Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan
An action RPG based on African mythology from Cameroon's first game developer.
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is an action role-playing game created by Kiro'o Games, a studio based in Cameroon. It was released on April 14, 2016, through Steam, published by Plug-In Digital. The game follows Enzo Kori-Odan, prince of Zama, who is betrayed by his fiancée Erine's brother and overthrown just before his coronation and wedding. To reclaim his throne, the couple travels to other countries seeking allies.
The gameplay is two-dimensional and real-time, resembling a brawler with an emphasis on combos. The player controls Enzo, who can summon an ancient energy called Aurion to activate powerful Aurionic modes. Abilities and power can be upgraded. The combat was inspired by Tales of Destiny and compared to Dust: An Elysian Tail.
The story is set on the planet Auriona, which draws from African cultures, music, fashion, and myths. Enemies include monsters from various African legends. The plot begins with Enzo's exile by his brother-in-law, then follows his quest to form an alliance, restore his rule, and address the geopolitical and existential challenges of kingship.
Development began in early 2014. Kiro'o Games is the first video game developer from Central Africa, and its staff is self-taught due to the lack of local game development infrastructure. The game's fictional world imagines an Africa that was never colonized, and its story uses symbolic parallels to African history. The announcement trailer was dubbed in the Bassa dialect, Enzo's gear is inspired by Maasai clothing, and NPC outfits draw from Tuareg, Yoruba, Fula, and other cultures. The studio aims to unify and transmit African culture through myths, tales, and values.
To fund completion, Kiro'o Games launched a Kickstarter campaign on September 15, 2015, seeking €40,000. It ended on October 20 with €49,775. Stretch goals included translations, hiring consultants like former Bungie design director Paul Bertone, and a PlayStation 4 release, but only Bertone's involvement was confirmed.
Pre-release, Destructoid praised the game's look, while Kill Screen called it a love letter to games like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball Z, asserting Africa's capacity for fantasy. Post-release, Hardcore Gamer rated it 3.5 out of 5, commending its ambition, style, and combat but noting a need for more polish in storytelling and gameplay integration.
- Developer
- Kiro'o Games
- Publisher
- Plug-In Digital
- Release date
- April 14, 2016
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Platform
- Steam
- Setting
- Planet Auriona, inspired by African cultures
Lore & Background
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan was developed by Kiro'o Games, a studio based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and the first video game developer from Central Africa. Development began in early 2014, and because of the lack of video game development infrastructure in Cameroon, the staff were self-taught. The game was funded through a Kickstarter campaign launched in September 2015, which successfully raised €49,775 by October 2015. The game was released on April 14, 2016, via Steam, published by French company Plug-In Digital.
The story follows Enzo Kori-Odan, prince of the fictional land of Zama, who is betrayed and exiled by his fiancée Erine's brother just before his coronation and wedding. The couple travel to other countries to seek help forming an alliance to defeat the usurper and reclaim the throne. The game's world, Auriona, is based on African cultures, with music, fashion, and myths drawn from various African peoples, including the Maasai, Tuareg, Yoruba, and Fula. The developers invented the Kiro'o Tales, a name from Swahili meaning 'Spiritual Vision,' and stated that the setting imagines a fantasy Africa that was not colonized.
Gameplay is a single-player action role-playing experience in a two-dimensional world. Combat is real-time, similar to a brawler, with an emphasis on combos. The player character Enzo can summon an ancient energy called Aurion, which grants powerful abilities in Aurionic modes. The gameplay was inspired by Tales of Destiny and compared to Dust: An Elysian Tail. The player explores six continents to forge alliances and can unlock greater abilities.
Reader's Guide
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan holds significance as the first video game developed in Central Africa, representing a milestone for the region's game industry. Its use of African mythology and cultures as a direct inspiration for its setting, story, and character design was a deliberate departure from the European-inspired fantasy common in role-playing games. The developer, Kiro'o Games, aimed to unify and transmit African culture by combining myths, tales, and values. The game's Kickstarter campaign attracted attention from industry veterans, including former Bungie design director Paul Bertone, who consulted on the project. Pre-release coverage praised the game's visual style and ambition, with outlets like Kill Screen calling it a 'loveletter' to games and anime and asserting that Africa is capable of creating wonder and fantasy. Post-release reception was mixed; Hardcore Gamer gave it 3.5 out of 5, commending its ambition, style, and combat mechanics but noting a need for more polish in storytelling and gameplay integration. The game remains a notable example of independent game development from an underrepresented region and a deliberate effort to center African narratives in a global medium.
Did You Know?
- Aurion was developed by Kiro'o Games, the first video game developer from Central Africa.
- The Kickstarter campaign for Aurion raised €49,775, exceeding its initial goal of €40,000.
- The game's fictional world, Auriona, is based on a fantasy view where Africa was not colonized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan?
It is a 2D action RPG developed by Cameroon's Kiro'o Games and released on Steam in April 2016 under the Plug-In Digital label. The game blends real-time brawler combat with role-playing progression systems.
Who is the protagonist and what drives the main story?
Players take on Enzo Kori-Odan, prince of Zama, whose coronation and wedding are shattered when his fiancée Erine's brother stages a betrayal and seizes the throne. The narrative follows Enzo and Erine journeying across foreign lands to rally allies for his restoration.
What does the combat feel like in Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan?
Fights are two-dimensional, real-time, and built around chaining combos for a brawler-like rhythm. During battle, Enzo can also summon an ancient energy called Aurion to unleash special attacks.
What is the world and cultural inspiration behind the game?
The story is set on the fictional planet Auriona, whose nations and mythologies are heavily inspired by African cultures and traditions. The project came from Kiro'o Games, recognized as Cameroon's first video game studio.
Why do fans consider Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan a notable entry in the genre?
It offers a brawler-style action RPG rooted in West African mythology, a setting far less common than the Japanese or European fantasy fare that dominates the space. Its origin as a Cameroonian studio's debut title also made it a landmark moment for African game development.
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