Okami (Wii) Review

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 05.15.2008

Two years ago, Capcom and Clover Studios brought us the wonderful game of Okami. Now the Nintendo Wii gets a shot at this epic journey that gamer's won't want to miss.



Title: Okami Wii
Publisher: Capcom
Type: Action-Adventure
Players: 1

I must admit that when Okami first released on the PlayStation 2 back in 2006, I was a bit skeptical. Comparisons between Okami and Twilight Princess were already being made and with two wolves doing battle, and some even called Okami a TP rip-off. Of course as we all know, Okami ended up getting rave reviews though many seemed to think that the game would work best on the Nintendo Wii given the paint brush mechanism. Given those reactions, I decided I’d wait it out and see if Capcom would be willing to answer our prayers of making a Wii version. Well, Capcom listened and Okami Wii was born.

I was pretty excited when I learned that Okami Wii was being developed and I was determined to play it no matter what. Luckily for us the wait is finally over and after our copy of Okami arrived, I ripped off the wrapping and quickly inserted the disc into the Wii.



Now let’s talk a little bit about the game’s premise. In Okami, you have awakened as the sun goddess Amaterasu after the eight-headed beast Orochi has been released after being sealed away for 100 years. Orochi has plagued the vast lands with darkness and emptiness, having removed the beauty and nature of the world. Being accompanied by your trusty and conceited companion Issun, you’ll travel across the massive country to learn new brush techniques that will help you in battles and in returning the natural beauty to the world.


Gameplay

As you begin your adventure, you’ll want to talk to as many people as possible. Every character has their own distinct personalities and lives that you can’t help but conversate with everyone just to see what they have to say. Not only can you talk to people but you can also interact with other animals in the game. The game features various mini quests, many of which are brought on by other characters’ needs that will earn you praise – somewhat similar to experience points in an RPG game. The praise you earn can be used to enhance your health level, attack and ink levels to name a few. In interacting with other animals, you can also feed them particular types of food that also earns you praise.



You can also collect money or Yen that can be used to purchase different items that will help you in your quests. Veterans of Twilight Princess will feel right at home with the combat system. You’ll swing the Wii remote to attack your foes and you can do it in combinations for maximum damage. When entering a battle, you’ll see that the surrounding area will be blocked off as it was for Twilight Princess when battling in the twilight. You can find an exit or you can take on the enemies which net you Yen, ink and food that can be stored in a pouch to revive you if you die.

The biggest draw of the game from a control standpoint is the Celestial Brush. The brush comes into play from the get go as you learn how to use it by cutting things in half and fixing broken or missing things. You’ll also find that the brush can be used during battle to do some ass kicking as well. While the PS2’s version worked fine with the analog stick, the Wii’s remote makes drawing with the brush much more intuitive. That’s not to say it’s perfect as you have to be pretty steady with it at times or you’ll become quite frustrated, but overall it feels natural. As you progress through the game you’ll find that the brush can be used for a myriad of things whether it’s during battle or while you’re roaming the lands.


Graphics & Sound

To say Okami is unlike anything you’ve seen before would be an understatement. From screenshots, you may think it’s just another cel-shaded game but seeing this thing in motion is something else all together. From the moment you begin the game, you can’t help but stare at the wonderful art direction with a hand-drawn look that’s utterly captivating. Every area that you visit commands your attention and it’s not hard to appreciate the work that was done to bring this game to life. Things like seeing Amaterasu run like the wind in a very lifelike manner. She gracefully runs and reacts as a wolf should. Even when standing still, you’ll see little mannerisms that you’d expect from a live animal.


These scenes are gorgeous

One of my favorite instances is when you feed one of the animals. The game goes to a cut-scene that shows you sitting down as the animal or animals eat. The scene is so magical that you’d think it was a Disney movie. It’s a scene you can skip but I found myself watching it in its entirety every time I came across it. The characters all have a very Japanese look so don’t expect any Western influences here. In the PS2 version, you’ll notice that the graphics make it look like things are made out of paper, something that’s somewhat absent in the Wii version given the filter that is in the game, but in a way it makes things look a lot smoother.

The music has a very Japanese feel to it. The melodies that you'll listen to fit perfectly with the style and cultural look of the game. It all sounds very soothing and draws you into the experience, all in Pro Logic II.

Fun Factor

Having only recently gone through Twilight Princess, I was afraid that Okami would be too similar to be enjoyable. Boy was I wrong! Even though there are plenty of similarities, the game feels very fresh thanks to its intriguing storyline and colorful cast of characters. The game begs you to have a sense of humor and as I mentioned before, simply going around and talking to people is half the fun. I really enjoyed using the Celestial Brush in many different ways. You’re encouraged to use some imagination to think of ways that the brush can be used to your advantage. One of the earliest things you’ll learn to do is draw a circle in the sky which brings out the sun – it’s a simple yet awesome way to put your brush to work.

Lasting Appeal

The game clocks in at around 30 hours of playtime. There’s plenty to do in the game especially if you take the time to do some of the mini-quests that are scattered in the game. There’s a bunch of hidden locations and items to collect that should keep you busy in between exploring the gigantic and exquisite lands. This is the type of game that you can play over and over again unless you’re Rain Man and acquire everything there is in the game.

The 411

What else can be said about Okami Wii. The game is an artistic marvel that offers something new and exciting. The game is gorgeous and the visuals explode on the screen in 16 x 9 widescreen and 480p. You can spend hours just admiring the world and that’s before even attempting to get down to the story. The story itself is quite unique and I had such a great time exploring the world and conversing with the humorous cast of characters. Capcom and Ready at Dawn Studios have put together an exceptional port that has to be experienced by any Wii owner. The PS2 version was underappreciated by gamers but let’s make sure the Wii version gets the love it deserves.

Graphics	9.5	Absolutely stunning. Only the loss of the paper filter found in the PS2 version keeps this from a 10.
Gameplay	9.5	The game works great with the Wii remote and the Celestial Brush feels good.
Sound	10.0	Excellent music and background noises spring to life in surround sound.
Lasting Appeal	9.0	A lengthy story with plenty of side quests and collectibles.
Fun Factor	9.0	A unique story and plenty of funny moments make this a fun experience.
Overall	9.4   [  Amazing ]

Screenshots
All 23 Okami (Wii) Screenshots