Okami videos that will make you drool

by Joystiq Staff { Jul 25th 2006 at 10:05PM }

Ever since we saw the upcoming PS2 title Okami, we've been eagerly anticipating it with a passion not seen since the N64 kid. So, it should come as no surprise that these latest videos to surface of the game make us all bubbly inside.

The first video is called "Dungeon Crawl" and showcases the originality and beauty we can expect in the game.

The second, titled "Brush Techniques," gives us a look at how some brush moves are used in combat.

Slated for a September release, is anyone else looking forward to this game as much as we are?

Tags: Okami

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

someguy @ Jul 25th 2006 10:09PM

yes

Dave Provost @ Jul 25th 2006 10:19PM

Oh hells yeah. The videos are great, confiriming that the brush work will be an integral part of the game play, not just tacked on. And the visual style of this game just makes me giddy. This is a first-day-out purchase for me, no doubt.

Mansa @ Jul 25th 2006 10:22PM

Oh god yes. Drool, indeed.

With how integral the brushstrokes are, though, it seems better suited for the DS.

C-Dub @ Jul 25th 2006 10:24PM

Wouldn't this make much more sense for the Wii?

Alex @ Jul 25th 2006 10:24PM

The graphics look just like Wind Waker, right down to the swirly puffs of dirt.

Justin Brogan @ Jul 25th 2006 10:26PM

I've been waiting for this game to come out for a year or so now. I hope Capcom decides to finalize September as the release date.

scab @ Jul 25th 2006 10:38PM

and the award for fanboys of the day goes to

o look its the married gay couple c-dub and alex

deCarteret @ Nov 16th 2007 11:58AM

Played the Japanese version. It's pretty good, and offers hours upon hours of gameplay (30+). Breathtaking graphics, beautiful landscapes, memorable music and a very well integrated brush system (used to solve puzzles, attack enemies, find items, etc.) but yes, it would be much more intuitive with wii or DS controls.

It's really the only Zelda style game for the PS2 that comes close. But it's begrudgingly easy, and devolves into an item collecting game--where hundreds of treasure chests give you useless collectable items or powerups which only make the game less likely to ever pose a challenge.

It can keep you happy until Twilight Princess, then you'll probably never touch it again.

monkeypox @ Jul 25th 2006 11:02PM

I've been drooling over this game since it was announced, but I don't plan on buying a PS2 anytime soon.

the game has "wii" written all over it, though; or maybe a slightly-less intense version for the DS. the brush technique just doesn't seem to lend itself to a controller.

Matters @ Jul 25th 2006 11:02PM

Fanboy of the day eh scab? Try this one out for size.

Sony fanboys are walking contradictions. They talk so much shit to Nintendo fanboys calling them little kids for playing games with cell shaded graphics, and now look. They're all hyped up for an unrealistic, non-violent, cartoony, cell shaded game. What a bunch of whiney little KIDS.

So have fun playing with your my little pony's scab.

(Not being serious when I say that, but honestly that is EXACTLY the kind of talk I would expect to hear from a sony fanboy if this game were for a Nintendo system)

On a side note this game does look bad ass. Been wanting it for a while and def. going to buy it.

Freezair @ Jul 25th 2006 11:16PM

If I had the money to blow on a PS2, I'd do it for this. Gorgeous game. Cel-shading hasn't been so wonderfully done since good ol' Wind Waker. And I have to say, I'm a sucker for any game where drawing is part of the gameplay. Kirby Canvas Curse? Sold. Graffiti Kingdom? So there! I even own Amazing Island...

dotun.o @ Jul 26th 2006 12:05AM

Don't know how challenging the overall gameplay will be, but this game looks REALLY good; infact, I dare say it possibly surpasses Wind Waker in the cel art (though the true difference is just that Okami's cel-shading is inked while WW's isn't). Though I don't have a PS2, this is one of the exclusives I'd really love to play (along with Gran Turismo and Ico). Maybe I'll get one afterall.
I have to agree with certain comments here, though: this is the same or similar style for which WW was slagged off by many (thankfully, not all). Not that this game should be criticized; quite to the contrary. It's just that when it's Nintendo it's kiddy, but some other company, it's artistic. And a game like this is proof that you don't need expensive machines to render photorealism before enjoying a game; photography never killed painting, you know.
Like WW, this is the kind of game I'd love to play just for looks after already finishing it several times.

