Author Topic: Okami Reviewed. (Read 51732 times)

Quemaqua · « **Reply #40 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 06:07:48 PM »

Yeah, the little flute-toting imp guys use the slash technique, but I haven't been able to get anything to work on any of the other baddies yet.

I'm currently working on a review for this. Obviously I haven't finished the game, but I have the skeleton pretty much all fleshed out and the initial expository bits done. This weekend I'm also going to post my Dead Rising review for general consumption so you guys can see some of the ideas I presented in action.

idolminds · « **Reply #41 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 06:30:07 PM »

Looks like this will be $40 next week. Really on the fence about buying it. $50 for CoH last week, and DoW expansion comes out in early Oct. Gah...

Quemaqua · « **Reply #42 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 06:33:11 PM »

It's already $40. At least it is everywhere I've looked. It debuted at $39.99. Go buy it! You can sell another limb for DoW later.

idolminds · « **Reply #43 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 06:42:08 PM »

Watch this: Last night I worked overtime in the shop from 3pm to 2am. That should cover the cost of the game and DoW, and put a dent in my future Wii.

I love being able to rationalize things I dont really need! Weee!

Quemaqua · « **Reply #44 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 06:44:00 PM »

Here are some official Okami wallpapers from Clover that are *awesome*. I hadn't checked out the Jap site yet, glad I did. The game's official site is here. Looks cool, but don't expect to be able to read anything. But at least those wallpapers are bloody wonderful.

sirean_syan · « **Reply #45 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 08:16:01 PM »

Well, I got it and managed to put about 45 minutes into it. Very nice... amazingly nice... I wish I could play more but I'm going to drive down to Southern California tonight once Aimee gets home for the weekend.

Oh, don't feel so bad if you didn't get that little pre-order gift. It's pretty cheap and the printed stickers are actually pixelated. The drawing surface is kinda cool, but they certainly didn't put much into this.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #46 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 09:03:07 PM »

Well, I'll still feel bad, but maybe not *as* bad. Anyway... have a good trip! You can play lots when you get back.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #47 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 09:57:34 PM »

You learn another technique later in the game, to get more demon fangs. This is too funny. It's not really a spoiler, but to be on the safe side:

(click to show/hide)

PyroMenace · « **Reply #48 on:** Friday, September 22, 2006, 10:29:22 PM »

Im getting it tomorrow, the anticipation is killing me!

ScaryTooth · « **Reply #49 on:** Saturday, September 23, 2006, 08:27:48 PM »

Those wallpapers are awesome. Just set one as my desktop; the forth one down.

Anyone complete a wanted list yet? Is it just a random encounter when you enter a scroll? Or are they in certain locations or something? I'm pretty sure it's just random. I've only gotten 2 of the first list. now I'm running around looking for more.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #50 on:** Saturday, September 23, 2006, 11:54:26 PM »

You get another list in Kusa village, but I haven't gotten anything from that one yet. I finished the first list. It's not entirely random, at least I don't think it is. I think certain enemies appear in certain key locations. I got one right outside the moon shrine where you get the list, then one at the Pyrotechnicist's place, one by the Hana Valley entrance, etc.

And good, Pyro. I can't imagine anyone not liking this game. It's really hard to put down. Every time I play I find it extremely difficult to get up and go to the bathroom or something. I'll say, "Okay, I have to go do this," then find that I'm still playing 10 minutes after saying so.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #51 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 06:00:19 AM »

I missed that one. There's at least 3 then. There's another later in the game, in Seian City.

I have the same problem with leaving the game. Once I start, I can't stop. I started to nod late last night while I was just running around looking for stuff. Can't even get enough sleep. That's how addicted I am.

Thanks for the wallpapers link. Those are awesome. I assume you've already seen the others at the US site. (Beware of Macromedia hogness.)

ScaryTooth · « **Reply #52 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 07:55:19 AM »

Every second or third scroll you enter seems to be the one where the wanted list guys are. I think.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #53 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 08:27:26 AM »

Hadn't even looked at the US site, heh. Thanks for the link, those wallpapers aren't half bad either.

So I'm not going to let myself play today until I get that Dead Rising review posted. Those of you too addicted to this game to stop, do please take a break when I post that over in the site forum and let me know what you think about the ideas I have, even if all you do is skip to the end to read the Difficulty Advisor and Parental Advisor sections. Trying to use this review as a template for future reviews, hoping to come up with some things unique to our site we can use once it goes live.

But it's so hard to not play Okami. I'm just about to get the last Canine Warrior...

Cobra951 · « **Reply #54 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 08:54:51 AM »

OK, I'll try . . .

ftp://cobra951.serveftp.net/OrangeDance.avi

(Tee hee!)

Edit: URL tags force an http:// in front of URLs. Not cool at all.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #55 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 08:58:09 AM »

Heh, your link reroutes me to some SmarFTP ad. Can't seem to download it directly. Good thing I've seen it already!

