Otogi is one of my favorite Xbox series. Even hearing the music makes me want to immerse myself in the games. Shame they never released soundtracks, at least that I could ever find.

Does Not Equal (ダズノット)

Sorry, I know this is way off topic but is there a Sony press conference? If so when is it? Thanks and sorry again lol

WhiteFeather

FROM Software's got their hands full this year...we got the Otogi team making Ninja Blade for 360 and the King's Field team making Demon's Souls for PS3. Two different exclusives for two different systems.

Anyone wanna bet how long it's gonna take for flame wars and comparisons between the two to pop up?

Archaotic

I really hope they make an Otogi sequel, it was one of my favorite games on the original Xbox besides Fable, Ninja Gaiden and Phantom Crash. Although the always depleting mana was my biggest gripe about the game, it had an amazing soundtrack, great art design, and was so much fun to teleport around and completely destroy the environment.

DrowningInMercy

Otogi was beast. well beast.

hoster

I've still got my copies of Otogi 1 and 2, even though I don't have my original Xbox anymore, and BC seems unlikely at this point. Great games, although I never did get past the level with the fast-draining mana bar and the gates on Otogi.

Vexorg

I heard Otogi has some frustratingly...Japanese, for lack of a better term...game design choices, like an ever depleting mana bar that functions both as a countdown AND your magic reservoir. Combined with From's reputation with Tenchu and Armored Core (two frustratingly obtuse franchises that simply refuse to evolve), this has always prevented me from picking one of the two games up, and drove me to Ninja Gaiden, its Western sensibilities combined with old-school challenge vastly comforting.

A shame that Itagaki has left Team Ninja, but am I missing out on something special by not playing Otogi?

Gunhaver

One thing I do hope is a change in the name. "Ninja Blade" sounds really uninspired, almost like "Heavenly Sword".

ChiChi_BBQ

@Vexorg: Oh they're not BC yet...? Well I guess I won't be picking them up then...

Gunhaver

Sigh. I remember that game. I had gotten a demo back when I was subscribed to Xbox Official and cared about consoles. I tried to find the game, but could never find a copy. I enjoyed the demo level though.

Kymeira

@Gunhaver: Absolutely. You've done yourself a disservice.

Does Not Equal (ダズノット)

Otogi 3 = 2009.
NEW Jet Set Radio = Q3 2009.
NEW Crazy Taxi = Q2 2010.
Shenmue 3 = 2010.
NEW Panzer Dragoon = Q4 2010 - Q2 2011.

SEGA's back with vengeance.

*~*

Gigaheart

I'd be an extremely happy chappy if we do see another Otogi. Its one of those series that at the time I rated fairly highly and played a whole lot, but only in retrospect do I realise just HOW much I enjoyed. I'd actually rank it in my top 10 of all time.

Sadly my original Xbox broke and they've never made either game backwards compatible, so I dunno if maybe it is partially down to rose tinted glasses.

reno84

@Gunhaver: I can see why some people would find it to have some odd design choices, but they're the sort that you'll probably be willing to put aside due to its successes in other areas. And if you do, and you play through the games enough, then eventually you come to realise that the design decisions that struck you as really wierd or awkward actually kinda work.

reno84

Awww. No Otogi 3? Damn. How about Metal Wolf Chaos 2 while we're making wish lists? I want a US version of MWC, From Software. Please?

Yes, fighting japanese demons with giant swords and playing the President of the United States in a suit of power armor would be a great 1-2 combo of awesome.

Salen

@Gigaheart: Yeah, you forgot:

Skies of Arcadia 2 = Q4 2009.

Axass

Speaking of Otogi, why isn't this game BC on 360 yet???

IceKXG

Let's just hope that this ninja game will rise to success like Ninja Gaiden, and not sink and fail like the Shinobi remake for the PS2...God help us all.

acez2087

Just watched some gameplay videos and noticed that the game massively utilizes quick time events.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that this is a Ninja game with QTE and that Itagaki is going to be PISSED.

Dudemeister

@Kymeira: I found a copy in the bargain bin of Fry's Electronics. Best 20 I ever spent.

Ebay. EBAY!

FrigidAir44

@Gunhaver: Foolish mistake sir. These games are amazing and these design decisions work. Some of the boss battles in this game are amazing and the acts of pure destruction you wreak in game is an art form of its own.

I own both, and will never get rid of them.

FrigidAir44

I wonder if they will ever get around to adding BC for Otogi on the 360, as I never got the chance to play it.

*sigh*

dead_red_eyes

@Gigaheart: Are you telling the truth? If this is true, that'd be the best thing ever.

If you're lying though... Well, I'm a Ninja, so I'll let you figure that one out.

Zero_Beat

@Archaotic: Twenty seconds after you asked that question. And that's if it's a slow day for fanboys.

Zero_Beat

Otogi was good. I like the weapons quite a bit, and the ridiculous property destruction was a huge plus. There's nothing like smashing an enemy into a building and then watch in awe as the building crumbles into dust. Easily my favorite weapon that I attained was the skylarks, because of the range on those puppies. I never did get the moonlight sword, because the damn hyrda kept killing me. The Crimson King was also an enemy that always gave me a decent challenge, and he sounded like Mojo Jojo.

Huh, how did this site remember what the comment I was typing up before it went crazy?

Otogi 2 was much better. I trained Raikoh's stats to all 999 and bought the moonlight sword. That is an amazing weapon. I also like the diverse cast, though Seimei became relatively weak on the second playthrough.

My favorite characters by far are Raikoh, Sadamitsu, and Tsuna. Raikoh for the moonlight sword and well-balanced attributes, Sadamitsu for her ability to stay airborne indefinitely (double jump, X, double jump, X...), her crazy dash range, unlimited combo ability, and the freezing raven, and Tsuna for his shockwaves that wreak complete and utter destruction.

The spells were also incredible in those games. Explosive magic butterflies, dragons that act as missiles, powerful bolts of lightning, and the phoneix were fun enough on their own, but then they added the level four spells that were just crazy. The wolves and centipede were hard to aim, but the golden spider and blue storm were amazingly useful spells.

I wish my Xbox worked now.

Zero_Beat

Heavenly Sword, Ninja Blade... lol...

Space marine rifle!

Magical slingshot!

Crackpot's Crackpipe!

Who invents this trash?

pieisdelicioushere