(Not really, get them for yourself)

The nights are drawing in and the great indoors is becoming just as chilly as the great outdoors. I've already found myself rocking more layers, even when secured in the comfort of my own bedroom. Still, even though there's no sun, that does??n't mean you can't feel the soft and warming rays of video gaming's favorite sun goddess.

Behold: These incredible slippers, styled after Amaterasu, the beloved hero of Capcom's cult hit, Okami.

The slippers are part of a small range of new merchandise revealed by Capcom to celebrate the fantastic 2006 adventure. As if we needed a reason. Alongside fineries such as card holders, pen cases, and other items, the slippers are to be made available in Japanese Capcom stores from November 11 (11/11), which is traditionally known in the region as "Doggy Day," due to the number one's similarities to the word "Doggy." Thanks to Siliconera's Stephanie Liu for the explanation.

Unfortunately, these cozy kipper warmers do not appear to be headed west anytime soon, so die-hard Okami fans will have to go the import route for their own pair of slippers for now. It's a shame, as they do look really cute and incredibly comfortable �if a little chonky. We'll just have to keep our eyes on the Capcom online store and hope that the publisher sees fit to release?? this line of merch internationally. I tell you now, once I slip these comfy pups on my feets, I'll be wearing them everywhere �at home, to the store, in c??ourt �everywhere.

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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 Rev?olution attack effect. T?his 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, b??ut also includes an 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, ahe??ad of a November 2020 release date. Pre-order?s will close on August 6.

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

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

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'Okami is going to be back!'

Developer Ikumi Nakamura (who rose to internet super-stardom following a memorable appearance at E3 this year) has tweeted her desire to make a brand new game based on the mystical - and much beloved - Japanese franchise Okami. The new tweet sees Nakamura stood alongside industry veteran Hideki Kamiya, who directed the original Okami for PlayStation 2 back in 2006.

"Okami is going to be back" states Kamiya simply, offering a big thumbs up. "Really?" inquires Nakamura, with Kamiya nodding in confirmation. Nakamura then leaves the frame, presumably to START MAKING THE GAME RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK... Well, perhaps not, but given the adjoining text, which reiterates Nakamura's excitement at the possibility of a new Okami title, ?it looks like there's reason enough for fans to?? keep the hope fires burning.

Also of note, this wonderful photograph.

Okami is going to be back! We want to make Okami sequel and fans are looking forward to it too. You guys want to see Kamiya’s Okami again, right, everyone? I want to work on it too! 大神をã¾ãŸä½œã‚ŠãŸã„ç§ãŸã¡ã§ã™ã€‚ðŸ™ðŸ˜Š@CapcomUSA_ @OKAMI_CAP pic.twitter.com/bLwuGnTew1

— Ikumi Nakamura (@nakamura193) October 18, 2019

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*Ba-ding*

First 4 Figures has released video and images of the next statue in its growing Sonic the Hedgehog range. This nicely-dynamic diorama features the blue blur getting a lift into Sonic 3's ??Angel Island Zone, courtes??y of his dopey pal Tails.

Standing 20 inches high and 17 inches wide, this colourful creation would brighten up the shelves of any die-hard Sonic fan. The ?statue is available in three distinct formats: The Standard? Edition features a scorched base design, with our heroes grinning like dang fools. The Tropical Edition features a similar setup, but with jungle-based surroundings. This edition is serious business, as Sonic & Tails have got their frown on. Finally, the Exclusive Edition features the standard design, but now lit with an LED glow.

Now for the damage. Both the Standard and Tropical editions of the statue are available to pre-order now for $499 USD each, while a combo pack - including the E??xclusive and Tropical editions - will set you back a whopping $925. Don't forget to factor in any potential shipping/customs charges, as th??is is a pretty hefty piece.

If you want to order one of these delightful statues, then pre-orders officially open today over at the official First 4 Figures website. Pre-orders will be ope?n unt?il August 16, with the statues expected to ship in the third quarter of 2020.

Sonic and Tails resin statue pre-order [First 4 Figures]

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This one's for the animals

In case you didn't know, Okami already has a Guinness World Record. Strangely it boasts the "least commercially successful winner of a Game of the Year award," which it won in 2006 after selling "just" 600,000 copies, a qualifier that Guinness refers to as "dismal" on their official website. It's a sort of back-handed award in that it highlights Okami's multiple GOTY wins.

