Catch the Sun

It's been a double dose of cuteness from Good Smile Co. this week. First we were introduced to the darling Sakura Wars Sakura Amamiya Nendoroid, and now we can squeeee with delight at this super-cute Nendo of Sun Goddess Amaterasu, star of Capcom's legendary 2006 adventure title Okami.

One of the most beloved protagonists in video game history, Amaterasu is available to purchase in two forms. A standard edition includes the charming white wolf, along with an alternate head, her guardian/guide Issun, and a Reflector Divine Revolution attack effect. ??This version will retail for ¥5,000, or roughly $46 USD.

Amaterasu is also available in a special "DX" format. Perhaps one of the most intricate Nendoroids in the series, Amaterasu DX includes the accessories from the standard edition, but also includes a??n alternate set of legs, alternate weapons Glaive Tsumugari and Devout Beads Rosary, and, amusingly, the Oddly Shaped?? Turnip. This edition will retail for ¥7,000, or roughly $65 USD.

Both editions are available to pre-order now on the Good Smile Co. website, ahead of a November 2020 release date. Pre-orde??rs will close on August ?6.

Okami HD is?? available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Okami Amaterasu Nendoroid up for pre-order [Nintendo Soup]

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Quadriple LP and art book package en route

Vinyl soundtrack purveyors Data Disc are to release an exquisite box set featuring the soundtrack to Capcom's classic spiritual adventure, Okami, which has recently seen re-release on Nintendo Switch.

The soundtrack set features four heavyweight vinyl LPs, each packaged in its own sleeve featuring Okami's trademark watercolour artwork and featuring over 60 orchestrated tracks from the game's acclaimed score. A 40-page artbook and a beautiful lithograph are also included in the set, which is housed entirely in a hardened slipcase. A download code includ??es the soundtrack in digital format.

Available in three colour vinyl formats - classic black, frosted clear and a neat white-and-pink cherry blossom design - the Okami vinyl set will be available for pre-order d??irect from Data Discs, for around £65 (or $83) not including shipping or any relevant import charges. The set is expected to ship in October and pre-order??s for the "cherry blossom" edition close on August 15.

You can check out a selection of images below. For more info please visit the Data Discs website.

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Touchscreen function in action

The official Japanese Okami HD account posted a series of screens and videos taken from the upcomin?g Switch release of Capcom's spiritual classic, which launches on the Nintendo pl??atform next month.

We get to see the new touchscreen feature in effect, allowing ??the player to pathfind, solve puzzles, and cast a myriad of spells using the game's ex??quisite "Celestial Brush" mechanic. The feature doesn't look exactly 1:1 in these clips, but hopefully it'll be tightened up before release, and shouldn't cause too much drama for gameplay even if it isn't.

Amaterasu and that annoying bug character will be ready to experience their legendary adventure once more on August 9, when Okami HD will be made available on Nintendo eShop. Until then, you can find a selection of videos and screens right here.

Gameplay footage of Okami HD for Nintendo Switch [Twitter]

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Time to import for that sweet box

The upcoming Switch port of Okami HD has not been confirmed for a physical release in the ?US. In Japan, though, you can grab a regular or collectors edition that comes with a very snazzy box and cart. If you don't mind paying a little extra for peace of mind, that Japanese version has an English localization on the cart.

Nintendo Soup has confirmed the news via some unnamed sources of theirs. Amazon Japan currently has the game available for pre-order for ￥2,636 standard and ￥4,309 collectors, though you'll need an Amazon Japan account to actually order from there. There still is a chance that Capcom may release a physical copy, but we would have like?ly heard of it b??y now.

Japanese Retail Version Of Okami HD Supports English [Nintendo Soup]

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Classic PS2 character immortalised

Memorabilia manufacturer First 4 Figures have revealed details on their newest release, a statue of celestial being Shiranui from PS2 classic, Okami. A newly-released trailer, shown below, showcases ??the beautiful figurine.

The resin statue stands 14 inches high and is about 18 inches in length. That's some footprint for your mantelpiec??e. The Exclusive Edition of Shiranui includes LEDs to a warm glow to both their mane and their Solar Flare Reflector. Accompanying Shiranui is a PVC figurine of kinda-annoying sidekick Ishaku.

Shiranui is available for pre-order on the First 4 Figures website. The Exclusive Edition must be p??re-ordered before May 29. Both editions of Shiranui are priced at about $485, not including shipping or any possible customs charges.

