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Let me tell you, raising the dead isn't exactly a piece of cake - especially if they've already done the whole sacred duty thing once or twice. I mean, how upset would you be if you were called back from the dead, twice, to rid the city of evil? Exactly. So, it's understandable that it would take a pretty powerful sacrifice to raise them the second time around - like say, a collection of your more powerful generals offing themselves in front of the legendary warrior's grave. And that's exactly how Otogi 2 begins. Left with no alternative, Raikoh is once again brought back to the realm of the living. An ancient evil, once thought destroyed, has flourished and is now threatening to consume the countryside. Though this time around, Raikoh's not alone. Joined by five others, including the sacrificed generals and a living tree root, Raikoh and crew set out to rid the land of evil once more.
Those who played the original Otogi will feel right at home here, as the controls and gameplay haven't changed much. In the event that you missed the first one, the Otogi series can best be described as straight-up action with a side of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and a smidgen of RPG off to the side. Upon sighting an enemy, you can launch them into the air and perform a flurry of airborne combos before smashing them back into the ground. Depending on the attacks used, your character will level up in different ways. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses - the living root is a powerful magic user, while the heavy-set axe wielder relies on his strong physical attacks and throwing ability. As a result, each character retains a unique gameplay style. Since the game forces you to use each character at least once, you'll have no choice but to sample them all. In fact, you can play as almost any character in any stage. To prevent you from using the same character repeatedly, the game is broken into phases, which tend to last for three levels or so. Each character can only be used once during a phase, so it's in your best interests to ensure that you pick the best character for the mission. This isn't too hard though, the character's "affinity" or usefulness for a mission is displayed when choosing the level. It's a smart way to make sure that players don't breeze through the game using the same character repeatedly, and since each character plays differently, it really helps to break up the monotony. The levels themselves are stunningly detailed, almost bordering on breathtaking. The imagery they present seem straight out of Japanese mythology. As if that wasn't impressive enough, most are filled with destructible structures that crumble once hit. With some stages featuring hundreds of enemies, there's a good chance that something's going to end up in pieces. All this graphical prowess comes at the cost though, namely the framerate. It skips and stutters from time to time, but never to the point where it becomes a major problem. On the same note, the camera can work itself into some awkward angles, though it's so easy to remedy that it's almost not an issue. For an action game, Otogi 2 is packed with replay value. Apart from the multiple characters, there's also a challenge mode and a 2nd Play option that allows you to replay the game with the items and stats you acquired the first time around. Otogi 2 is easily one of the most graphically intensive Xbox games to date and, unlike earlier titles that garnered this title (I'm looking at you, Wreckless), it's actually fun to play. Don't let the box art or the weird name fool you, this is one action game worth playing.
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