og:image:,

I would rank the original Okami as one of the best titles in the PS2 library. It ranks up high with games like Shadow of the Colossus and Ico because it beautifully melded a unique and beautiful art style with gripping game play mechanics. When you consider that it was also a long game with loads of content and fun characters, it is easy to see why any gamer would appreciate it. Unfortunately, the IP’s future was brought into question when the development studio, Clover, was closed. Now, several years later, Capcom has decided to keep the series alive by bringing us Okamiden, a direct sequel that will surely split the audience in two. Why? Because Okamiden now shares the fate of other great titles like Valkyria Chronicles whose sequels ended up on hand held gaming devices rather than current gen consoles. After playing the game on the show floor at E3 2010, I can honestly say that I can see myself playing this game and enjoying it but the hole in my heart won’t be filled until the game returns to form on current gen hardware.

While the potential of a game like Okami is undeniable, it simply doesn’t appeal to gamers on a widespread level. Considering the poor sales number of the original, I find it impossible to believe that this DS iteration will ever sell enough to rejuvenate interest in a full blown sequel especially since the brilliant mechanics from the original don’t seem to have transferred too smoothly to the DS. In a very odd choice on the part of the developers, the game runs on the top screen while menus and such can be interacted with on the bottom screen. In a game like Okami, where the main mechanic involves painting on the screen to bring color to the world or eliminate obstacles in your path, the player is forced to constantly tap the shoulder buttons to switch the screens for these sequences. Not only that, but I had to keep constantly unsheathing my stylus and then switching back to D-Pad control when I was done. It was dumb and I can see it becoming very annoying as the game goes on. I think a much better fit would have been to control the entire game like Zelda DS with the stylus and use the shoulder buttons to switch the paper like normal. If this had been the case, I think the moment-to-moment gameplay would be a lot more bearable and even accessible to newcomers.

I don’t mean to be overly critical of this game because I am honestly happy to be getting a sequel at all. My problems with the game are not game breaking and while some of the design choices may be somewhat odd, the rest of the game transferred rather well. I was impressed by how well the art style fit with the power of the DS. The game is beautiful and there is always a lot on screen to look at. The stylus makes a few extra mechanics possible as well which should some add depth to the puzzles and combat sequences. For example, Nushi, son of Susano from the original, accompanies Chibiterasu; with a simple button press, Nushi dismounts and can be lead along a path with the stylus to access new areas or collect hidden treasures. It seems that enough has been added to keep the game feeling fresh and the mechanics that were added are a good fit for the platform.

I had an opportunity to talk to one of the developers during my play through and there is one thing that I think is worth noting. One thing that shocked me about the original was its length. The game clocked in at 40 hours for me and when asked about the length of this new game, he told me that the game would clock in around half the time of the original so somewhere around 18-20 hours. That is a lot of content for a handheld adventure game and with the time and effort being put into maintaining the feel of the original, I think Okamiden could possibly prove to be just as engrossing as it’s big brother counterpart.

Unfortunately, I have a tendency to not finish hand-held games and I’m afraid that this will once again fall to the wayside. I don’t feel that the game will reach it’s full potential because the possibility of a console sequel will always be dangling in front of my eyes. It is always exciting to watch a hand-held title make the transition to a console but to watch a console game, especially a game as beautiful and grand as Okami, take a step backward is discouraging and a bit disappointing. All I can say is that fans should be happy and supportive of the game if they ever hope to see Okami return to their home consoles.

Comments

  • Avatar
    xfiresongx
    13 years, 9 months ago

    wow i totally agree with you here. When i heard about okami having a sequel i was like 'wow on what console?!' I immediately imagined its stunning artwork style on PS3 and nearly jizzed my pants. And then my heart sank. Then again i did go and upgrade my ds a version merely awaiting okamiden to come out. I think i have mixed feelings on it, being a hardcore okami fan, when i heard it wasnt a clover production i lost a bit more faith. I just hope that this sequel isnt killed like a large majority of games taken over by new developers, and its one of the lucky few that actually become better in some way. Just have to hope and pray i guess :| Do you know of a release date estimate yet? Last i checked it was tbc. And finally, i was starting to think omg 3ds okami?! ...time will tell??

  • Avatar
    baldcow
    13 years, 9 months ago

    I am happy there will be a new one, but of course it saddens me its on a hand held, which I do not possess. =(

  • Avatar
    Dimensaur
    13 years, 9 months ago

    I heard Okami sequel and got excited. I heard handheld and got less excited, but found out it was DS and excitement rose again. Then the lack of using the stylus came around and I hit sad town real quick. It just goes to show how little any of the Clover IPs mean to Capcom. I understand the lack of sales not motivating them, that's fine. They're a business out to make money, but do they realize that a bad (or lackluster) game will not sale either? I would much rather have a game under my belt that is considered great in every respect but under performs on the sales charts than a hunk of junk shovelware title (not saying that is the case with this title, but the lack of common sense in that the main mechanic of the game is perfectly suited to the main mechanic of the hardware).

  • Avatar
    CakeinaBox
    13 years, 9 months ago

    I've been somewhat worried by this game since I heard about it. Largely due to the fact that I'm not sure how many people from the original Clover team are even working on it, or get a say in it. I know that Kamiya has no say in it either, and that is rather depressing to me. Plus, my lack of a handheld severely impacts my ability to even play this game. I want to like it. It is Okami, and that is basically my favorite game ever. It looks like the story will hopefully be the same, based of japanese mythology and such, but...um...I don't know why they would need to travel Nippon like in the first game. I had always assumed it would have been a better idea to hold a sequel on the Celestial Plane. The head developer for this one said in an interview at some point that they were simplifying the combat, and even though I understand there are less buttons on a DS than on a PS2 controller, that still made me sad, as I loved the combat in Okami.
    In all, I'm mostly sad for this sequel. I wish that it could have been on the PS3 or 360, with the sprawling continent, and even more places to visit and explore. A full version will have to be seen to see if it holds up to the sequel, unfortunately.

  • Avatar
    vanquish12v
    13 years, 9 months ago

    The original Okami is in my top three games of all time. Like most fans, when I found out about the sequel, I was simply beside myself with giddy and happiness. Then I found out it was on the DS and my smile turned upside down to a frown. I don't even own a DS! Would I buy a DS just to play this game? Yeah, but do I have to? I really wish they would make a sequel on one of the console's instead of a handheld. There are many reasons for this, most of them rather obvious. I know that the original game didn't sell well. I can't, for the life of me, understand why it didn't sell well but I won't be in denial about it. I also don't think that bringing it to the DS is going to be a grand help to the series and bring interest to it. But I can always hope that buying a DS will be worth this game, and that hopefully, this game somehow makes a big enough impact to actually bring a new game to one of the major consoles.

  • Avatar
    vaan888
    13 years, 9 months ago

    AWESOME! SUGOI! KAKOI!
    Okami is one of my fave games
    And now a sequel! I cant wait to get that.....if i have the money :)

  • Avatar
    Mikoto
    13 years, 8 months ago

    I couldn't agree with you more, Nick. You pretty much sumed up my thoughts perfectly.