Japanese version of Otogi, identical in excellence. The first Otogi in original JP version for collectors and fans of From Software's mystical action. Same visual and gameplay qualities as the international version.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Six warriors with distinct powers battle demons invading Heian-era Japan in the original Japanese version of the Otogi sequel. Published by FromSoftware, released in Japan in 2003. Carries over the destructive and magical gameplay of the first entry, adding five new playable characters, new weapons, expanded stages, and more numerous new enemies.
Otogi - Hyakki Toubatsu Emaki review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Japanese mythology elevated by From Software: ethereal settings, grotesque demons and environments pulverised in a melancholy beauty. The veiled light and the polished design compose a dark, refined dreaminess. This art direction, sumptuous and spellbinding, stands as a confidential visual jewel of the console.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾5,8 GB📅25/12/2003
Published by Sega
Otogi - Hyakki Toubatsu Emaki (Xbox) price, value & rarity
Original Japanese version of the Otogi sequel, Hyakki Toubatsu Emaki, a more ambitious extension of FromSoftware's mythological action with a widened roster. The Xbox's weak success in Japan limited its run, and the cult status since gained by the studio's early productions tightened its price. Its desirability rests on this blend of island scarcity and prestigious developer signature.
Memorable bosses
Expanding on its elder, this sequel hands several warriors the hunt for a myriad of creatures drawn from Japanese legend, from graceful specters to nightmarish titans. Varying characters and their styles to fell these guardians enriches each clash with new approaches. Still carried by a dreamlike, melancholy staging, the whole refines the original's formula.
An underrated gem
Made by FromSoftware, this plunge into a demon-haunted Heian-era Japan charms with its dreamlike art direction and fully destructible environments. Too singular and quiet, it slipped under the radar outside Japan. Its melancholy beauty and elegant aerial action make it a treasure for fans of experiences both contemplative and snappy.
Is Otogi - Hyakki Toubatsu Emaki still worth playing in 2026?
An action game from FromSoftware, Otogi plunges an undead warrior into a mythological Japan of unreal beauty, where you slice through hordes of demons in fully destructible settings. The aerial fluidity of the combat, the dreamlike art direction and the magic management make it a work of rare elegance, a precursor to the FromSoftware style. The short lifespan and a sometimes wayward camera weigh on it. A striking title for fans of stylish action and the curious about the studio's early works.