And what are you using to cap all this stuph, Cobra? I've been thinking about getting something to allow myself to take screens and video from my consoles, but haven't yet decided on anything. You seem to have some experience in this area.

EDIT - Ah, there's the trouble. You're right, not cool. We should report this to Cools.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #56 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 10:41:47 AM »

Since I don't have a den anymore, with my TV and stereo set up, I've resorted to hooking up my PS2 to my TV capture card, and playing on the computer monitor and PC speakers. Not bad, but it would look better on a real TV. The upside is that I can capture stills and video whenever I want. It's a Leadtek card, and its software is Winfast PVR. It captures to MPEG-2 at several different bitrates. I used Pocket DivX to convert to an AVI.

I think you can probably accomplish the same or better with something like Tivo? Not sure about that, but I've seen people ask how to convert Tivo to things like PSP MP4s. I'm sure there's something out there which replaces VCRs with digital capture and storage.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #57 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 10:49:37 AM »

I've seen some USB devices that look pretty attractive as far as convenience, but I wonder about quality. I don't really want to buy a whole actual card if I can avoid it. Things are so crowded in that box even as is. Getting my HDs in and out is a royal pain in the ass.

ScaryTooth · « **Reply #58 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 03:58:08 PM »

I think I'm nearing the end.

(click to show/hide)

Quemaqua · « **Reply #59 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 04:06:46 PM »

I don't think you're nearing the end.

(click to show/hide)

Cobra951 · « **Reply #60 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 09:44:20 PM »

The end? Mwahaha!

(click to show/hide)

Quemaqua · « **Reply #61 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 10:03:42 PM »

Heh, yeah, I knew it.

(click to show/hide)

ScaryTooth · « **Reply #62 on:** Sunday, September 24, 2006, 11:31:22 PM »

I was almost done with that section of the game.

(click to show/hide)

Quemaqua · « **Reply #63 on:** Monday, September 25, 2006, 12:10:27 AM »

I'm really impressed with the way this game manages to actually keep getting better and better. I mean, a lot of games try, but a lot of them fail. They just rehash the same concepts or add another little layer, but it just doesn't really make you feel like things are truly escalating. This one completely does. The last bit we've been talking about in spoilers was just incredible, and the cooling off period afterward is just really super pleasant and nice, and then all of a sudden you're off to explore new things and see new people! I'm really impressed. Games like this don't usually have that same "just another 10 minutes" kind of gameplay for me, but this one pulls it off and how. I absolutely can't wait to get home from work tomorrow so I can play again, and that's no easy feat for a game I've been playing for 3+ days and have put nearly 25 hours into. The fact that I haven't burnt out even a little bit is a testament to the design of this one. Generally at least the newness wears off a bit even if you still want to play, but I'm almost more excited to get back to it now than I was when I picked the game up at the store.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #64 on:** Monday, September 25, 2006, 06:51:53 AM »

It keeps surprising me. One thing I criticized early was the complete lack of challenge. I have to revise that. While you can't really die if you pay attention, I haven't had that early sense of flipping pages in a storybook for most of the game. There are some genuinely taxing puzzles, and more than once, I've been completely clueless for a while. It still bugs me when Issun decides that I will do one and only one thing, and refuses even to let me read signs. But that by-the-nose feeling gets down to a bare minimum, gradually. That's one of the criticisms I read in a review. (Gamespot's, I think.) Okami takes too long to let you have it with both barrels. Then again, the game is so long that it can afford to take its time letting you fly the nest.

I can see post-partum depression setting in after I finish. I know I'll go through Okami once more. I always do that with the special ones (e.g., the 3D Zeldas). But I have a feeling I'm not going to see another solo adventure of this caliber for a long while. I fear the void.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #65 on:** Monday, September 25, 2006, 07:17:50 AM »

I feel exactly the same way. I'm making this take as long as possible and trying my best to enjoy the concept outside of the game a bit (taking the soundtrack to work, going to try my hand at a couple drawings, etc.). But yeah, at least this is one that can easily be gone through twice.

ScaryTooth · « **Reply #66 on:** Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 03:32:55 PM »

This is becoming one of my favorite games of all time. It's somewhere in my top 10 for sure. I love it.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #67 on:** Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 05:37:42 PM »

My review is now 99% finished. Just have to complete it to make sure my few assumptions are correct and to make sure a couple miscellaneous facts are right, and then it's basically done.

Yes, this is easily one of my favorites ever, and I'm pretty well convinced now that the game tattoo I've been debating for a long time is going to be Amaterasu.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #68 on:** Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 08:07:58 PM »

Beware of still not being done when you think you are.

I'm having a tough time organizing and expressing my thoughts on the game. Part of it I'm sure is that I'm over-tired. But there's also so much I've experienced that I hardly know how to sort it all out.

