Otogi: Myth of Demons **Official**

**BioMechanic** · 02 Sep 2003, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ammadeau

I was having trouble with the 4 guardians stage, but I've got it figured out. Sadly, don't have the time to play it. I don't think I'll get the moonlight sword my first time through, I'll save that for the replay, but I'm going to try to get as much of the other stuff as I can.

How're you planning to tackle it? I finally managed by doing the series of rooms with the breakable seals first - lining up those god-awful stone glyphs wasn't easy for me. By the way, can I say that I HATE THOSE GLYPHS WITH A PASSION?!?!?!!?

There, I feel better.

Anyways, after that, the other three guardians gave me little trouble - except for the glyphs getting in the way.

I also think I'll wait to go for 100% souls for second replay. Levelling up will make the timed restrictions a lot easier, plus I want to max out anyway (I'm at level 21 currently).

Ammadeau, do you have all the mercy orbs? I missed one somewhere....

Spent two hours on the damn final boss to no avail. I was hoping for an epic, straight-up fight rather than the pot-shot that it is. It's disappointing that the guy is such a cheap bastich (not to mention the beautiful yet annoying environment you fight in). I'm not even sure how close I am to beating him, as he keeps morphing forms (I got to his third - wonder if that's the final one? Grrr). The light attack-to-charged-magic combo works great when I can hit him, but the guy moves so frickin fast I can't maintain a lock-on. Kind of a letdown after the rest of the game was so brilliant. Oh well.

A minute on that bridge level? Way to go, Prince!

**AaronChance** · 02 Sep 2003, 01:45 PM

Just cleared the second to last level easily. A simple way of doing the mirror thing I found is to face the mirror with the camera behind you so you can see the symbol things coming. Since your attack hits all around you, swing as they approach and it'll knock them right into the glass. Didn't lose a single orb on them. The rest was easier even.

I have all the orbs. Did you get the ones on both versions of the fire pit stage? There's also one in the hidden room of the repeat of the golden essence stage.

Yeah, I'm leaving 100% to the next run, but I think I'll collect a few more items before attempting the final boss.

**Prince Planet** · 02 Sep 2003, 02:12 PM

Somehow, I managed to lock out any magic use on a few levels. I was euipped with Scimitars, Needle of Fury, and Phoneix Magic (1), and couldn't use any magic on the replays, or in the current stage (9 or 10). I'm not sure what happened, but when I switched back to the Locust Wing and the Beads, I was able to use magic again.

I wonder if the Needle of Fury locks out magic? I'll experiment a bit more tonight. Has this happened to any of you guys?

It's funny how this game always makes me feel a little lost.

**BioMechanic** · 02 Sep 2003, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ammadeau

Just cleared the second to last level easily. A simple way of doing the mirror thing I found is to face the mirror with the camera behind you so you can see the symbol things coming. Since your attack hits all around you, swing as they approach and it'll knock them right into the glass. Didn't lose a single orb on them. The rest was easier even.

Thanks! I figured it'd be something obvious like that. Will definitely do that on 2nd play, as I hear that level is murder the second time round. It'll also help with me staying alive long enough to get 100% on that level, heh.

I have all the orbs. Did you get the ones on both versions of the fire pit stage? There's also one in the hidden room of the repeat of the golden essence stage.

Second fire pit = the low-grav Naflgar-ish stage, right? You know, I think I did miss that one. Is it in about the same location as the first? I'm pretty sure I got the second golden essence one, though. Thanks again. I'm going to need every ounce of help for the last boss - I may end up trying 100% now after all, as I'll undoubtedly level up along the way in addition to getting closer to Moonlight. But I fear that escort level.....

Prince, I've not gotten the Needle myself, but I have heard of items that cancel out magic.

About being lost - I was a little annoyed with that sensation at first, but I grew to appreciate the vagueness and sometime complete lack of information. Helps you experiment, I guess.

What do you guys think about the revisiting of levels to get the different objectives? The way the game's set up, on many levels you'll have to play them three times at least (first time, 100% objects, time/combo limit). Cheap or clever replay trick?

**AaronChance** · 02 Sep 2003, 02:48 PM

No, the mercy orb isn't in the same place. It's near the row of columns in the back to the right, sort of hiding away in a corner so easy to miss. I missed it my first two times in fact. It also teleports. Tricky bastard.

I like replaying levels with different objectives. It was something I really wished Gunvalkyrie had because doing the same thing over and over felt like the levels were underused. I find it incredibly enjoyable to go through the level with just the purpose of smashing everything in sight. Especially satisfying on the tower and towerless remix, shards of crystal flying all over the place.

I wish the game told you which levels you had gotten the special item on because I honestly don't remember and there's a lot of them to keep track of. Still need needle of fury. Probably should get that next. I killed the powered up version of that water spirit in ten seconds.

**Prince Planet** · 02 Sep 2003, 03:05 PM

Agreed. Forcing the player to go back through levels doesn't always work -- usually because there's nothing particularly exciting to do, and it just becomes a chore.

So far, however, I've really enjoyed the replays on Otogi. First, as Ammadeau mentioned, Otogi realizes the thrill of wanton destruction better than just about any game before it -- smashing giant columns, only to have three stories of the level come crashing down in a pile of chunks, shards, and dust just hasn't gotten old. Also, the special objectives thus far have been just challenging enough, without being overly frustrating. Although, it seems ridiculous to assume that a player would go back and try every conceivable method (# of enemies killed, completion time, destruction component, combo totals, etc.) to obtain the unlockables. Yay for FAQs.

Basically, the replays work because the combat and destruction is so damn satisfying.

**BioMechanic** · 02 Sep 2003, 03:35 PM

Yeah, I don't think it adds cheap length either. The option to repair levels is a very nice inclusion too - helps you track down the intact bits you missed before, or blow everything away from the start. The timed secret objectives basically make up a time attack mode without it being separate from the main game, too.

But I agree that there should have been some kind of indication for which special objectives you've completed. It wouldn't have been hard - just another little stat at the end of each level: "Secret Objective: No" or something similar.

Destroying the environment is amazingly fun and cathartic (especially when you use enemies to smash walls etc), and never gets old. Someone mentioned earlier in the thread that Raiko has some serious weight behind his attacks, and it's portrayed amazingly well. Huge power for such a skinny dude. Revisiting a trashed level makes me think "Lo, I have been here before, ha ha - see what havoc I have wrought!"

I also don't mind the recycled levels, because they're usually pretty different, like the low-grav one (thanks for the tip, Ammadeau - I'll be sure to track down that last orb).

Oh yeah - the demo level is in the game.....kind of. The Valley of Prayer (I think it's level 26) has the same layout - just the items and enemies are different. The fact that the demo is in fact exclusive is a pretty cool bonus.

My favorite level in the game is still Untamed Winds.

JM · 02 Sep 2003, 04:38 PM

So far, I think my favorite leve was the "moonlight" level(can't remember the exact title), where you square off against the demon king from the 5th level. Not that it was particularly hard, but it just felt like something straight out of an anime, especially when he jumps about a half mile to the next place of battle. Simply amazing.

This may bumb Orta off of my #1 Xbox title of the year spot.

JM