From Software mystical action-RPG Xbox exclusive set in haunted feudal Japan. Visually splendid, fluid combat against varied demons, enchanting atmosphere. Less known than Ninja Gaiden but equivalent quality. An often overlooked Xbox gem.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Raikoh, a half-demon raised from the dead, wields his blade to destroy malevolent spirits devastating Heian-era Japan in the Japanese version of this FromSoftware game. Published by FromSoftware, released in Japan in 2002 and South Korea in 2004. Features fully destructible environments, a magic gauge system, dozens of supernatural enemies, and equipment progression.
Otogi 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.
Original Japanese edition of Otogi, FromSoftware's first flourish on Xbox in a haunted Heian-era Japan. Released on a console shunned in Japan, its local circulation was modest, making it one of the most coveted versions for studio fans seeking the source build. Its desirability rests on this market scarcity combined with the growing aura of FromSoftware's early works.
Memorable bosses
A spellbinding work from FromSoftware, this action game steeped in Japanese folklore throws you against colossal demons and yokai, fought in scenery that crumbles under your blows. Mixing the blade, gliding leaps and magic to break these guardians' guard makes for jousts as elegant as they are grueling. The twilight atmosphere and funereal beauty of these fights leave a lasting mark.
Is Otogi 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.