Now 12 years later it's poised to net yet another more flattering award in 2018. According to Twinfinite it was announced during Capcom's New York Comic Con panel that Okami had been? given the honor of "most critically acclaimed video game starring an animal character."

Exact details like review scores or what other data "critically acclaimed" entails were not shared, but either way this award is a great way to honor the folks over at Clover: many of whom are still in the industry over at Platinum Games: most notably Hideki Kamiya and Atsushi Inaba, director and producer for Okami respectively.

Okami Just Earne??d Another Guinness World Records Award [Twinfinite]

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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 includes 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 direct 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-orders 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.

The post Beautiful Okami H??D vinyl sound??track available to pre-order now appeared first on Destructoid.

Touchscreen function in action

The official Japanese Okami HD account posted a series of scr??eens and videos taken from the upcoming Switch release of Capcom's spiritual classic, which launches on the Nin??tendo platform 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 exquisite "Celestial Brush" mechanic. The featur?e 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 gra??b 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 tha??t Capcom may release a physical copy, b??ut we would have likely heard of it by now.

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

The post The Japanese physical copy of Okami HD on Swit??ch has an English option appeared first on Destructoid.

Heavenly

Okami HD wil??l be heading to N?intendo Switch on August 9, Capcom has announced.

The game will be getting a digital release in the US with some kind of collector's edition in Japan. While unconfirmed, this could mean that Japan is getting a physical e??dition of the game. So far, it seems like the US will on?ly have the eShop as an option.

Okami [Twitter]

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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?? figurin??e.

The r?esin statue stands ?14 inches high and is about 18 inches in length. That's some footprint for your mantelpiece. 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 pre-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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Touch controls, too

During today's Nintendo Direct, Okami HD was announced for the Switch. Coming this summer, the game will feature both touch and motion ??control support for the Celestial Brush. You'll be able to use motion controls in docked and tabletop play while touch controls will be limited to handheld mode. I would also imagine that Pro Controller support is in the game, seeing as how that also has a gyroscope.

Even without this running at 4K, this sounds like the definitive version to me. The Wii port never quite had the precision required to make motion controls viable for Okami, but the joy-con are defi?nitely much better tech.

The post Okami HD is heading to Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Very special delivery

Anyone checking out the Steam Workshop for global smash DOTA 2 may be surprised to see a familiar spiritual canine making an appearance? in the battle-arena title.

Capcom have officially submitted a courier design to the free-to-play title, none other than the lovable Amaterasu, star of cult PS2 title Okami. A hero of Japanese folklore, Amaterasu is a sun goddess who ?takes the form of a beautiful white wolf in order to save the world from a gathering darkness.

This isn't the first time Amaterasu has appeared in another title, in the past she surprised many fans with an appearance in crossover fighter Marvel vs. Capcom 3. In her role as a  DOTA 2 courier, Ammy would collect items and skills reques??ted from the store and bring t?hem to the team in the thick of battle.

Yes, you'd essentially be using a sun goddess to play "fetch".

Amaterasu is viewable now on the DOTA 2 workshop, where she can be "faved" and added to your collection. You can also vote ??for her to receive official support from Valve.

The post Capcom submit Okami’s Amaterasu as a potential DOTA 2 courier 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 da??mn 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 foot??age of this port, Capcom has uploaded a couple of videos going over the celestial brush techniques that Amaterasu acquires over her 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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Amaterasu

All the rumors have come true; Okami HD is officially happening and it's coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 4K. All versions will be available both digitally and physically in North America and Europe on December 12, 2017 for $19.99 / £15.99 / €19.99.

Loading screen mini-games that were removed from the PS3 and Wii versions of Okami make their return.

I only played a couple hours of the Wii version so I'm not sure what sorts of games those are, but I always wondered why more games didn't have simple games while loading. I remember FlatOut 2 having Pong while you waited. Anyway, I've been thinking abo?ut which version I should play and how to get a hold of a copy, but I think I can wait til December to get it on PC.

The post O?kami HD brings 4K and mini-games to PS4, Xb?ox One, and PC appeared first on Destructoid.

