If You Own a Wii, You Should Own Okami

IMAGE(http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5504/okamifinalwv5.jpg)

Let's get serious here, people. For $39.99 you can get one of the best, most under-appreciated games for the PS2 with the addition of 480P and native widescreen support! Not only that, the game translates so well to the Wii controls that you'd think it was built for them. Even better, you can skip the longer cut scenes now, one of my few complaints about the original. It's a great price, a landmark title and I'm enjoying myself just as much now as I was in my original play through.

Okami doesn't have a cynical bone in the whole body of its design. It's just a joy to explore and experience. If you're into Zelda-style adventure games, don't miss out.

But if I don't own a Wii, is this a reason to purchase one? Or should I find a PS2 version instead.

Reason to won for sure.

What if I already have the PS2 version!?

I finished Okami on the PS2, and it was my favorite game of 2006. I rented the Wii version from Gamefly to check out the controls and see how it would look in 480p/widescreen. Everything you say is spot-on, Certis. I had to shut the thing down to keep from playing through it again (I have too many new things I want to finish first).

It really is a beautiful game with solid, fun mechanics. I may go ahead and buy this version just to support sales on this puppy..er wolf.

OK I'll definitely give it a try one of these weeks or months.

AmazingZoidberg wrote:

But if I don't own a Wii, is this a reason to purchase one? Or should I find a PS2 version instead.

I don't think the Wii version is superior enough to make you buy the console if you already have a PS2. Definitely a fine game on the PS2 as well, it just lacks the minor tweaks and the widescreen support. And waggle.

I just started playing this again today, PS2 version. I'm about 11 hours in and having fun with it. Okami looks really good on the PS3 as well.

I pine for this.

I tried it and it was rather boring, definitely not for me =P

I get the feeling if you like the Zelda style games, you'd like it.

I hate not liking an "under-appreciated gem", but I found Okami extremely underwhelming and tedious. The style is second-to-none and the concept is very neat. I found everything about the game great except for the actual "playing it" part, sadly.

One thing I find interesting is that every magazine review I've read have ripped the Wii version's controls as clunky and inferior, quite a different angle than Certis' post. Haven't played the Wii game myself, so I don't have my own opinion.

I actually struggled with the pacing of the game for the first two or three hours. Not to the point where it was a slog, but at times I felt like the hand holding and exposition was a little slow for my liking. Around the time you get your first new weapon and a few different brush styles it opens up and cuts you loose. There's lots to do and plenty of variety without being overwhelming. Part of the draw is definitely the more friendly, relaxing nature of the design, but it's not for everyone.*

*Note: Mexicans and Jerks.

Certis wrote:

I actually struggled with the pacing of the game for the first two or three hours. Not to the point where it was a slog, but at times I felt like the hand holding and exposition was a little slow for my liking. Around the time you get your first new weapon and a few different brush styles it opens up and cuts you loose. There's lots to do and plenty of variety without being overwhelming. Part of the draw is definitely the more friendly, relaxing nature of the design, but it's not for everyone.*

*Note: Mexicans and Jerks.

I still love you baby, even if you treat me so bad

To be fair I didn't play more than an hour, maybe it gets better. =)

I can't afford it right now but as soon as I can, this is on the top of my list.

I wouldn't mind having this. I have it on PS2, but if I ever decide to play through it again, I'll pick it up on the Wii so i can skip the cutscenes.

This was my favorite game of its year, too. On the PS2, however, they committed a grievous error that I think doomed the game; what the characters say is printed in text, while the voices say 'wah wah wah wah', and you can't skip any of it. I guess, for 'dramatic pacing' or something, they decided that it was important that you listen to every damn wah. This was epic stupidity, and I think it's what sunk the title.

If the text can be read at your own speed in the Wii version, grab this game immediately. Yes, it's a little slow at first, but it gets better and better as you play. I didn't think the game got truly neat until about 10 hours in. Most games have a 'wow!' factor, and then go a bit stale by the end, but Okami improves and improves and improves. It's a long game, and hour 40 is much better than hour 20, and wildly better than hour 1.

It was actually worth suffering through every damn wah. It's that good.

(for extra frustration points: on the PS2, after you've finished it and start a new playthrough, the text becomes skippable! They deliberately CHOSE to make you listen to the wahs. The studio death sentence was not inappropriate.)

Also, let me add... Certis is entirely correct when he says that there's not a cynical bone in this game, anywhere. It's just lovely, purely optimistic without being cloying. It has some rudeness and crudeness, a little pathos, and a bit of raciness here and there, but it's one of the most purely 'good' games I can think of. I mean that in the sense of moral goodness, rather than just play goodness.