Okami Shiranui Statue official page [First 4 Figures]

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A picture paints a thousand words

Hideki Kamiya is a strange and interesting man. When he's not busy being the vice president of Platinum Games or randomly blocking people on Twitter, he's at the helm of some of the best action-adventure games in the industry. Prior to his time at Platinum, he worked at Capcom on the Resident Evil games, before being made director of a planned spin-off series now known as Devil May Cry.

This is important, because in 2004 when Clover Studio was founded and the staff started on Viewtiful Joe 2, they also began work on Okami -- with Kamiya directing it. Originally, Okami was con?ceived as a simple minute-long tech demo of a wolf running while leaving a trail of flowers behind it. Capcom showed interest in making this a full-fledged game, with the premise built a??round “depicting nature.”

Once development began though, the prem??ise of simply "depicting nature" was too boring for Kamiya and they instead ?focused on making Okami an action-adventure game in the same vein as Zelda. The actual task however of replicating the Zelda formula is a huge endeavor in and of itself. But, not only did Kamiya and Clove??r Studio completely nail that formula, in my opinion, they created a game that rivals -- if not exceeds -- any Zelda game prior to it and one that would forever cement Kamiya's status in the industry like no other before it.

Okami HD (PS4, Xbox One, PC [Reviewed], PS3)
Developer: Clover Studio, HexaDrive
Publisher: Capcom
Release: December 12, 2017
MSRP: $19.99

Set in t??he land of Nippon, with a heavy emphasis?? on Japanese folklore, Okami tells the tale of a white wolf deity named Amaterasu and her little bug artist companion Issun. To keep things brief, an eight-headed demon has been awoken after 100 years and (of course) has spread darkness and bad vibes across the land. So, it's up to Amaterasu to gather all the celestial brush techniques to become powerful enough to stop it and save the land.

If you can get past the painfully long 20-minute introduction, you're gonna be in for one hell of an adventure spanning a? little over 30 hours with the most memorable cast of characters I've had the joy of encountering in recent memory. That goes for everyone from Susano, who believes he's the greatest warrior in the land and constantly attempts to save the day (when in reality Amaterasu does all the work), to even minor characters you might come across, such as a possessed old woman with knives who wants to chop you up and turn you into wolf-stew.

Okami's quirky cast of characters alone kept me progressing, simply because I was interested in who I'd meet next. Overall, the story does have some pacing issues, especially with its stop-start momentum, constantly leaving you ?guessing if the game is actually over or not. But, easily the most redeeming (and obvious) quality of Okami is simply how gorgeous this game looks, thanks to its uniquely cel-shaded ukiyo-e inspired art style.

If you want a more detailed breakdown of the PC-specific release of Okami HD, be sure to check out my review-in-progress. In short though: this release now supports 4K resolutions, but is still capped at 30 FPS due to game-specific things such as collision detection and? animation speeds being broken at higher frame rates. It's disappointing that this version still doesn't support 60 FPS, however, I never felt like I was hindered in anyway due to the frame rate.

Originally, Okami was intended?? to be rendere??d in a photo-realistic 3D style. However, due to the hardware limitations of the PlayStation 2 at the time, this concept was scrapped in favor of the aforementioned ukiyo-e inspired cel-shaded art style. This eye-catching aesthetic only benefited Okami in the long run, as it still easily holds the test of time, even today, thanks to its unique art direction -- now only bolstered ?with HD resolutions.

Ironically, if they went with the photo-realisti?c rout??e as originally intended, Okami would have immediately looked dated within half a year thanks to the PlayStation 3 set ?to release that same y?ear.

It's not only the aesthetic of Okami that holds up so well, but also the gameplay thanks to t??he unique Celestial Brush mechanics that make up the core experience and backbone of Amaterasu's abilities.

Throughout your adventure, Amaterasu will unlock various brush techniques that range from restoring objects in the environment for puzzle-solving, to combat abilities, such as cutting away at opponents or creating bombs to use on enemies or uncover new areas. The Celestial Brush also he?lps with traversal, allowing you to create lily pads to get across water or even change the time of day.

As you progress, you'll unlock most o?f these techniques in various dungeons that you'll then use on accompanying bosses, which is obviously where ??a lot of the Zelda comparisons come in. But, where Zelda has Link utilize various tools he finds on his journey, Okami has you instead remembering different brush strokes with the Celestial Brush -- which feels all the more satisfying and unique with the PlayStation Move controls on PS4 and even more s??o with the mouse on PC.