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?? would appear on PC.

Great news now that it seems all but confirmed. I tried playing on Wii once but early tutorial sections were either too stric??t 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]

The post Okami HD likely headed to PS4, Xbox One, and PC appeared first on Destructoid.

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 g??ames, at least their classic titles are livin?g on.

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

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And happy 10th birthday, Okami!

Monster Hunter has the cameo-appearance situation on lock. If we're talking about a character from a Nintendo- or Capcom-published series, chances are they've shown up in one form or another as a fun extra, whether it's just their trademark weapon or a full-on iconic outfit.

For this summer's Monster Hunter Generations, Capcom is bringing out a special Felyne costume and glaive for Clover fans. Considering Okami just turned ten ??years old, good timing on the news.

It does look a bit like they killed and skinned the poor thing, though.

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And some other videogame art prints for hundreds of dollars

It feels weird to get nostalgic for the PS2, but thinking about Clover will do that (also, make me want to stop working and play God Hand). We were blessed with some good stuff circa 2??006. And Italy won the World Cup.

If you're also stuck in eight years ago, you probably don't know what vuvuzelas are yet and you might also want these new Okami prints. The catch is that they come from a hoity-toity art pr??int studio in the Netherlands (damn socialism) so they're a bit pricey.

The site has a lot of quality game art prints for sale. Some cost ??hundreds of dollars, but would look better on your wall than that tacky poster you tore o??ut of a Nintendo Power 14 years ago. 

An alternative for Okami fans is the Udon Okami artbook.

The post Limited Okami art prints are nice, expensive appeared first on Destructoid.

(Iwata laughs)

The latest Iwata Asks is positively delightful as Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata chats up Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya, director of the upcoming Wii U title Wonderful 101 and a bunch of vaunted Clover classics (Viewtiful Joe, Okami).

Kamiya starts answering questions about how he got into videogames, describing a childhood in which he braved a bully's home just to play games because he had none. "Every time, I'd come home having been punched," Kamiya said, "but I'd go again the next day." From that point on, Kamiya remained ensconced in the medium and goofed off in school, playing loads of games. After school, having taken no particular strides towards becoming a game creator, he sent resumes and received word back from Namco and Capcom, eventually landing with Capcom as a planner on Resident Evil under Shinji Mikami.

Kamiya noted that "there was a backlash and shock from giving the director absolute authority," with Mikami heading Resident Evil authoritatively, rather than Capcom's previous, more cooperative approach. Staff, including Kamiya,?? "would complain to the director how we were frustrated by, for example, not being able to have the player-character move faster. The director, however, would say that the theme of the game was fear, so it should be left as is, and refuse it," Kamiyza said. "And? when I played the final, complete version, I could clearly see why Mikami-san hadn't budged."

"But immediately after, when Mikami-san made me director of Resident Evil 2, I messed up in a big way. As a result of saying ??okay to everything? that came up, it turned out horrible. We had to scrap what we had spent a year and a half making." Kamiya certainly has a more loose approach to game design.

When he was first tasked with heading a small team, for Viewtiful Joe, he struggled making fun systems before falling back on a subconscious knowledge gleaned from all his years of playing games, eventually realizing he had to be more conscious of this understanding. Of course, luck and a good eye help, too. Viewtiful Joe's slow-motion only came when a programmer was slowing somet?hing down and Kamiya thought it looked cool. The whole VFX power core wasn't there to begin with. It d??eveloped organically.

"My games tend ??to go that way, so the core isn't in the plan from the?? start," Kamiya said. "We make the game with luck and inspiration, and if we work hard, at some point the God of Video Games descends upon us."

Note to aspiring game creators: I'm not sure Kamiya's methods -- just playing a lot of games and applying to a major developer -- will prove all that successful for you. It makes for a good, strange story, though. The lucky game creator -- Resident Evil was his first project and he was bumped to director on its sequel -- with an eye for inspiration and the ability to capitalize on ideas. I'm sure Wonderful 101 will be as wonderfully?? unique as all of Kamiya's past efforts.

Be sure to give the whole interview a read. It's interesting and good insight into the development of some fabulous games. It's also adorable, in text, to read "(laughs)" after that many of Iwata's lines. What a likeable guy.

