan.
Richard Eisenbeis of
Kotaku
''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier.
History
...
summed up the game as "an odd mix of breast-filled fanservice and unforgiving dungeon crawling."
He wrote that players who enjoy fanservice or challenging gameplay may like ''Omega Labyrinth'', but the death system (where missions must be completed in one go) and limited item capacity were criticized as too difficult and too frustrating, respectively.
The game was compared to the ''
Senran Kagura
is a video game series created by Kenichiro Takaki, produced by Marvelous and mostly developed by Tamsoft. The franchise revolves around groups of female shinobi, and has received manga and anime adaptations. The anime has been licensed by F ...
'' series by Sato of Siliconera.
Sequels
A sequel, ''Omega Labyrinth Z'', was released on July 6, 2017 in Japan for the Vita and
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
.
The girls from the original return, alongside new characters. In ''Omega Labyrinth Z'', the protagonists explore a mysterious new cave at Anberyl Girls Academy, which is opened only on the anniversary of the school's founding.
The game was announced on March 9, 2017
and the debut trailer released on April 7.
''Omega Labyrinth Z'' was originally going to be released in North America and Europe during early 2018 through publisher PQube Games.
In February 2018, the title was refused classification in Australia
and in March 2018, the
Video Standards Council
The Video Standards Council (VSC), also known as the ''VSC Rating Board'', is an administrator of the Pan European Game Information, PEGI system of Video game rating, age rating for video games. It was established in 1989, originally with the purpo ...
also confirmed the title had been refused classification in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
On June 25, 2018, PQube announced the planned Western version of the game has been cancelled after being blocked for release by Sony America and Sony Europe.
A third game, ''Omega Labyrinth Life'', was released worldwide on August 1, 2019 for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, and for Steam on December 10, 2019. The PlayStation 4 version, which was renamed ''Labyrinth Life'', is censored; some sexual content is removed or replaced, and some nude scenes have obscuring steam added.
References
External links
*
{{Matrix Software
2015 video games
Roguelike video games
Dungeon crawler video games
Japanese role-playing video games
PlayStation Vita games
Windows games
Japan-exclusive video games
Matrix Software games
Obscenity controversies in video games
D3 Publisher games
Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises
Bishōjo games
Video games developed in Japan
Single-player video games