It's a brilliant mechanic that literal?ly draws the line on where it differe?ntiates itself from Zelda and other action-adventure games in general. Throw all th??is in with a gorgeous art style, a classically intertwi?ned Japanese soundtrack, and memorable characters and writing, and you have one of the best games from the PlayStation 2 still going strong over a decade and two console generations later.

Aside from a few minor gripes and this re-release of the game not offering much else from the 2012 PlayStation 3 re-release (other than higher resolutions and the return of loading screen mini-games), Okami HD is still a near-perfect game. If you haven't already beaten or ??played it yet, then now is ??a better time than ever before...

...Unless you're waiting?? for a Nintendo Switch port.

_{[This review ??is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Amaterasu is still lookin' good

Truth be told, I've never beaten Okami. I've played it twice ov??er in the past, first on the Nintendo Wii and got about halfway through the game, around that same time though, I got a PlayStation 3 and simply never found myself returning to finish it. Then with the PlayStation Network release in 2012, the same result ensued; I got about halfway through it and ended up getting distracted by another game altogether, never finding myself coming back to it.

Perhaps third time's a charm?

Okami HD (PC [reviewed], PS4, Xbox One, PS3)
Developer: Clover Studio, HexaDrive
Publisher: Capcom
Release: December 12, 2017
MSRP: $19.99

With the massive critical acclaim Okami has garnered over the years, I feel pretty guilty about never actually having beaten the game. Thankfully, now I have no excuses. But, if there is still one major takeaway I've had in my roughly eight hours or so of playing the game so far on PC, it's how gorgeous this game ??still looks, considering it was originally released on the PlayStation 2.

Okami HD is another example of ho??w a game with a distinct art style will always look better in the long run, than a game simply attempting realism, because in terms of graphical prowess, there will always be something more “realistic” within a couple of years. Meanwhile, Okami's cel-shaded art style still looks incredible and holds the test of time, an art style that utilizes thick black outlines and is heavily inspired by Japa??nese water coloring and woodcarving techniques known as Ukiyo-e.

Mind you, all of this in an HD resolution certainly helps, playing Okami again all these years later in a native 1080p resolution really showcases what I mentioned above. This particular release of the game also supports a 4K resolution on PC, PlayStation 4 Pro, and Xbox One X. So, if you're lucky enough to have a 4K monitor or TV setup, then you can't go wrong with having Okami HD being a showpiece.

Although, I am a bit disappointed the framerate on this now third re-release of the game, over a decade later no less, is still locked at 30 FPS. Capcom had this to say regarding the choice to lock the framerate:

“We actu?ally experimented with 60FPS and uncapped frame rate mode, but unfortunately it breaks the game logic, collision detection, and animation speed in certain areas of the game. The reality is that it would take a Herculean effort, time, and?? cost to manually fix and QA by trial and error since we’re working with legacy code from PlayStation 3 that was originally intended with 30FPS in mind.”

As for the PC version in particular, I am also a bit disappointed in terms of the amount of graphical customization at your disposal. There is no specific options for basic things such as anti-aliasing or draw distance (the game still has loads of pop-in issues, even on the highest settings), it all just boils down to a tab labeled “Graphics Settings” -- with the only options being: low, medium, and high. Chances are, what you??'l??l be getting on PC on the highest setting, is going to be no different than what you're getting on current consoles. Which is to be expected for an 11 year old game, but the lack of deeper graphical settings may disappoint PC enthusiasts none the less.

Notably, I also couldn't seem to get my PlayStation 4 controller working on the PC release of the game, either natively, or with third party software, despite my controller working fine on other games and ended up just?? sticking with the mouse and keyboard. Which at first, I dreaded the thought of, but the moment I was able to use the Celestial Brush with the mouse, it immediately felt natural a?nd instantly became my proffered method -- even over the Wii Remote and PlayStation Move motion controls.

That said, I'm not exactly crazy about the def??ault key-mappings, such as “Backspace” being utilized as the cancel option, thankfully you can still re-map keys. Using both the right and left mouse buttons for combat also took me a few moments to adjust, but soon afterwards, felt natural as well. Notably, all the in-game menus of the game also don't support the mouse, so you'll have to navigate them with the keyboard.

Aside from this, after playing the PC version for a short time, I genuinely think the PC controls are my new preferred way of playing Okami overall,?? simply for how well the Celestial Brush translates to the mouse and how natural it feels to use. Okami HD's PC port does come off feeling rather lazy overal?l, especially when compared to other Capcom releases on PC, take for example Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, which had a host of gra??phical options for?? its PC release last year.

