See Raikoh in action as he puts his sword to work. Click "Stream for Free" for higher resolution.

When the original Otogi hit the Xbox in 2003, the game garnered high critical marks and respectable sales. The stylish third-person action game let you live the "life" of undead warrior Raikoh who's called back to face off against hordes of demons. While Raikoh capably took care of business in the original game, he's back to kick even more demonic ass in Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors, the next entry in the fledgling series. Although the game was released earlier this year in Japan, it has yet to hit the US. We had the chance to check out the upcoming English version of the game that's due soon, and so far we are pleased by what we've seen.

As we mentioned, when we last saw Raikoh at the end of the original Otogi, the villainous Michizane was dispatched and all was pretty right with the world. While the ending was a little vague in spots, it wasn't too big a stretch to assume that everyone lived happily ever after. But, despite the fairly upbeat ending of the original game, trouble has arisen yet again that requires Raikoh's special abilities, sending the powerful warrior off on a new adventure tailor-made for a ripping sequel. This time out Raikoh faces a sizable threat that will find him getting help from five other playable characters in an appropriately epic and creepy tale steeped in Japanese mythology.

Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors' structure and play mechanics draw liberally on many elements of the original game, but it offers some new twists. The biggest is obviously the inclusion of new playable characters. We're pleased to report that if you're a fan of the character designs of the original game, ornate and unsettling creations that were both beautiful and grotesque, Otogi 2's new faces come right out of the same school of thought. O.G. demon slayer Raikoh is back with his creepy skull-bearing armor that has been polished up for his second adventure. Kintoki is an undead powerhouse with Herculean grapples and an unsettling chest plate patterned after a demon's head. Tsuna is a lycanthropic butt kicker who looks quite cool. Sadamitsu is the most normal looking member of the cast (she looks like your average young girl in flowing robes) who happens to be carrying an enormous scythe. On the other end of the normal spectrum is Suetake, a bizarre, multitentacled tree creature that carries an enormous wheel on its back. Finally, Seimei is a priestess who almost looks normal except for her enormous hat and unearthly glow.

You'll be able to choose from this cast of characters as you play through levels of the game that are now structured slightly differently. Each level will feature different areas you can tackle, and you'll usually have a choice of which one to hit first. You'll generally be able to pick any of the characters to play through the levels, although Seimei only opens up later on. The catch is that once you use a character to clear one area in a stage, you may not be able to use that same one for other areas. This ends up working out pretty well, as each character has unique abilities that will make one better than the other for tackling specific challenges.

Your objectives in the game will invariably involve killing stuff.

The levels you'll go through in Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors make use of the same basic flow as the original game. You'll be briefed on what needs to be done in a level, usually involving the death of one or many demons, and sent on your way. For those who take special pride in their work, Otogi 2 will feature more of the destructible environment fun of its predecessor and let you practically level an area as you work your way through it. Besides the obvious fun to be had in wreaking havoc, it also helps bump up your final rating on the level, which is tallied as you complete each one. Like the previous game, you'll be able to purchase items, magic, and enhancements that you can use on your warriors, which helps you make it through Otogi 2's challenging levels.

Another new twist to the game experience is the inclusion of bonus stages that you'll unlock as you progress. The 18 stages, some of which you'll have to unlock by going through the proper game, will feature a broad array of minigame-style challenges. You'll be challenged to do everything from breaking 99 arches before time runs out, defeating a set number of demons, or just taking out a boss. The short stages play at faster speeds than the main game, and they offer a very cool change of pace. Besides offering a fun diversion, clearing the stages will also reward you with some bonus content that you'll unlock.