Nick @ Jul 26th 2006 12:39AM

Yeah
holy god
it makes me happy - in certain areas, of course
lets say south of the border
im rather shoked that i havent heard of this till now
...yeah, shoked
can we say halucinatory fun?
how about un-fay o-tay uh-thay ax-may?

Tramd @ Jul 26th 2006 12:50AM

The difference here is that wind waker LOOKS like it was made for kids. The whole game gives off a cartoon feel. This gives off an artsy feel and looks like a painting rather than a cartoon.

GSI @ Jul 26th 2006 1:08AM

...and the award for idiot statement goes to:

scab

The runner-up for being a hypocriteis Tramd.

Anyways...

I played this at E3 and it took a minute to figure out the controls, but once I got the hang of it it was an absolute joy to play. You could see the influences from Viewtiful Joe as well (and that's a good thing.)

Oh and BOTH Wind Waker AND Okami are beautiful games. People who still resort to the stupid "kiddy" argument...have no argument.

dotun.o @ Jul 26th 2006 1:13AM

13. The difference here is that wind waker LOOKS like it was made for kids. The whole game gives off a cartoon feel. This gives off an artsy feel and looks like a painting rather than a cartoon.

Posted at 12:50AM on Jul 26th 2006 by Tramd 0 stars

But what about the tiny, flea-like character on the wolf, Issun (in the second video)? The hopping, the squeaky voice, the scribble over its head? That IS "cartoony".
As I see it, though cartoons are usually aimed at kids, cartoons are not necessarily kiddy. It's an art form side-by-side with live-action, like painting and photography, or synthesizers and a symphony. Neither is mutually exclusive; each has its niche.

PS: Did anyone else notice that the sound made by the skulls at the start of the battle in the second video is exactly the same as that by those spiked balls that attach themselves to WW Link and weigh him down? Either Capcom was infact inspired by WW (which I must point out is NO crime; Nintendo doesn't own the style) or they're common themes in Asian art.

Kendallbess @ Jul 26th 2006 1:21AM

I'm excited to play it. If only for the graphics.

Zero_ @ Jul 26th 2006 2:23AM

"Cartoony" or "kid like" are all very subjective. Stop bringing up this argument everytime a game with aesthetic visuals is released on a Sony platform. They didn't rise to the top for 2 generations for no reason, stop the hating, seriously.

As for this game, it is so beautiful, and this is what next gen should be about.

Stop the Wii/DS suggestions, we know it'll be better.. we know, but it's on the PS2, so deal with it.

Judd @ Jul 26th 2006 2:44AM

How could anyone look at a game like this and tell me videogames are not an art?

digitalFrequency @ Jul 26th 2006 2:52AM

oh... for a second i thought the vid was some twilight princess gameplay with werewolf link =P

anyway, so this is a ps2 game and i'm guessing (from first glance) you can perform strokes with that brush. it feels like a gameplay feature you'd find on the wii or ds... but i suppose it'll be interesting to see this on the ps2. looking at the game, it looks pretty artsy which is pretty cool. i'm into those kinds of games as long as it's tasteful and not wasted. i liked a bunch of the cell-shaded games that came out for as well (naruto, viewtiful joe, etc.).

this is something i'm hoping the new nintendo will look into. since rendering these kinds of graphics is cheaper than trying to render for photorealism, then it's something that'd easily run nicely on the wii. of course, it's up again to the developers to produce artistic graphics while balancing out the rest of the mechanics of the game.

there's this game called heroes... it looks interesting, even more interesting if that trailer was showing real-time graphics rendering... but that's just a first impression (there's still a bunch of stuff they haven't revealed, and the voice acting is horrendous in my opinion).

i'm tempted now to pick up this okami game when it comes out... lol. i'll see how this goes with the review critics first, but i'll definitely keep this game in mind.

jadenguy @ Jul 26th 2006 3:30AM

windwaker took the cel shading that jet set radio did so well and did cartoon to jsr's comic books. this game is in sumi-e style. so JSR is the real innovator, and us real SEGA fanboys just look down on the ruins of society and scoff at what could have been.

also, this game might pwn hard on the wii or ds. but like somebody said, the opposite is true of that tony hawk downhill game. the difference is that this game doesn't seem to suck because of that.

HAHA @ Jul 26th 2006 3:35AM

Another game that will never be on the wii/nintendo console.

Conn @ Jul 26th 2006 3:41AM

The visuals have a great style, but that's all it seems to be. Flash over substance.