The post Wonderful 101’s Hideki Kamiya chats with Nintendo CEO appeared first on Destructoid.

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 Yea??r accolad??e from a major gaming publication." 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 sets off on a journe?y 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 been gathered and woven together. S?ynthesized with classic action-adventure gameplay and gorgeous cel-shaded visual?s, 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 featu??re 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 can 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 to 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 g?ameplay itself. 

There are thir?teen brush techniques in total which have an impact on everything from combat to platforming and puzzle-solving. Drawing 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 corresponding dungeons. Oftentimes, new acquisitions are as much of a key to traversing these st?ages 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 dramatically different styles of play, conjuring a well-placed bomb or landing a well-timed celestial power slash can tur??n the tide 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 pos?sible, but also rewards those that mitigate damage. As one might expect, the additional capital can be put to good use by addit?ional purchasing items and weaponry. There are also dojos scattered 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 PlayStation 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&nbs?p;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 series, but did they really feel the need to include a pint-sized sidekick whose soul purpo?se ?in life is to annoy you every step of the way?

Those few minor gripes aside, Okami HD is the def?initive 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 pick this up.

The post Review: Okami HD appeared first on Destructoid.

At least they have a sense of humor about it

Okami HD released on PlayStation Network this week, but Capcom seems to think you might have another game on the brain. They released this new video by way of a reminder and, seeing as they have new Okami hoodie merchandise coming down the pipe, decided to have a little fun with the competition in this Assassin's Creed-inspired short.

We're currently hard at work on a review of Okami HD. Stay tuned!

The post Capcom spoofs Assassin’s Creed 3 to promote 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 t?o get the game to sell in the numbers that it likely deserves. 

This lates??t 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 directly 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 different 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 release of a game hardly anybody bought. I'd li?ke 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.

The post TGS: Okami, third time, charm, etc. appeared first on Destructoid.

The week of Tokyo Game Show seems like a perfectly fine time for Capcom to announce the release date of Okami HD, so here goes: it's headed to PlaySt?ation Network on October 30, 2012 in North America.

Given its wonderful art style, this is?? the kind of game that demands to be played in full 1080p, as evidenced by the latest screenshots in the gallery below. The new version supports PlayStation Move controllers if you've got one; otherwise, a standard gamepad will do just fine. At $19.99, I can see this being hard to resist downloading.

The post Okami HD?? dated for PlaySta??tion Network in North America appeared first on Destructoid.

As part of their Gamescom press event this morning, Capcom showed this new gameplay video for Okami HD. It's been a while since I played Okami, but I'm fairly certain that this is within the first couple hours of the? game because I actually remember having played this portion. 

Has anybody made the joke about how the third time's the c??harm yet? Really? Boy, I bet that's a fun one around the Capcom offices. 

The post New footage of Okami HD to wet your brush over appeared first on Destructoid.

The headline should tell you everything you need to know, but in case you want details, Volkodav dressed his dog up as Amaterasu (the main character of Okami) for Otakon 2011. The pup??py, named Dante, is a one and a half year old Samoyed, in case you want to go get your own Amaterasu puppy.

There have been some really great cosplay costumes over the years but this might just take the cake for me. For more views of the costume, check out Volkodav's deviant art page. I think Dale's corgis may have com??petition in the cute puppy department.

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And so are we! Okamiden producer Motohide Eshiro says Capcom listens to fan demand, and if enough demand is there, Okami and God Hand could get sequels. 

Eshiro told Gamesradar: "We’re certainly willing to explore the option of another Okami game if the market is there for it. If people want it, we’ll be pleased to deliver it. As for what hardware, it will depend entirely on what ideas we ?have and what the demands of the market are. We will pick the appropriate platform from there."

I'm a huge fan of the crazy PS2 brawler God Hand, and would love an HD sequel on the PS3. Eshiro is also a fan, and he said that he'd like the game to ?live on as a series. 

"I personally am quite the fan of God Hand," he said. "I thought it had really dynamic gameplay of focusing not on blocking but on constantly dodging and moving. It was really f?un and refreshing, and it would be great to see that turned into a series."