But, if more re-releas?es of Hideki Kamiya's masterpiece on other platforms potentially lead ?to a proper sequel one day (yes, I know Okamiden was a thing) -- then I'm all for it. For those of you curious about my full opinion on the game overall though, then stay tuned as I continue my journey into collecting all 13 Celestial Bru??sh techniques and beating the game for my full review. (Expect a video review as well!)

_{[This review in progress is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review in Progress: Okami HD appeared first on Destructoid.

4K makes me cry!

There really isn't much I can say about Okami at this point. You've either played the game or you've heard stories of its majesty from other people. I'm actually not the biggest fan of Capcom's take on Zelda, but I can't deny how well the visuals have held up over the years. The PS3 HD port was already damn impressive, but this new version truly gets to shine ?thanks to full 4K rendering on each platform (provided you have a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X).

If you want to see some new footage of this port, Capcom has uploaded a couple of videos going over the celestial brush tech??niques that Amaterasu acquires over h??er journey. There is also a "demon introduction" for one of the enemies you'll encounter along the way. Simply put, this port looks stunning.

Okami HD for PS4, Xbox One and PC Gameplay Videos [All Games Delta]

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Clover no Mikoto

Okami HD has been rated by the Korean Game Ratings Board for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC suggesting upcoming releases on those platforms. This corroborates a report by Laura Kate Dale that PS4 and Xbox One ports are coming this Christmas. This the first time the game woul??d appear on PC.

Great news now that it seems all but confirmed. I tried pla??ying on Wii once but early tutorial sections were either too strict on the motion they wanted from me or I was too dumb to figure it out. Never got far into it and this gives me less reason to procrastinate.

Okami HD rated for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in Korea [Gematsu]

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Now just sell a canvas PS4/Xbox One

The godlike travels of Amaterasu are making the jump to current-gen consoles this holiday season. According to Kotaku UK, Okami HD will be getting a Christmas release on both PS4 and Xbox One.  There is no mention of whether or not this new port will feature PS4 Pro or Xbox One X support, which seems like a huge missed opportunity as the PS3 version actually renders in 4K before downsampling the graphics.

Even though there isn't an official word from Capcom on this release, it seems more than likely. They announced a few years back that they were interested in porting their back catalog to new platforms and the release of Resident Evil 4, 5 and 6 on PS4 and Xbox One falls in line with that. You can also look at things like the Mega Man Legacy Collection, the Disney Afternoon Collection and Dead Rising.

If Capcom isn't making new games, at least their classic titles are livi?ng on.

Report: Okami HD Heading for Xmas Release on PS4/Xbox One [Kotaku UK]

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Wolf it down

Initially released for the PlayStation 2 in the autumn of 2006, Okami, Clover ?Studio's penultimate release, garnered significant critical acclaim but suffered from lackluster sales. Born unto the shadow of the recently launched PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii platforms, the game failed to gain traction outside of a small community of fervent supporters. 

In 2010, Guinness recognized the game for being the "worst-performing winner of a Game of the Year accolade from a ?major gaming publicat??ion." And while it has gone on to spawn a sequel for the Nintendo DS, two years later, Okami is still a game searching for an audience.

Okami HD (PlayStation Network)
Developer: Clover Studio, HexaDrive 
Publisher: Capcom
Release: October 30, 2012
MSRP: $19.99

A fusion of tales from Japanese mythology, Okami's story follows the Shinto sun goddess, Amaterasu. When an ancient evil?? awakens after a century-long slumber, our canine protagonist is summoned by a spirit guardian to deliver the world from darkness. Accompanied by the sprite Issun, Amaterasu se??ts off on a journey to restore the land of Nippon to its former glory.

Okami may not be avant-garde, but this seemingly timeworn tale is far more colorful than its synopsis lets on. This is a game steeped in tradition; a medley of Japanese legends that have be?en gathered and woven together. Synthesized wit?h classic action-adventure gameplay and gorgeous cel-shaded visuals, this fabric forms what is both a beautiful and timeless tapestry. 

In contrast to its traditionalist roots, much of what makes Okami such a cohesive and enjoyable experience is actually a feature that is entirely unique to the game. Wielding a tool known as the Celestial Brush, Amaterasu can bring time to a standstill. Using either the PlayStation Move or an analog stick, players ca?n draw symbols directly onscreen to conjure items and manipulate the environment. However, this isn't just a gimmick. The painterly power is the game's central thread and is fundamental to the experience. 