Gavin @ Jul 26th 2006 7:03AM

This is Sony's plan people. Keep the PS2 alive with good games while the PS3 gets adopted by all the richie riches who rush out to buy the hot new thing. Keep the PS2 and an entry level system with a continuation of support and then the nextgen is for people who want more and are willing to pay for the difference.

They did the same thing bridging the gap and tying systems together with the PS1 to PS2 transition and you will see the same thing again.

Problem is, fanboys have a borked perception of the industry and think their views will determine who wins in the console war. Truth is that the market has increased to the size that there is going to be room for a three way again in the marketplace for the new systems.

For those of you who think one system has to be better and rule out over everything else....grow the hell up and but more than one console you fools. There is more to life than only buying one brand of shoes, one manufaturer of cars, one flavor of cola, one sucky emo band, one computer OS, and one video game console.

jaybird @ Jul 26th 2006 8:44AM

I own the JP version of this game and I have to say its one of the best looking and most original games ive ever played. We seem to be swimming in a sea of mediocrity with companies churning out boring crap every month. This game is a breath of fresh air. While yes it is a little on the easy side its a forgivable flaw given its great game play and amazing art style.

Michael Pastore @ Jul 26th 2006 9:01AM

The name of the planet is Nippon?? hahaha....

Silver R. Wolfe @ Jul 26th 2006 9:17AM

Conn, have you played the demo of this game? It's quite solid gameplay-wise too. They did a great job integrating the brush into the gameplay. It's not just a novelty or gimmick.

I would love for a game like this (perhaps a sequel?) to get made for the PSP. Having a portable Okami would make my day. The joystick would actually lend itself really well for this. They would just need to find a good way to cope for the missing camera stick.

I've been looking forward to this game since it started development and I'm still completely lovin' it. Clover Studios is easily becoming one of my favourites especially with Viewtiful Joe on their resume and now this.

Amaterasu ftw!

ck @ Jul 26th 2006 10:16AM

I'm glad that the PS2 is still getting some love - this game and God of War 2 coming out....

Those two games and the Wii will keep me busy for a year or two until the price of the PS3 goes down.

Christian aka nsomneia @ Jul 26th 2006 10:16AM

i've been wanting this game since i originally heard it was going to be on the cube.. . i was almost dissapointed when i heard of it being released on the ps2.. . gc needs more solid games like this.. . but oh well, atleast i'll get it on 1 of my consoles .. .

but i dunno if i would want this game on the PSP, i mean it would look good of couse but, that's not that argument.. . how could you control it on psp .. .

All Your Lost Socks @ Jul 26th 2006 11:20AM

I would take this everywhere on my DS with me... not easy enough to be mindless, but not frustrating enough to be annoying. But, it's on the PS2, and I don't mind that. Already have one. Had one for a while. Okay, so mine is with my sister and I actually -have- my boyfriend's, but friends' stolen posessions aside, I will be playing this game. I hadn't heard of it until I read this today and did some looking-up, but it was enough to convince me that I need it.

Jose Miguel @ Jul 26th 2006 11:55AM

Looks awesome!

WizarDru @ Jul 26th 2006 1:27PM

I'm actually suprised to hear so many people had never heard of this game before, since it's been at the last two E3s. I'm really looking forward to it.

People seem to forget that the PS/2, while hardly cutting edge, still has an installed base of 100 million+ consoles and an industry full of experienced developers who know how to push the hardware. Sure, the games are starting to get thin on the ground, but we're seeing some real gems appear now. I've been waiting for this game for a long time as one of the PS/2 games I eagerly anticipate.

Evan @ Jul 26th 2006 1:45PM

Another great niche game! My fear is, with the huge development costs to create next-gen 360/PS3 games, fewer companies will take the risk and back games like Okami or Katamari in the future.

Lee @ Jul 26th 2006 1:46PM

"The visuals have a great style, but that's all it seems to be. Flash over substance."

Both well founded and constructive. Great stuff.

Windwaker did look "kiddy". It's undeniable. Personally I think that's what gave it its charm and makes it my favourite Zelda (well it would be if not for the tedium of sailing).

This game looks interesting, is definitely a darker feel than other cell-shading I've seen. Not enough titles use it, apart from the few obvious ones (apart from JSR, I still think that's just something the Sega community clung to on their way down), it seems to just be used to make anime games, Naruto and DBZ fighters and the such. Which are fun to knock about, but if they had the production values of this game/other well done Cel games (unlikely I know) it'd be awesome.

More of this, if only to vary the visual style of games today.