Okami

[Endesu]

So! Anyone else excited about this one?
Action/Adventure title based on Japanese mythology with the ability to 'draw'? Let's not forget the funky trippy crazy graphics, which are some of the best to date on the PS2.


Link to most major previews of said title

Plus, it's coming out in about eight days (in the States) after my birthday. Definitely a title I'll be picking up. <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:xx-small;">Curtis: Dannyboy, look at you. You've changed considerably, into a badass, if I may.
Dan: Yeah, you've changed a lot too, into an old man! I went to see the devil, now it's your turn!
Curtis: Oh, my pupil, so tenacious of life, guess I have to kill you again.
Dan: Shut up, before you run out of breath!
Curtis: I got rid of those smiles, there's no one left to disturb our game. Just you, and me.
Dan: Sounds fair, 'cuz I hate holding back, even for an old fart like yourself.
Curtis: Talk all you want, I won't need six bullets for you.
Dan: Or four for you.</span>
</div></p>Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 3/29/06 16:54

[ikozaedro]

i wonder how a game whose gimmick is to paint in the screen ended so far away from the DS. <p><div style="text-align:center">
my deviant art thingy!
quote:
"-Lili! a deranged man is building an army of psychic death tanks to take over the world and there is nobody who can stop him except for you and me!
-Oh my god! LET'S MAKE OUT!"-Raz and Lili, Psychonauts</div>
</p>

[E Mouse]

The world may never know. <p><hr />

<span style="font-size:xx-small;">"Their rhetoric... You didn't put communists in his bed did you!" came Amber's indignant reply.

"Why not? All I had to do was open a gate to his bed and stick up a sign saying 'Hot virgin willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of international socialist fraternity.'"</span>

<span style="color:blue;font-size:xx-small;">Excaliburned:</span> <span style="font-size:xx-small;">Ah yes, I'm thinking of having the USS Bob be preserved outside the Arena as a monument of sorts</span></p>

[Reako Somner]

I saw this in acouple magazines... It looks interesting and all, but I'm gonna wait til I get some solid opinions on it.

[Endesu]

Yeah, I know the thing would probably fit the DS rather well, but they wouldn't have been able to fit such lush graphics on a portable system. Hence I'm glad it's on the PS2.

And, yeah, it'd be nice to see a review. But I'm still hyped. After Killer 7, I've been looking for the next "cool" game. <p><hr />
<div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:xx-small;">Curtis: Dannyboy, look at you. You've changed considerably, into a badass, if I may.
Dan: Yeah, you've changed a lot too, into an old man! I went to see the devil, now it's your turn!
Curtis: Oh, my pupil, so tenacious of life, guess I have to kill you again.
Dan: Shut up, before you run out of breath!
Curtis: I got rid of those smiles, there's no one left to disturb our game. Just you, and me.
Dan: Sounds fair, 'cuz I hate holding back, even for an old fart like yourself.
Curtis: Talk all you want, I won't need six bullets for you.
Dan: Or four for you.</span>
</div></p>

[NebulaQueen]

Mythology and art, together?! I am all over this. <p><hr />
"My naturally quivering state makes any display of fear deliciously arbitrary" - Manowar Leader, Scary-Go-Round</p>

[Endesu]

Bump. The game is coming out this coming month. <p><hr />
<div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:xx-small;">Curtis: Dannyboy, look at you. You've changed considerably, into a badass, if I may.
Dan: Yeah, you've changed a lot too, into an old man! I went to see the devil, now it's your turn!
Curtis: Oh, my pupil, so tenacious of life, guess I have to kill you again.
Dan: Shut up, before you run out of breath!
Curtis: I got rid of those smiles, there's no one left to disturb our game. Just you, and me.
Dan: Sounds fair, 'cuz I hate holding back, even for an old fart like yourself.
Curtis: Talk all you want, I won't need six bullets for you.
Dan: Or four for you.</span>
</div></p>

[Capntastic]

What is the game play like sir?

[pd Rydia]

Sounds awesome, I wanna play it. Curious as to how the drawing works, though--I'm so used to the stylus, I wonder how else you would implement it that wouldn't be clunky? Or does "drawing" mean selecting something from a menu? <p><hr /><div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[PriamNevhausten]

They say there's supposed to be a drawing interface, and I imagine that the analog sticks come into serious play. I'm curious about how it will work, but 'excited' is not a word I would dare use to describe the sensation. <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"It's in the air, in the headlines in the newspapers, in the blurry images on television. It is a secret you have yet to grasp, although the first syllable has been spoken in a dream you cannot quite recall." --Unknown Armies</span></p>

[BrainWalker]

Glu-glu asked the question I was giong to ask, and End's hypothesis on the matter is less than satisfying.

