Otogi: Myth of Demons **Official**

I played the demo yesterday.

It's pretty damn cool.

Tyler, I think the control is perfect. Raikou doesn't move as quickly as Hotsuma, so I can definitely see a difference there, but the controls are instantly responsive, and do what they're supposed to.

I'd have to think the demo level is one of the first in the game, as it's really easy, and the layout is sparse. Oh man is it ever a rush to smite an enemy and send it crashing through a building, or leap, attack from above, and smash it into the ground - you can even do this with the boss.

My only problem is with the camera and lock-on. You can lock right away, but if you want to change locked targets, you have to click L trigger to unlock and then move so that you target another enemy. Also, if an enemy moves off-screen, you lose your lock-on. There doesn't appear to be one-touch target switching, which could end up causing trouble if things get hectic later.

Same goes for the camera. The demo doesn't mention that you can center the camera behind Raikou by clicking in the left analog stick, BTW. Although you can move it with the R stick, it's often hard to see exactly what is going on, especially when you're swarmed by the black mages in the canyon. It doesn't seem like the camera is affected by lock-on, either, like in Shinobi, so if you're surprised by combat you'll be attacking something that's not on-screen, which can be disorienting.

These could potentially become problems if and when combat gets more difficult, or if it becomes necessary to perform a lot of quick aerial combat dashing like in GunValk or Shinobi. Personally I have slight concerns at this point, but they're similar to the technical troubles I had with Crimson Sea, and I enjoyed that game immensely despite those issues. In fact Otogi's combat has a cathartic, dynamic feel very similar to Crimson Sea's IMO.

That aside, aerial attack combos are really fun (though it's hard sometimes to gloat over the results due to all the destruction), the game looks gorgeous and sounds fantastic, especially the music. Again, I think the demo is supposed to serve as kind of a training level, so I'm sure things get a lot more interesting as the game progresses.

Otogi has a ton of potential. I'm very much looking forward to it.

What issue of OXM is it in? Is that the one with Starcraft Ghost cover? Since it doesnt say anywhere on the issue if Otogi demo is on the disk.

It's the Sept. issue, #22 I think. Deus Ex:Invisible War is on the cover.

Oh, Ok. My stores didnt get that one yet. Will have to wait some more.

I played the demo, and I'm not sure what I think.

On the one hand, I really want to like this game. The music and theme are awesome, and the visuals are filled with plenty of amazing particle and filter effects.

But the problem I have is with the fighting - it's just too damn simple. Basically, all you do is mash that one button over & over until you get bored and decide it's time to hit the other one. Maybe there's some depth to it, but I can't find it - all I could really come up with was one or two combos, which puts it somewhere below Double Dragon in the complexity department. Rygar is practically Virtua Fighter by comparison.

The game basically plays like a slower Z.O.E. with gravity. I don't really think the Shinobi or Devil May Cry comparisons are warranted; you have a stealth dash type move, but it doesn't work the same way at all. It actually reminds me of Rygar with all the architectural destruction.

Hopefully it's like Rygar in another way; the demo for that game sucked, but the actual game was fantastic (if limited in enemy selection). Hopefully there's alot more to Otogi than we see here. Either way, I'll rent it first.

Oh and if Despair thought the Shinobi camera was rough, Otogi's will give him a heart attack...

I've seen the OXM around here, finally, and think the crew deserves some kind of credit for ditching the cardboard sleeves in favor of slim-line keepcases. Nice touch.

I still haven't bought it yet, though. Maybe tomorrow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Captain Vegetable

I've seen the OXM around here, finally, and think the crew deserves some kind of credit for ditching the cardboard sleeves in favor of slim-line keepcases. Nice touch.

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Mine was cardboard. What gives, OXM?

As for Otogi, the pevious posters' praise and criticism of the limited demo seem pretty fair. I imagine that the complete game, with leveling up, weapons and magic selection, etc. may offer a bit more depth.

One thing I do like: the attacks have serious "weight". When he winds up for the "heavy" blow, you can tell that the house is going to come down. And, of course, it does.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prince Planet

One thing I do like: the attacks have serious "weight". When he winds up for the "heavy" blow, you can tell that the house is going to come down. And, of course, it does.

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Heh, yeah - the club is my favourite weapon. Blasting one of those bird guys through a house with it is cool.

And Bio - about the targeting - if you hold down the trigger, you stay focussed on the enemy. If you just press it once, the camera will still swing around with you.

And I take back what I said about it not having similarities to Shinobi - the life bar is almost exactly the same, and I didn't realize it, but if you go too long without killing enemies/getting those glowing orbs they leave, your life starts draining. Akujiki?

Edit: and my disc came in a cardboard slip, too. Oh well.

Striderkyo - the xbox port of DW4 comes out like a week after Otogi, so if you haven't gotten it for PS2 yet, you won't have to wait very long for something that will tickle you slash-em up fancy.

Well after playing the demo, this game is a buy for me (same day as SC2!!!)...anyway, I liked the controls, characters designs and graphics (though it did remind me more of a PS2 game than an Xbox one but it looked really clean in HD 480p mode...

The use of magic and weapon attacks is a nice combination...one thing that bothered me is that I picked my weapon (from 4 choices) and magic (from 2 choices) and accessories and wasn't able to switch during the level...also when you die, you start the level over, not sure if it will always be this way, because I died at the boss and was hoping to have some sort of save points...

Combat is nice, no where near DMC level (from the little we get in the demo), but still nice. I liked the float features, which basically allows you to swing in the air and slow down to a very slow decent...kinda like Dante double gun air float! I did like the power of the heavy strike, you combo into from light and the final hit launches the baddy across the screen and levels anything in the way...houses get ripped down, etc...

So far promising, it may not top DMC (what can though!?) but I will be buying it and am glad for more of these types of games of late...the mag has a look at another new Shinobi, Otogi style game and has a vid for Ninja Gaiden...