Import Review by R Hurford.
Japanese developer support for the Xbox has so far been a little on the disappointing side with only a hand full of publisher giving the console the attention it deserves. Tecmo, Sega and Capcom have all bet quite heavily on the Xbox and made some damn fine games in the process like the amazing Tekki/Steel Battalion! But the next major title to hit us from the land of the rising sun comes from one of the smaller Japanese developer’s Fromsoftware best know here for its PS2 arena game armored core and more recently the less then good Xbox shooter Murakumo.
The game it’s self is set in ancient Japan based in part on the real life folklore of Japan. The story follows the character Raikoh an undead warrior trying to stop the Evil demonic army that has been unleashed upon the Earth destroying every thing. Built on a stylish 3D engine the game can move polygons around the screen at a rate of knots allowing the programmers to make almost every thing destroyable! From walls, houses and temples it can all be destroyed with one mighty swipe from Raikoh sword making for some interesting game play tactics. There are also some RPG elements to the game which luckily enough can be totally ignored for all us non Japanese speaking people. Set in 25 plus levels with more then 30 weapons and 12 varieties of magic the game has enough to keep even the most hardened gamer going.
A real looker is all I really need say about this one from the menus to the in game engine this game looks exceptionally good. If you get the chance try down loading a high res video for OtoGI as the Screen shot could never do this game justices as the fogging and sun glaring effects really are lost on them. The controls are simple and responsive yet challenging to master in the frantic battles that happen to often then not. Raikoh controls a simple enough;
A = jump (A well jumping makes Raikoh do a second jump)
B = Basic attack
Y = Hard attack
X= Used for Magic
Right trigger = Makes Raikoh warp space/move faster (can also be used to keep you in the air)
The game play its self is simply enough in most places it’s a kill them before they kill you kind of game (it does have more depth to it but till the US version comes out it is lost to me in a mass of Japanese text). For the most part it seems far better for Raikoh to fight his enemies in the air were he becomes far more maneuverable by using the Right trigger and a direction you can pall a sort off side step of kinds making it far easer to avoid enemies attacks.
Over all OtoGI in it Japanese forum has been a joy to play the only real grip I have against the game is how hard it becomes after just a few levels the battles will see you whizzing around the screen at a staling rate which can become a little disorienting at times. OtoGI will not be every ones cup of tea but may just be worth a looking when the US version published by Sega comes out later this year.
Score 8.5 out of 10
The over all score for this imported version may be lower the US version when it arrives. Check back for a US review closer to launch.
OtoGI review
Linear Mode