Still! Intrigue and curiosity and all that jazz. <p><div style="text-align:center"></div></p>Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=brainwalker>BrainWalker</A]&nbsp; at: 9/1/06 9:15

[Endesu]

Elaboration, lol:

Like I said, the lush graphics of the game wouldn't have been possible on a DS (though the DS itself seems capable of some decent, PSX-level grafix). There's also the fact that Capcom has a love affair with Sony, and as such, many of their titles ultimately end up on the PS2.

... there's also the fact that it's been in development for the PS2 for a number of years, so to, so to speak, 'switch systems and run' wouldn't make much sense.

As far as the controls go, most reviews of the game thus far seem to follow the following example (from this review; emphasis placed is mine):
The handling of Amaterasu is another category where Ookami excels. The controls are perfect in every way, with each button on the PS2 controller having a designated function as to avoid confusion. Whether you are controlling Amaterasu as she barrels down the countryside, or if you are executing complex attack combos against your foes, the controls remain solid. Traveling across the terrain, exploring, making calculated jumps, and controlling your paintbrush are done with ease. The calligraphy / paintbrush controls might throw you for a loop at first and are initially frustrating until you adapt to the controls. However, the learning curve is rather short as you'll be making sophisticated brush strokes using the analog stick in no time. And as many people have discussed, even though a game like this would be perfectly ideal on Nintendo's DS Lite, the painting portion of the controls handles surprisingly well on the PS2 controller.

So, while, yes, it would've made some sort of sense on the DS, at least in terms of the drawing part, it works well enough on the PS2.

[pd Rydia]

Ah right, analog stick. Yeah, that'd work.

From the screenshots I've seen, I'm not sure about the "lush graphics" bit. Fortunately, graphics aren't that big of a deal for me, so long as I can make visual sense of what's going on without straining. Though I'd like to see the game on an actual TV screen, in front of me, at a game store some time. <p><hr /><div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[PriamNevhausten]

I'm pretty sure the graphics are intended to be like a painting, done in the Eastern style. The canvasy background and the wide strokes are intentional points of style. It'll be interesting to see it in motion, which is where it will shine, I am certain. <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"It's in the air, in the headlines in the newspapers, in the blurry images on television. It is a secret you have yet to grasp, although the first syllable has been spoken in a dream you cannot quite recall." --Unknown Armies</span></p>

[pd Rydia]

It's not the stylization--at least, I hope not--it's the blurriness. like seeing a bad photo of a painting, where random bits are smudged and out-of-focus, and the rest come in clearly.

Like I said, I want to see it, in front of me, on a TV screen. I'm hoping the problem is trying to capture stylized motion in stills. <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>Edited by: pd Rydia&nbsp; at: 9/1/06 16:19

[Choark]

In motion
Blurryness and shiny whiteness is part of zee game. <p><div style="text-align:center"> </div>
<div style="text-align:center"> </div>
<div style="text-align:center"> </div></p>

[pd Rydia]

That makes me frown.

I'm STILL hoping it works in-person...but if I wanted blurriness, I'd take off my glasses. <p><hr /><div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[PriamNevhausten]

Looks good. About what I expected, really. Although, I am glad to see action combat elements are present in addition to the brush interface, which I was worried might get quite tiresome if you are using it for everything.

Also, man, that GameTrailers guy needs to stop butchering Amaterasu's and Orochi's names. <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"It's in the air, in the headlines in the newspapers, in the blurry images on television. It is a secret you have yet to grasp, although the first syllable has been spoken in a dream you cannot quite recall." --Unknown Armies</span></p>

[Jak Snide]

Another trailer

I apologise in advance for the trailer that may come before it. I really do :[

Anyway, had my eye on this game myself for a while. That trailer bumped it up to the rank of "must import asap." From the States, that is, since I like comprehensible dialogue.

[Choark]

Oooooh that trailer makes it not only look really nice but funny in places as well. Awsome. You apologising for my trailer or for that Saints Row trailer?

Dia must remember not everyone in the world is as awsome as to have glasses, so they can't get that natural blurriness that glassed people can get with just taking 'em off. Please allow other people to enjoy the awsomeness of blurry sight. <p><div style="text-align:center"> </div>
<div style="text-align:center"> </div>
<div style="text-align:center"> </div></p>

[Jak Snide]

The Saints Row one. We all know that you're infallible, Cho!

[BrainWalker]

Fuckin' shits. After that last trailer, this thing has shot straight up from "kind of neat" to "serious consideration" status.

Still got a couple weeks to make up my mind. <p><div style="text-align:center"></div></p>Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=brainwalker>BrainWalker</A]&nbsp; at: 9/2/06 11:20

[pd Rydia]

::nods to Cho:: <p><hr /><div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[Justice Augustus]

Looks pretty neat, but all trailers do. I want first-hand reviews, people!
<p>

---

"Moreover, when on the following night, much to his dismay, [Caesar] had a dream of raping his own mother, the soothsayers greatly encouraged him by their interpretations of it: namely, that he was destined to conquer the earth" - Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars - Julius Caesar, chapter 7</p>

[Jak Snide]

A pair of previews.