Okami's world doesn't just look like an animated Japanese ink illustration. Staring beyond the vibrant colors will reveal subtle papery textures. As a god, its fitting that Amaterasu can add t?o and shape this living, breathing canvas. All of these elements bleed into one another, creating bridges from the game's mesmeric aesthetics to the narrative and the gameplay itself. 

There are thirteen brush techniques in total which have an impact on everything from combat to platforming and puzzle-solving. Dr??awing a circle in the night's sky can transform dusk into dawn, whereas a crescent moon in broad daylight will have the opposite effect. With a swirling motion, Amaterasu can create wind. And countless dormant trees throughout Nippon can be revived with a quick flick of the Celestial Brush.

Similar to The Legend of Zelda, the series from which Okami draws much of its inspiration, these techniques are most frequently introduced in tandem with correspondin?g dungeons. Oftentimes, new acquisitions are as much of a key to traversing these stages as they are the silver bullet to defeating the bosses that dwell within. 

They also have uses when it comes to combat. While Amaterasu has quite the armory at her disposal (swords, energy whips, and even a rifle of sorts) that can be paired to create d??ramatically different styles of play, conjuring a well-placed bomb or landing a well-timed celestial power slash can turn the ti?de of battle. Other techniques have more indirect applications. For instance, blooming cherry blossom trees allows the player to earn the Praise (experience) necessary to make Amaterasu a more formidable fighter. 

While these light role-playing elements exist, the battles themselves take place in arcadey arenas where the player is graded on the duration and execution of the fight. The game gives monetary incentives to finishing a fight as quickly as possible, but also rewards those that mitigate damage. As one might expect, the additional capital can be put to good use by additional purchasing items and weaponry. There are also dojos scatt?ered throughout Nippon where Amaterasu can learn new combat techniques -- for a nominal fee, of course.

As for new content specific to this high-definition re-release, there isn't a whole lot here that wasn't present in the game's previous incarnations. The motion controls seen in the Wii version see a return thanks to the PlaySta?tion Move and there are plenty of Trophies here to supplement the intrinsic joys of the game. 

However, one addition that really matters here is the graphical update. I'm by no means a graphics snob, but just being able to see this game in 1080p makes it well worth the price of admission. Okami HD looks so breathtaking in motion that I'm ?hard pressed to think of?? another title that rivals its sheer beauty.

As wonderful as Okami can be though, it is not without its faults. There are reoccurring boss fights that do nothing to alter the experience the second or even third time around. This is already a very long game that suffers from a slow start and a meandering pace. It doesn't need additional padding. Oh, and another thing -- I know Clover Studios drew a great deal of inspiration from the Legend of Zelda s??eries, but did they really feel the need to include ??a pint-sized sidekick whose soul purpose in life is to annoy you every step of the way?

Those few minor gripes aside, Okami HD is the definitive version of one of the past decade's premier games and absolutely? deserves to be played. Whether you've experienced it before or have yet to do so, do yourself a favor and pi??ck this up.

The post Review: Okami HD appeared first on Destructoid.

I don't know how many times I can play Okami and come up with something to say without feeling like I'm repeating myself. I played it on the PS2, then again on the Wii, and today I played it on the PS3 in its latest incarnation, Okami HD. I suppose it's a testament to how much someone at Capcom believes in Okami that they're trying yet again to get the game to sell in ????the numbers that it likely deserves. 

This latest version is just as fine as any other, for what it's worth. The PlayStation Move controller works a treat for using Amaterasu's painting powers, as you'd expect if you have any experience with the Wii version. Honestly, it's probably better, but I'm not prepared to make that call? on the basis of a press room experience (though, in fairness, the demo took place in a busy conference room; hardly the tightly controlled environment which would arouse suspicions). The jump to high-definition visuals is noticeable and everything looks crisp.

Everything except Amaterasu, that is. Maybe it's just the godly energy showing through, but the white wolf has a noticeable blur in motion that d?irectly contrasts with the crisp, clean environments and other characters. I found it mildly distracting, but that could also just be down to my seeking of anything new or differen??t about this release. Even the three visual filters found in the game's options menu failed to give me anything to work with, as I couldn't observe any discernible difference between "Normal," "Light" and "Heavy" filters.

Okami HD is, in all likelihood, going to be the definitive ??rel??ease of a game hardly anybody bought. I'd like to believe that somehow, this time will be different. I'd also like to believe that if I eat Taco Bell every day, I'll never get fat, but reality has a way of disappointing no matter how hard you wish for something.

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