From Software to Sega

It's not hard to see why Sega put its name behind Otogi: Myth of Demons. Even though Otogi wasn't developed by one of Sega's design houses, it fits right in with Sega's current roster of games.

Otogi's trip across the pacific wasn't the quickest one, as it was released over nine months ago in Japan before setting foot on our shores. Developed by From Software, one of the few small Japanese developers to support Xbox, Otogi hung in localization limbo until Sega announced just before E3 2003 that it would be publishing the action title in North America.

O-to-gi?

"Otogibanashi" is the Japanese word for fairy tale, which hints at the overall theme of the game. Mind you, we're not talking about Mother Goose and Grim, but rather tales of mythology based on Japanese history during its Heian era (794-1185 AD). The word "Otogi" by itself (as Kanji printed on the box cover), however, means to attend upon or keep someone company.

You play Raikoh, a clan executioner in his former life. One day he was given the duty of ending his own father's life, which he refused and then promptly abandoned his clan. The Great Seal, or something or other, collapsed and would have ended Raikoh's life if it weren't for a mysterious Princess who saved him. In exchange for saving Raikoh from death, the Princess assigns quests which he must fulfill in order to atone for his blood-filled past. Most of these quests involve going into a stage and "purifying" the area (i.e., obliterate all demons).