Okami is unreal. It keeps dishing out more and more. Items and powers are not the whole list of this bounty. The little surprises just keep popping up. There are so many side quests and devious little puzzles. Last night I was laughing my ass off after I finally figured out one of them related to rejuvenating trees. I spent hours on that one, and while it was getting frustrating, I'm so glad I didn't look up the answer. (Don't ever do that to yourself with Okami. Stick it out. It feels so good when you work it through, and the game has yet to be truly unfair to me.)

Exploring is very often rewarded. Everything interconnects, and developing your character makes the pathways multiply. Revisit places. Those demon fangs are a lot more useful than I initially thought. Getting enough means honing combat skills and techniques.

I'm sure all the constructive complexity did not come about by luck. The game is masterfully built and polished. Against the backdrop of games getting shorter and basing their longevity on online multiplay, what an amazing achievement.

idolminds · « **Reply #69 on:** Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 08:09:28 PM »

I just bought the game. Woo!

Quemaqua · « **Reply #70 on:** Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 09:18:05 PM »

Go idol!

And I'm glad to keep hearing positive things from you, Cobra. My feelings are basically the same. Every time something new happens it almost always ends up being really different from the things before it, and I've yet to feel like the game has rehashed at all. This game packed in so many good ideas, I'm really amazed. And yes, this is a game where it's great to just keep experimenting and not resort to a guide or whatever. It's not so hard it can't be figured out, but it's tough enough sometimes to be very rewarding when you actually do.

idolminds · « **Reply #71 on:** Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 12:02:10 AM »

Holy crap this game is amazing.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #72 on:** Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 05:43:35 AM »

In the DUH! category, I just discovered last night that pressing R3 (right stick inward) quickly positions the camera behind Amaterasu. It locks it there too, if you hold it in. (Get ready for a dizzying ride if you do.) I had glanced at the manual, but not seen this. So I open it up . . . son of a gun! There it is. Oi . . . I read the rest of the control scheme, carefully this time, and found out another useful tidbit I've been living without for about 40 hours. Pressing 'square' just before the left analog stick starts you moving at the 2nd speed. Basically, it's a dash and a run. I even got through some timed sections of the game without knowing that. *urgh*

Quemaqua · « **Reply #73 on:** Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 07:42:03 AM »

Haha. I didn't know the R3 thing, but I did know the dash!

idolminds · « **Reply #74 on:** Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 09:10:40 AM »

It sure is nice to know this when I'm just starting...heh.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #75 on:** Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 11:03:55 PM »

And here is some fanart. Also posted that in the art forum, but I figure half of you don't ever go there and this is relevant to the thread.

PyroMenace · « **Reply #76 on:** Thursday, September 28, 2006, 12:05:22 AM »

Its really starting to suck me in now. This game mimics the zelda formula really well, but theres so much more to it than a zelda game... I think the little extras do a better job keeping you busy. The other tasks are more appealing and fun and wrap up with the games theme nicely. I like feeding all the animals I find and rejuvanating every plant.

So far I'm at...

(click to show/hide)

Oh and that fan art rocks Que, you did an awesome job.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #77 on:** Thursday, September 28, 2006, 06:14:34 AM »

Love the fan art. Duly downloaded into my growing collection of Okami stuff.

I'm now really stuck on a spinning-gear puzzle. I'll be giving it another go here shortly. My one big gripe is being forced to stay put where I am. The "Zelda formula", as you put it, seldom forces you to stay in a dungeon, facing one thing you can't figure out just yet, ad infinitum, or until you press the power switch in disgust. I'd love to be able to warp out of here, and just go explore and find things, while my mind mulls over possible puzzle solutions. I've been careful lately to keep free-roaming saves separate from the locked-up-in-dungeons saves. But it doesn't make much sense to load up earlier saves if a lot has been accomplished since. They're nice to show someone the game, and that's about it.

ScaryTooth · « **Reply #78 on:** Thursday, September 28, 2006, 08:25:45 AM »

I'm off today again. So, I'm going to sit down and probably spend most of my day with it.

(click to show/hide)

Cobra951 · « **Reply #79 on:** Thursday, September 28, 2006, 04:46:16 PM »

OK, finished it. It got tedious for me toward the end. It gets very linear, and there's a ton of story in slow text to wade through, not to mention difficult passages and a parade of enemies that never seem to take damage from the roomful of weapons I've been collecting for days. There is some repetition too (but I won't spoil it) which I feel was unnecessary. The game is very long even without it. The biggest disappointent was the end-credit music stuttering like crazy. Pretty song too, damn it. I had noticed some stuttering earlier in the game, but I thought it was a fluke. At least one of the videos I got (you get art, music & videos after finishing) stuttered like that also. The PS2 can't seem to read the data fast enough. Bummer, bummer. Instead of being happy happy joy joy after all that work, I'm mired in technical difficulties. Bah! Bet you all the working real PS2s (non-overheating, non-slim, non-POS) can handle this just fine.

Good news if you want to start a new game. You can skip the whole front-end story with a few button presses. I imagine the rest of the repeat game will work the same.

News:

Author Topic: Okami Reviewed. (Read 51732 times)