hmmmmmm. The concept alone sold this game to me for sure, not only with it being the first game developed by Toshio Iwai (Simtunes and electroplankton are pretty neat toys), but also it being a music-based shmup. In this game, shooting in each of the 8 cardinal directions plays a different note, and you can shoot for every eighth note of the song. The background music is usually the bassline and percussion, so in a sense by shooting the enemies you not only are playing the game but also are creating the melody to the music of the level. It definitely doesn't put me in the same synesthetic groove as something like Rez per se, but this do also be a famicom disk system game from 1987 and to make something so creative is absolutely commendable.

My only gripe with it is while I liked the creative aspect and vibes a lot, I can't say the same about the actual gameplay. Clearing levels involves finding and shooting enough musical notes to fill up a meter that will take you to the boss. If the meter isn't filled up all the way before the level is over, it will repeat forever, except the previous notes you have collected will be converted into enemies. It basically turns the game into a task of memorizing levels and hopefully being able to collect everything on the first loop as that has the least amount of enemies. Controlling the ship just has a very sluggish pace to it. It moves slowly, can only shoot 1-2 bullets at a time due to the whole rhythmic aspect, and can't move while shooting. The enemies of the game aren't really designed around that sluggishness either which caused me to get hit by a lot of enemies that just zoomed past me without much I could do about it. The ships hitbox is huge and getting hit puts you in this dizzy animation where you can't shoot which can kinda mean getting comboed by consecutive fast enemies is a very real possibility. Also the game kinda hurt my thumbs hitting the diagonals on the NES controller so frequently... The last level is also pretty much entirely memorization so yea...

I can't hate this game because I love weird games that try unique things and this game is not only that but also extremely ahead of its time in trying to unify music and games, I just wish the shooting gameplay was a bit better. The credits say to look forward to the sequel, yet it never happened. Shame too, because I feel like a sequel that continued to polish the shooting sections could have done what Rez did except like 10 years earlier.

Otocky is one of those games that's really special as you see it isn't just a shmup with a music theme. You actually give your own notes to the song with your own weapon and despite how awful that may sound, it works wonderfully with the added sound used for the Disk System.

Your objective is to collect enough notes for the boss at the end to show up and by the end it can get a little annoying but it's simple enough. The bosses are a little too repetitive for my liking but I'll take that over being frustrated.

Once you beat the game you can do a BGM mode and Music Maker to relax and think about how splendid the music is in this game and you can even set what instrument you want your weapon to sound. It's really nice.

It's a game that I feel like deserves more attention as it's one of the best games on the Disk System. Granted maybe my score is a little too low but it was still a joy to play regardless. Play this game if you haven't, it's worth an hour of your time.

A novel idea to complete a catchy melody via your own projectiles but as the notes that are produced can't be used by the player when he wants, unless it's done sticking to a rythm, the music that ends up as the final product of the set rythm and the input of the "player-artist" are technically random noises that are not able to consistently be replicated to make music that can be used to communicate something.

This is just nice sounding noises, though I commend the programmers to be able to make them at least sound nice in the first place even for players with the worst sense of rythm of the world, and it's very amusing to hear those noises despite the fact you are trying to dodge a lot of things on screen that forces you to be pragmatic instead of artistic... Despite the fact you can only shoot in rythm.

Yeah... I don't think it's that good of an idea as everyone claims it is despite the originality. Just play well to unlock the level beats in the music maker mode because there's not a lot of value in the shooter half of the experience

"Innovation" is the word of the day for Otocky.

Despite my experience in older consoles, it always feel like I stumble upon something new that does nothing but make me smile, all thanks to those I follow here on the site itself. What do I find for myself on the Famicom Disk System today? Why, a flying cute little red and blue pill that generates beeps and bloops with each shot of it's big rubber ball, each direction it is fired another different bloop to beep that matches up with the background music of the stage. Each note tugging away at my blackened heartstrings, turning me from a tired and gloomy post-work hours adult to a delighted little child experiencing their first favorite game.

Such a sweet little Famicom title, like peanut butter cookies in 8-bit form. Yet, I feel bitter...

Why has it taken me so long to find you Otocky? Understandably, my weak grey box NES could not possibly handle your charming good looks, but why only now do I get to experience you firsthand despite having the internet for so long at my fingertips? Perhaps Nintendo should have found a way to translate and re-release Otocky on the Wii Virtual Console, it would've been massively preferable to embarrassing themselves with Wii Music. Who knows what a global re-release of Otocky could've done for all of us. Otocky could've spread happiness all across the planet, Otocky could've brought about world peace and been elected president of planet Earth. Otocky could've defeated Lu Bu, and yet still no one would bat an eye to bring them to the forefront of video game genius.

Where were you Otocky? You could've been my hero, and yet I am instead bemoaning that I did not meet you sooner, but don't let that discourage you! You are the greatest Otocky, you can do anything! Don't let anyone keep you down little guy! Keep on making music and producing the Sesame Street theme with each boss you bring down! Never stop brightening up everyone's day!

Love ya Otocky.