Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan

Lore & Background

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan was developed by Kiro'o Games, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, making it the first video game developer from Central Africa. Development began in early 2014, and the staff were self-taught due to the lack of local video game development infrastructure. The game's story and world were built around the Kiro'o Tales, a term derived from Swahili meaning 'Spiritual Vision'. Founder Olivier Madiba stated that the fictional planet Auriona represents a fantasy vision where Africa was never colonized, and the narrative draws symbolic parallels between the trials of the protagonists and the common history of Africa.

The game's setting and aesthetics are rooted in multiple African cultures: the announcement trailer was dubbed in the Bassa dialect, Enzo's battle gear is inspired by Maasai clothing, and non-player character outfits draw from the Tuareg, Yoruba, Fula, and other peoples. Monsters from various African myths appear as enemies. The gameplay is inspired by Tales of Destiny and has been compared to Dust: An Elysian Tail, featuring real-time combat where the player controls Enzo and can summon Aurion, an ancient energy that grants powerful Aurionic modes. The player explores a two-dimensional world, visiting six continents to forge alliances.

Reader's Guide

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan holds significance as a pioneering title from Central Africa's first video game developer, Kiro'o Games. Its Kickstarter campaign launched in September 2015 with a goal of €40,000 and raised €49,775 by October 2015, securing consultation from former Bungie design director Paul Bertone. The game was released on Steam on April 14, 2016, published by Plug-In Digital. Pre-release coverage from Destructoid and Kill Screen praised its visual style and cultural ambition, with Kill Screen describing it as 'a loveletter' to games like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball Z and asserting that Africa is capable of creating wonder and fantasy. Post-release, Hardcore Gamer rated it 3.5 out of 5, commending its ambition, style, and combat mechanics while noting a need for more polish in storytelling. The game's legacy lies in its role as a cultural milestone, using African mythology, music, and fashion to create a fantasy world that Kiro'o Games hoped would unify and transmit African culture and inspire other creators.

Did You Know?

• Aurion is the first video game developed by a studio from Central Africa.
• The game's fictional world of Auriona is based on a fantasy view where Africa was not colonized.
• The Kickstarter campaign for Aurion raised €49,775, exceeding its €40,000 goal.
• Enzo's battle gear is inspired by Maasai clothing, and NPC outfits draw from Tuareg, Yoruba, and Fula cultures.