If you're game for either one of the??se game sequels, listen to Eshiro's instructions: "Look up Capcom’s address online right now and send us some letters and see what happens. It gets a lot easier to push an idea through management if it looks like we have a lot of support for it!"

Capcom Open To Okami, God Hand Sequels [Edge]

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If you attended PAX East this year (I didn't, darnit!), you might have noticed some adorable Okamiden swag for sale. Well, Capcom has taken the remaining items from that first-run batch and made them available through the??ir online? store!

You've got your basic Chibiterasu plush doll as well as a Chibiterasu pillow pet. Oh-so cuddly and in oh-so short supply! Only about a hundred of these puppies remain.?? Once they're gone, they're gone...

... until SOTA Toys makes a new run available after April 15.? So no hurry!

Ok??amiden Plush and Pillow Available Online NOW?...and later! [Capcom-Unity]

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Okami is a beloved cult classic, bu?t the game failed to meet sales expectations when it was first released on the PS2 back in 2006. Capcom recently stated that they believe that the ga??me undersold because it was released so closely to the launch of the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/Wii.

Guess what? A new Okami game is coming out in the United States on the DS this month, in the same month that the 3DS launches in the United States. Looks like Capcom is willing to tempt fate again with an Okami release on the eve of a major console release, but this time, ??they have the power of puppies on their side.

Will the persuasive power of adolescent canine cuteness be enough to cause Okamiden to succeed where Okami once failed?

Okamiden (DS)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Released: March 15, 2011
MSRP: $29.99

Choosing which game to put a console on is a lot like matching two breeds of dog. Breed a Dead Rising dog with the Xbox 360, and you get the original Dead Rising. Breed the same game-dog with the Wii, and you get Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop. Though both of those games have one parent in common, anyone who has played them both will tell you that they are two very different animals. The same can be said of Okami and Okamiden. The breeding of the Okami ??concept with the DS hardware has resulted in a game with very different strengths and weaknesses than the PS2 original -- sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse.

The game takes place less than a year after the original Okami, which technically makes it a chronological sequel, though in practice, a lot of the game is recycled from the first title. Just as in Okami, you play as a wolf who's tasked with ridding ancient Japan of demonic impurities. This time around, though, you are Chibiterasu, a puppy with god-like powers who may or may not be the direct offspring of Amaterasu, the wolf goddess of Okami. The game features a slightly smaller replica of the overworld from Okami, but with new dungoens to explore, new (and old) people to meet, and ne??w (?and old) techniques to master.

It's these techniques, and how they are implemented, that best take advantage of the DS hardware. Like with Okami, Okamiden arms you with the "celestial brush," a magical im??plement that allows you to freeze time and draw onto the game world as though it were a Japanese ink painting. The brush provides you with most of your in-game tools; it's used for both for combat and puzzle solving.

This is the first time that the celestial brush has really felt perfect. With the PS2, it was very precise, but seemed unnatural and stiff. On the Wii, the pointer controls allowed for ??much more fluidity, but sacrificed the tactile connection, making the controls too loose and unwieldy for some. On the DS, it's truly the best of both worlds. Slicing enemies in half, bringing cherry trees to full bloom, and all of the various other functions of the celestial brush have never been so tactilely gratifying to perform, yet still fluid and organic. It stands to reason that a touchscreen-enabled ve??rsion of a game about drawing would be a good fit, but it's still worth noting that Capcom has done an excellent job porting this unique concept to less powerful hardware. 

They've also done a great job introducing new gameplay elements to the Okami formula. Most of these new gameplay ideas come packaged with the small group of children who will work as your partners throughout the game -- a team of tykes who like Chibiterasu, and may or may not be the direct offspring of characters first introduced in Okami. These children work with Chibiterasu in a manner not dissimilar to Link and Zelda's teaming up in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Using the touchscreen and the D-pad, you often need to control both characters at once, which is a lot more fun and a lot less confusing that it might sound. You meet various new kids along the way, each with their own distinct abilities and storylines. The abilities of these children, and the way that their lives weave into each other, is the main thing that sets Okamiden apart from its predecessor. I don't want to give them away, but suffice to say that there are a few twists that lead to Okamiden feeling like a very different game than Okami, at least for a little while.

