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Sometimes being a gamer is depressing. Despite criticism from the media, testers, and the public, you sometimes just can't stop a crappy game from being released. I'm talking to you, Super Man. But sometimes, every once and a while, someone releases a gem that manages to do everything right. Meet Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors - the best game you've never heard of. Yes, 2! This here's a sequel, and like its predecessor, Otogi: Myth of Demons, Otogi 2 is an amazing action title unfortunately overlooked by most casual gamers. It's almost a crime to ignore Otogi 2, though, because it's just too damn good to let fall by the wayside.
Gameplay:
The game play is rock solid. An action game at heart, Otogi 2 also has a delightful blend of RPG elements as well, with stat management, leveling up, and customizable equipment with six different characters to choose from. You can equip different weapons, items, and spells, and sometimes this can be the key to victory. Generally, you'll want to equip the best weapon you can as far as raw damage, but spell selection is important, too, as magic conservation can literally save your life. Accessories can prove to be the most useful of all your equipment, though, as certain items can do anything from protecting you from fire or being frozen, to boosting your jump. Levels are long enough to prove challenging, but short enough to keep the frustration away if you die towards the end of the level.which can happen quite frequently if you aren't careful. Some of Otogi's levels are absolutely brutal, and they'll leave your ass black and blue if you don't use the right character in the right situation, or if you can't figure out the trick to dodging or avoiding a particular trap or attack.
Graphics:
Holy God, this game is pretty. The water is photo realistic, the special effects and magic are spectacular, the character models are gorgeous, the environments are beautifully rendered and often destructible, the shattering effects on objects are awesome, enemies look amazing, and everything in general just looks so damn good that if I don't stop describing it, I'm going to run out of adjectives. It's almost mind boggling how beautiful this game is, and even more so when you consider the sheer amount of action going on at any given time during gameplay. Hundreds - literally hundreds - of enemies can be onscreen, and with all of those baddies, your character, and the special effects going at once, there isn't an ounce of slowdown. I have no idea how Sega and From Software managed to pull this off, and frankly, I don't care, because when a game looks this good you don't ask questions. You embrace the beauty pouring from your Xbox and pick your jaw up off the floor. Enough said.
Sound:
Otogi 2 needs to be applauded for more than just its visuals, however. The sound is tremendous as well. Based on a Japanese legend about demon slaying ass kickers, everything in Otogi is designed to give the game a very Japanese feeling. This is helped a great deal by the outstanding soundtrack. You can tell right off the bat that this isn't an EA game, because you aren’t' having Snoop Dogg and Ludacris shoved down your throat. Instead, you're treated to gorgeous score of Japanese orchestral music with instruments straight from the orient. The haunting, moody background flows seamlessly with the visuals and overall outlook of the game, helping to make it feel exactly as the developers intended - like a feudal romp through old school Japan. The sound effects aren't bad, either, with plenty of metallic slashes for when you get up-close-and-personal with your weapon of choice, and some nice sounding effects for your magic as well. One of my favorite sounds, though, comes from simply laying waste to the environment - doing so will give you a very satisfying, deep "boom" as you damn near make some poor rock, house, or crystal explode.
Longevity:
The only real problem with Otogi is that the game can become quite repetitive. Nearly every level involves you destroying Demon A to reach Objective B, which you have to destroy to reach and kill Demon C. While it is fun, and you're rewarded for being thorough (destroying every single thing on the level, for example), it isn't really enough to separate the levels from each other. Difficulty does that, for the most part. Those that stay on board for the long haul, though, are treated to some fun un-lockables, like multiple new costumes for the characters to play in (try earning Tsuna's second outfit, it's easily one of the coolest in the game) and the ability to carry over all of your items, level ups, and spells from one game to the next.
Overall:
With its gorgeous visuals, haunting musical score, addictive game play, and a plethora of unlockables, Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors is an amazing game that everyone should consider adding to their library.
Pros:
- You'd have to find some crazy German word to describe how pretty Otogi 2 is.
- Lots to unlock.
- Excellent use of nearly every avenue available to make the game feel Japanese.
Cons:
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