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fitbabits
10-12-2008, 10:19 PM
It's Thanksgiving weekend up here in the frozen north, so let's gather round the gaming consoles and get ready to carve up a few nasty demons with this week's Turning The Spigot!

Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/eb/Otogi_2_-_Immortal_Warriors_Coverart.png


Platform: Xbox (not BC on the 360, alas)
Year: 2004
Rating: Smashing
# of Players: Singleplayer Only

Otogi 2 was a follow-up to the awesome Otogi (also on the Xbox and also incredibly overlooked) which put you in the mouldy shoes of the undead general Raikoh as he helped rid medieval Japan of a nasty demon infestation. After taking a well deserved dirt nap following the events of the first game, Raikoh is brought back to unlife to destroy even more demons.

Unlike the first game, Raikoh isn't smashing up the scenery by himself. He has help from 4 of his immortal generals and his mystic guide as he starts swinging his swords around and destroying large chunks of the landscape. The fact that you have 6 different characters to chose from is a huge plus in Otogi 2's favour over the first game. Each character plays differently, with Raikoh having a floaty, elegant swordplay element to his combat while others in his troop are huge, lumbering giants who can smash up half of a level with a swing of his axe and my personal favourite, the floating tree who flings his spirit wheel around at insane speeds.

A huge part of the charm of both Otogi games is the fact that almost everything in the levels is destructible. Taking apart an entire cave full of crystals or destroying an old shrine from the inside out is an incredibly cathartic experience.

I will warn you though. This game is incredibly Japanese. It is based, at least loosely, on a lot of traditional Japanese mythology and is quite... odd... at times. But if you like weird Japanese aesthetics and like smashing crap and killing demons with one of 6 different immortal warriors, well, do yourself a favour and grab a copy of Otogi 2 and have a blast!

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You can find copies of Otogi 1 & 2 in a lot of the discount bins at any boutique electronic store or on Amazon for about $14-15.

Thanks, as always, to our frozen cousin 'oop North', Spigot. This post originally appeared in Spigot's blog (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/blog.php?b=238).

You, too, can have your own blog (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/blog.php) if you're not careful!

Zabyx
10-12-2008, 11:11 PM
Never got around to playing the second one, but I absolutely adored the first one. Great write-up, Spigot (wherever you are!).

Thank you, also, Fits. I have some bargain bin hunting to do tomorrow.

mister slim
10-12-2008, 11:29 PM
Excellent choice. I too loved playing the spirit wheel guy, though I always thought of his as one of those ship's wheels.

Atepsflame
10-13-2008, 12:30 AM
Excellent games. The Otogi games and Breakdown were some of the best X-Box games that totally slipped past most people's radars. I have a friend who for nearly three years always fired up my X-Box to play this game whenever he came to visit me. It's just so damn good.

The Iron Weasel
10-13-2008, 12:55 AM
It bums me out every time I think about it that the 360 doesn't support these awesome, awesome games.

Disgustipated
10-13-2008, 01:13 AM
It bums me out every time I think about it that the 360 doesn't support these awesome, awesome games.

Fuck yes it does. I have this game and can't play it...

Xerxes
10-13-2008, 01:18 AM
It bums me out every time I think about it that the 360 doesn't support these awesome, awesome games.

These games seem to be same genre in Ninja Gaiden and I would say it wins based on camera alone. It's a shame From Software doesn't support these games with a sequel. Armored Core is getting a little stale. I was telling Spigot, I could understand if AC evolved things towards Zone of the Enders game play with customizable mechs, then we'd be having fun. I haven't tried the online portion to see how that plays but if isn't like Chromehounds online campaign then it's probably fail.

Guess I'll just have to hold my tongue until Ninja Blade (http://www.ninja-blade.com/) (360) and Demon's Soul (http://ps3.psu.com/Demons-Soul-Screenshot-1--ss1--demons-soul__g1187.php) (PS3) come out.

Xerxes
10-13-2008, 01:21 AM
Fuck yes it does. I have this game and can't play it...

Dude you can surely get one... Yup and you can even play the Warriors again. Wouldn't you like that. Muahhahahaha. :rolleyes:

Disgustipated
10-13-2008, 03:24 AM
Dude you can surely get one... Yup and you can even play the Warriors again. Wouldn't you like that. Muahhahahaha. :rolleyes:

No way I'm buying a regular Xbox just for those games. Besides, the Warriors on PSP is almost as good...

H.Bogard
10-13-2008, 05:06 AM
I was so crazy about this game when it was released.

It's a shame From Software doesn't support these games with a sequel.

Otogi 2 sold less than 20,000 copies in the US when it was released. It won multiple 'Best game no one played' esque awards that year.

Yeah, they're sticking with Armored Core. That one sells atleast in some regions.

Spigot
10-13-2008, 06:57 AM
Excellent games. The Otogi games and Breakdown were some of the best X-Box games that totally slipped past most people's radars. I have a friend who for nearly three years always fired up my X-Box to play this game whenever he came to visit me. It's just so damn good.Exactly, which is why it boggles my mind why a) the Otogi games are not BC on the 360 and b) why From Software doesn't make a new one for the new consoles instead of beating the Armored Core series into the ground.

Oh, and I was torn this week between doing the Otogi games or Breakdown, but I figured I'd get Otogi out of the way because every week I DON'T put it on there, Xerxes spams my gtalk box whining about its absence :)

Xerxes
10-13-2008, 08:24 AM
Otogi 2 sold less than 20,000 copies in the US when it was released. It won multiple 'Best game no one played' esque awards that year.

Yeah, they're sticking with Armored Core. That one sells atleast in some regions.
Not my fault marketing was shit. Next time they need to get a better publisher. Although Sega should of had enough money to get people behind it.

Like I said, all I can hope is that Ninja Blade (360) or Demon's Soul (PS3) will be a spiritual successor.

mister slim
10-13-2008, 06:18 PM
Like I said, all I can hope is that Ninja Blade (360) or Demon's Soul (PS3) will be a spiritual successor.

Doesn't look like either of them will be though. :mad:

Xerxes
10-13-2008, 06:49 PM
Doesn't look like either of them will be though. :mad:

Why you say that? Neither of them has any game play trailer yet.:confused:

Spigot
10-13-2008, 07:17 PM
Why you say that? Neither of them has any game play trailer yet.:confused:You dare doubt Mister Slim? HOW DARE YOU!?

mister slim
10-13-2008, 08:21 PM
Ninja Blade
41137
Demon's Soul
41157

Xerxes
10-13-2008, 09:13 PM
Sweet. Didn't know trailers was out and I looked too. Anyways, those both look pick uppers for me. Ninja Blade more so. I mean some people talk about cinematic action and that there was it. Sure it's QTEs but GoW had em. They aren't all bad. The other game look like it had a ways to go. It also looks like a Western RPG with a action rpg battle system . O_o

As long as it's not Armored Core X, amirite?

Jboy001
10-14-2008, 07:30 AM
ninja games are usually a blast to play