Okamiden's storyline feels much more based on anecdotes and seemingly incidental characters. Just as Chibiterasu is not yet an epic and powerful god, his story does not seem as epic and powerful in nature -- at least at first. Instead, his tale focuses more on the smaller, sweeter, more sentimental moments of the world of ancient Japan. If you weren't expecting some saccharine stuff -- or at the very least, occasional bouts of cuteness -- from Okamiden, you? might need to get y??our eyes checked. This game doesn't star a puppy for nothing.

While this focus on minutiae lends itself to a more intimate, sentimental story, it also opens up the flood gates for one of the more abhorrent game design tropes out there: the fetch quest. Okami had its share of fetch quests, too, but they seem to be plentiful in Okamiden. You get to know many little incidental characters, and they each have some little incidental task to put you on. It can get a little grating, although many of them pay off in the end. The same goes for the game's many unskippable text-based cut-scenes. They are generally pretty painful to sit through at first, but most of them end up paying off in either a laugh, a clever bit of dialog, or some form of grandeur. It all comes down to the fact that the game is consistently likable, even when it goes a little off track. With any less charm, I don't think Okamiden could have survived all its wordy cutscenes and random collection-based tasks?.

One aspect of the game that I'll never have any affection for is the camera. It's controlled on the touchscreen, which just doesn't work. The only reason the game's mix of touch and button/pad controls works is because when you activate the celestial brush, time freezes. That means you can safely take your thumbs off the buttons, grab your stylus, and start drawing. The same can't be said of the game's camera controls. You often need to manipulate the camera in real time during?? combat, which means you you have to take your hands off the buttons and touch the bottom screen with your filthy mitts. It's a huge design flaw that really takes you out of the game.

Thankfully, a fair amount of the new-style battles in the game take place from a fixed, overhead camera angle, in the style of old-school Legend of Zelda. These battles are either relegated to boss battles, or mid-dungeon, button-mashing filler, which is a shame. I actually would have preferred it if the whole? game were played from a fixed camera angle. It's better than the alternative, which is the semi-broken adjustable came?ra that most of the game employs.

The graphics and sound are very well done. There is a little bit of slowdown here and there, and the load times between screens feel a little long at times, but it's all worth it to see how close Capcom came to replicating Okami on the DS. The game is undoubtedly a technical achievement, though it's a shame that many of the actual visual ideas here are recycled from Okami. The music is also excellent, if not overly familiar. I'm not certain, but it certainly feels like most of the tracks here were taken directly from Okami. Like with the graphics, it's hard to get really excited about how great Okamiden'?s music is when you've already heard it so ma?ny times before.

Like I said before, Okamiden exudes charm, perhaps even more so than the original. Unfortunately, charm will only get you so far. The game rarely reaches the same level of technical excellence as its predecessor, which is a shame, given that there are a few areas where Okamiden actually outdoes the original. It's just too bad that the game doesn't have more new content to help set itself apart from the "real" Okami. The good news is, most of the game's shortcomings will be less noticeable to those who've never played an Okami game before. It's a shame that Okamiden didn't come first. If not for the fact that it's standing in the shadows of one of the best games ever made, Okamiden would look a lot more brilliant. As it stands, this half?-port, half-sequel does an admirable job of making the best of the DS's hardware, but doesn't quite have the originality or the technical polish to live up to its godly lineage.

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Capcom just released a few new trailers showing off characters from the upcoming DS title Okamiden. The focus here is on some of the game's characters who are returning from the original Okami. In the video above, we have Sakuya, who in case you dodn't know is "The spirit of the sacred tree, Konohana, and watches over Kamiki Village. She gives advice to Chibiterasu in an effort to save Nippon from the evil that has attacked the land once more."

It's nice to see the buxom beauty return to the world of Okami, but the real draw to this trailer is that through its window-in-window presentation, it pretty accurately depicts how good Okamiden actually looks on the DS. I've said before that the game looks nearly as good its predecessor, but with only stretched out, pixelated videos to back me up, I haven't had much proof. They say that the proof is in the pudding, and seeing how closely Okamiden Sakuya looks compared to Okami Sa??kuya is as tasty of ?a pudding as I could ask for.

You can find more delicious pudding-proof bel??ow, in?? the form of three more "character trailers", with corresponding mini-bios to boot.

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