Do you own a Wii? Please buy Okami.
Pretty please? It comes out for the Wii this week on Tuesday, April 15th. (May not be available instore until Weds.)
Since its PS2 release in September 2006, Okami has sold only 270,000 copies. Madden ’07 for PS2 sold 737,100 copies in 2006 (~4 month period) alone. That’s some serious video game injustice. Luckily, Capcom heard the cries of the fanboys and is re-releasing it for the Wii, giving it a second chance at sales. Considering that painting is a big part of the Okami gameplay, it makes some sense to make a Wii port. Capcom acknowledges the discrepancy between the game’s critical acclaim and crappy sales in its recent banner ad campaign for the game:
Saw this on GoNintendo as well as saw
the ad on several gaming sites
This game was one of my favorite games for the PS2 (in fact, second only to Shadow of the Colossus). It’s essentially a Zelda clone, except you play a wolf, everything looks like a cool Japanese painting, and you draw stuff to pull off moves. Aside from having a great art style that looked fantastic even on a PS2, it’s got one of the best game soundtracks ever. If you like Zelda-type games at all, you really should try this game. Actually, I’m not a fan of Zelda games, but I still love this game. So frankly, if you own a Wii, you should buy this game. Yes, BUY THIS GAME.
Here’s a video of one of my favorite boss fights (which I think I linked in an older blog post somewhere). Strangely enough, it’s basically giant version of an eight-legged bug that I’m incredibly afraid of, but this one was weird enough that I got used to it somewhat quickly. The awesome music helps, as well. It’s one of the earlier bosses, so it doesn’t spoil anything plot-wise, but it spoils how to beat this boss.
Interestingly enough, this video’s author’s intro music is from Shadow
of the Colossus, which also has a fantastic soundtrack.
I must admit I’m disappointed with the retail price of $39.99. Before stores stopped selling them, the PS2 version was sold for $29.99 (original retail price of $49.99 at launch). Nothing is being added to the Okami version, aside from Wiimote specific controls and 480p and 16:9 widescreen. Capcom gave the same “Wii-make” treatment to Resident Evil 4, but that Wii game launched at a $29.99. Maybe they were thinking that so many people already have RE4 for GC or PS2, so they need a lower price to drive people to double dip. As somebody who bought the PS2 Okami, played it through, even started a second run before getting distracted with other games, and now wants to get the Wii version, I would have preferred the $29.99 price point.
I haven’t preordered it yet, but I only hesitate because I already have the PS2 version. And I can’t find ANY deals for it. I think I’ll probably just go through Amazon and get it without tax.
If you want to look at more pretty Okami art, check out the official Capcom website about the art of Okami. (Mmm… want art book… even tho it costs as much as the game!)
New thing I learned today: The director of Okami, Hideki Kamiya, provided the voice of Godot for the Japanese version of Phoenix Wright 3.
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