There just isn't anything else like Okami, and all serious gamers should play it. Maybe it's not quite BG2 or Torment or Longest Journey, but it can sure hang out in that crowd.

Okami was GotY for whatever year it came out.

I saw a comparison video on gametrailers, and the color seemed much more vibrant on the Wii. Are the controls and visual upgrades worth a re-purchase?

How would it be for kids?

I need something to get them off the 360 so I can play! Oddly enough, Suepr Smash Bros. still wasn't the killer app I hoped it would be to get them on the Wii.

I am about 8 hours in on the PS2 version, but haven't touched it in a year or so. I'm now wondering if I should restart with the Wii version or just pick up where I left off on the ol' PS2.

I'm still hesitant about this game, and it's not just because I worry I'll never have the time to play it. Many people are saying that a lot of the graphical effects from the PS2 version are gone, and combine that with compressed video and the Wii having a naturally soft image, the PS2 one actually looks better even without 480p. Also, nearly single review, including one in Nintendo Power, says the controls are wonky, making the painting segments frustrating and the combat much more slugglish than the original.

Crap, maybe I should try to pick it up for the PS2 while it's still around....if it is

I played it on PS2 and adored it, even if Issun has the most obnoxious "voice" in any game, ever. His dialogue is good but the sound is so obnoxious I just wanted him to STFU.

Have it on both, and love it on both.

I don't know where the 'wanky' comes from. I've played it on both and I love using the 'mote instead of the controller for painting. On the other hand, we've played a lot of Avatar around here so my 'mote brush skills were pretty good already. I've seen a lot of 'bad control' comments on Wii games that seem to stem more from 'I have to learn how to use this controller'.

Oh, and Issun = Navi squared, but the little old lady with the laundry who makes the kung-fu cherry cakes rawks.

I just picked up the game for the Wii this morning. I'm loving it. So far its been a little slow, but I seem to have gotten to the point where it starts to pick up.

Spoilerish, I guess wrote:

I just got the Cherry Bomb Attack

I love how relaxing the game is and I absolutely love the art work. I wish there were actual voices for the characters, but I've managed to block out the annoying "Wah-wah-wah" sounds. The combat is a little clunky. It took me a while to realize that there are actual combos (sort of) and then even longer to actually be able to pull them off.

I'm really having fun with it, and I look forward to playing it more!

I'm interested, but I still don't know what the game is about other than being a "Zelda-style adventure game". The mentions of "brush styles" and painting have me confused. Is it an adventure game or a painting game (or both)? Anyone care to explain what it is? (I know I could probably just google it, but I trust you guys more than the internet.)

gtnissanfan wrote:

I'm interested, but I still don't know what the game is about other than being a "Zelda-style adventure game". The mentions of "brush styles" and painting have me confused. Is it an adventure game or a painting game (or both)? Anyone care to explain what it is? (I know I could probably just google it, but I trust you guys more than the internet.)

In order to solve puzzles and to perform "magic" attacks you hold down a button that pauses time. The screen becomes a canvas and you draw "spells" on the screen. When you let go of the canvas button action resumes and what drew has come to life, so to speak. It's very simple and fun. Certain "spells" include a cherry bomb where you draw a circle with a stem, wind is just some wavy lines, etc.

gtnissanfan wrote:

I'm interested, but I still don't know what the game is about other than being a "Zelda-style adventure game". The mentions of "brush styles" and painting have me confused. Is it an adventure game or a painting game (or both)? Anyone care to explain what it is? (I know I could probably just google it, but I trust you guys more than the internet.)

It's an adventure game based loosely on Japanese mythology. Link with spoilers.

edit: Doh. You meant gameply, not story.

I really loved it for 20 hours then I really slogged my way through for the last 20 hours.

I say, just play the first 20 and you'll be very happy. But that's just my opinion. Maybe I just have low game stamina.

kuddles wrote:

I'm still hesitant about this game, and it's not just because I worry I'll never have the time to play it. Many people are saying that a lot of the graphical effects from the PS2 version are gone, and combine that with compressed video and the Wii having a naturally soft image, the PS2 one actually looks better even without 480p. Also, nearly single review, including one in Nintendo Power, says the controls are wonky, making the painting segments frustrating and the combat much more slugglish than the original.

The controls comments seem to stem from one editor on 1up who gave the game a very high score regardless. I'm finding the control complaints to be overstated based on my personal experience with them. As for the look, I think the game looks a lot better on the Wii. I prefer the cleaner, brighter palette that the conversion offers. I can't say I've noticed anything missing.

Where are my official Okami pom-poms?

hmmmmm. I am seeing a Wii in my future and Okami not far behind. My daughter loves Japanese mythology and is always drawing those symbols in her anime art. Seems like a natural fit.