[Justice Augustus]

I TRUST NOT GAMESPY.

In other news the 2nd review has got me tingly with anticipation. Too bad I do not own a PS2.

Expect me at your place, Jak.
<p>

---

"Moreover, when on the following night, much to his dismay, [Caesar] had a dream of raping his own mother, the soothsayers greatly encouraged him by their interpretations of it: namely, that he was destined to conquer the earth" - Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars - Julius Caesar, chapter 7</p>

[Endesu]

Okami is out. Pretty much everyone loves it, according to Gamespy.

Got mine already.

Anyhow, here's a snippet from an EGM article that I think will serve as a proper response to those wondering about Okami on the DS/Wii... (emphasis mine)

EGM: These Celestial Brush techniques seem tailor-made for the Wii. Admit it - you're bringing Okami to Nintendo's new machine, right?
Atsushi Inaba (Producer of Okami): Before the Wii and the controller were announced, everyone was like, "Why not the DS?" because it had the touch pad; you see the stylus and assume that it could be a substitute for the brush. As soon as the Wii came out everyone started saying the same thing.
So at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, [designer Hideki] Kamiya and I went and tried it out. But it might not actually fit for Okami because it doesn't seem like the interface would be just right for brushes, but more specifically because the game doesn't center around the brushstrokes. It's actually an action game, so having that controller response is more critical than the actual brush system. We specifically devised the brush system to work on the PS2's Dual Shock controller.

There you have it. <p><hr />
<div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:xx-small;">Curtis: Dannyboy, look at you. You've changed considerably, into a badass, if I may.
Dan: Yeah, you've changed a lot too, into an old man! I went to see the devil, now it's your turn!
Curtis: Oh, my pupil, so tenacious of life, guess I have to kill you again.
Dan: Shut up, before you run out of breath!
Curtis: I got rid of those smiles, there's no one left to disturb our game. Just you, and me.
Dan: Sounds fair, 'cuz I hate holding back, even for an old fart like yourself.
Curtis: Talk all you want, I won't need six bullets for you.
Dan: Or four for you.</span>
</div></p>

[BrainWalker]

Okay, so, I swung by Priam's place last night to drop off some Sugiocon prereg forms fror Neb and Pervy and Pervy's sister. While calling to confirm wether or not things were kosher for me to show up, Priam sought my opinion as to wether or not he should pick up Xenosaga 3. I jokingly suggested he should get Okami instead. So I showe up at his place, and find that his will had succumbed to my random whimsy!

It's about 8PM, and we both end up arriving at the apartment at the same time. Priam had some work-related things to do, so he "suggested" that I get started on Okami. 15 hours later, I was still playing the game. It's just that goddamned entertaining. Seroiusly, you have to play this game. Buy it, rent it, steal it, whatever. If you dont enjoy it, you have proven yourself to be less than human.

It's really hard to know where to begin to describe the game. It's kind of Zeldaesque in the sense that ther'es an overworld and dungeons and monsters and shit, but it's got such a godddamnd unique visual, and mechanical style that there's really no other comparisons to draw. The brushstroke inteface is so goddamned entertaining that I found myself doing random unnecessary brushstrokes all over the place just for the sheer entertainment value, and to see what would happen.

Man, I think the only other time I had a videogaming marathon that long was when Priam and I went all the way through Bubble Bobble, twice, for the good ending. <p><div style="text-align:center"></div></p>

[PriamNevhausten]

And even that was maybe five or six hours, tops. <p><span style="font-size:xx-small;">"It's in the air, in the headlines in the newspapers, in the blurry images on television. It is a secret you have yet to grasp, although the first syllable has been spoken in a dream you cannot quite recall." --Unknown Armies</span></p>

[Nakibe]

I was going to post something here. And then BW ate my brains. DAMN YOU BW.

Anyway, I don't really have much to say about this game that he hasn't already. So read his post again. If you have some excuse NOT to play this game, then you have proven yourself some kinda alien or something. I intended to play it for 15-30 minutes last night when I got it.

I ended up playing it till about 2 AM or so. And I'm mildly annoyed that little things like needing to sleep are getting in the way. Seriously. It was time enjoyably spent. <p><span style="font-size:small;"><hr />
Currently idolizing - Roger Bacon, Shadow Hearts
Likes : Forbidden magics, Determined people, His teacher
Dislikes : Stupid people, Church officials, People that prey on the weak
Method of Destroying the World : Feh. God can do it for me. >:{
Becomes Super Powerful When : ... well F***. When ISN'T he?</span>

"Lunatic? The sages of EVERY age were called that! Let HISTORY decide whether my actions were good or bad. For now, we must forge ahead!"</p>