Okage: Shadow King Preview
Hang out with a demon and explore new places in Sony's quirky new game.
As PlayStation 2 development continues to mature and the system becomes more entrenched in the market, its software library continues to grow. Fortunately for gamers, the library's growth in size also includes an increase in diversity as well. While a quirky title like Okage: Shadow King stands out from games like Gran Turismo 3 and Twisted Metal Black, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Released earlier this year in Japan under the nom de guerre Boku to Maoh (or "The Demon and I"), the title followed the adventures of a young boy and a demon. Given the title's left-of-center tale, it looked as though it would join the likes of Vib Ribbon as "one that got away." But as luck would have it, SCEA picked up the game and will be releasing it in October, just in time for Halloween.
The game is now called Okage: Shadow King, and its story has been localized, giving us more insight into the adventures of a young man named Ari and a demon named Master Stanley Hihat Trinidad XIV, or "Stan" for short. Ari and Stan are introduced during a séance held to save Ari's sister from a curse inflicted on her by ghosts. A bargain is struck to save Ari's sister wherein Stan will lift the curse on Ari's sister in exchange for Ari's help in restoring Stan's power. It seems that once upon a time Stan was quite the fearful monarch. Unfortunately he was trapped in a bottle, where other spirits fed on his power, leaving him a shadow of his former self. Freed from his glassy prison, Stan is eager to reclaim his strength and kick ghostly tail. Sadly a few centuries spent in a bottle will take the wind right out of you, and Stan is unable to travel under his own power, forcing him to inhabit Ari's shadow and travel with him. Thus begins an unlikely partnership and a slightly off-kilter adventure.
Given the story's emphasis on cooperation between Ari and Stan, it's no surprise that teamwork figures prominently in Okage's gameplay. The game's control scheme is basic and very much in line with most RPGs. You move Ari with the D-pad or right analog stick on the PS2 controller. The X button is the "action" button and serves a myriad of uses depending on the situation in the game. The square button is used to make Stan appear, while the triangle button cancels menu selection, and the triggers or right analog stick will rotate the camera. Combat is menu-driven and turn-based, allowing you to ponder your best course of action in a brawl. Weak as he is, Stan is a useful ally because he can attack enemies in a fight. You'll appreciate the support at the beginning of the game as you acclimatize yourself and try to raise Ari's level so that you can be more than a stick-wielding 10-pound weakling relying on a shadow for protection.
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- GameSpot Score7.8good
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Okage: Shadow King Video Review
GameSpot's site director Joe Fielder gives us the bottom line on this quirky RPG for the PS2.
- Oct 1, 2001
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