Random: Hideki Kamiya Would Rather You Not Play Okami On The Wii

Or just play whatever version you prefer really, even if that is the Wii version. It exists, and if you enjoy it, by all means enjoy it!

I know he splits opinion with his hot takes and attitude sometimes, but I think he’s onto something here.
My only experience of Okami to date was on the Wii and I think the motion controls severely hindered it. I found them very unresponsive with the attacks in particular and it stopped me from continuing the game. Which is a shame, because it’s considered to be one of the industry’s very best. I have a HD copy somewhere and will get to it one day.

And it's on sale often, and pretty cheap then! Amazing game worth your time!

Sorry Kamiya, you're over a decade too late. I've played and still own the Wii version.

The game must've done something right; my enjoyment of it is what ultimately led me to try out and fall in love with the Zelda series due to some similarities, starting with Twilight Princess. I've played/beaten every main series Zelda entry since...barring Four Swords Adventures since it's stuck on the GameCube.

Seeing the headline I would’ve thought that the Wii version had turned out like the PS3 version of Bayonetta!

I have HD on Steam Deck and I’ve played about an hour so far. I really need to get back into it though methinks.

I get what he's saying on a personal level, but honestly the Wii game is what made the experience actually enjoyable in context of the gameplay being married with the IR pointer and motion controls, these worked pretty damn near perfect for my experience.

The PS2 OG may have had the superior graphical filter, but the slower analogue controls alone just don't cut it for me with the brush mechanic.

That said, the HD Remake is available now for the best of all worlds (and physically drawing on the tablet).

I prefer playing the original versions on a CRT television. HD versions usually feel off to me.

But my Wii copy has the funny watermark cover and...I already own it, so why would I double dip? Kamiya is a silly fellow. Too bad I'm no longer on X, then I could get blocked by him for saying this.

@PessitheMystic I had the opposite experience; I loved the Wii version for its motion controls and kept thinking throughout the experience that it would be awesome if a Wii sequel removed the time-stop whenever you're using the celestial brush and let the game stay in real-time the whole way through. I also enjoyed the combat more than on other versions because once I got used to it, I felt it added a sense of timing and rhythm akin to Crypt of the Necrodancer and Paper Mario instead of just mindless button-mashing. It made me more mentally present for each battle.

But that's just my experience.

Yeah I'm going to agree with him. The Wii version got real sloggy real fast trying to do increasingly complex and fast moves with dodgy motion controls. And it definitely wears long & hard on a game commonly known as OK Am I Done?

@Jhena CRTs are great. Early last year I hooked my Steam Deck up to one with an HDMI AV adapter and it was really great for games that support 4:3!

I agree, the cover on Wii is so pretty it should stay in foil

You can't tell me what to do, Kamiya.

I'm going to agree with him... but on the Wii in general. lol. That system was such a pain in the rear. Playing games on the Wii U and the Switch is a thousand times better.

@tobsesta99
Nice. I would like to play new games on a CRT someday too.

The Wii destroyed so many great games and opportunities with those blasted shoe horned motion controls.

I agree. Couldn't get into it on Wii.

Jokes on him! I'd rather not play it at all! No just kidding I played it on PS2 and it was awesome

@Jhena I keep meaning to try the PS3 with a CRT seen as it works with the standard PlayStation AV cable. I’m sure there’s even an RGB cable that will work. More for the novelty really, I doubt very much it’s the optimum experience 🤣

Its the only place I've played it, and probably my favourite game on the system.
But he is the creator so if anyone has the right to say this it's him.

Motion controls make the game significantly better imo, it's too slow using the control stick for the brush.

@GravyThief
Definitely worth a try.

Motion control, or at least the option for it, seems like a good fit for Okami's brush system. Whether it is actually accurate and responsive is the important part. I've heard a lot of mixed things about that, but many people seem to be fine with it and that version overall. I had some real problems in that regard on the PS2 version of the game, which I also wouldn't recommend to anyone. I've heard the HD versions of the game fix up some of the game's issues. It sounds like his issue is mostly that the port was outsourced.

@Yosher
@Lord
There is actually a difference between The Japanese and Western Wii versions. The Western version uses Wiimote waggle to attack, but in the Japanese version the attack is the A button.

It's hardly mentioned or talked about. I only found out about it cause I was living in Japan at the time. Myself and an online friend who lived in the US were both playing our respective versions then we would talk about our experiences with the game. That version difference became known to both of us.

So, the Japanese Wii version is actually more faithful to the original.

Personally, I liked how the motion controls in Okami worked on the Wii, but I imagine that Kamiya is upset over the Wii version mostly because the credits for Clover Studio were removed from the Wii version.

Well, obviously! Okami HD's sales are still counted and earn Capcom money, whereas the Wii version doesn't.

@Harmonie I don't understand this. Playing Wii games on a Wii U is slower than a Wii and the image quality is worse. Do you just not have a good way of accepting analog signals?

Are touchscreen controls are requirement in handheld mode, or it's possible to beat the game with analogue sticks without using touchscreen at all?

The motion controls made the game better than the original though. Nowadays of course the switch is the way to go complete with motion and touchscreen controls if you wish.

@HammerKirby I'm not talking about playing Wii games on the Wii U, I'm talking about playing games in general on the Wii U. If Okami HD had been released on the Wii U, it would have been a vastly superior experience as Okami HD is on the Switch.

But if Okami Wii with the same motion controls was released on either system (like how Super Mario Galaxy was done in the 3D Mario collection on the Switch) then I wouldn't say playing it is great. Forced motion control sucks. Period. But I guess I could also say that the Wii's menu was a pain the rear, too, since you had to use the Wii Remote to even get past it. I'm so glad we're past those days, and I can just play a console like a console again.

@vyacheslav333 you can play it however you want, including the analog sticks, but as someone who played both the original on PS2 and the Switch remaster, the touch controls are pretty great, especially for the digging sequences where you don’t have a lot of time. The motion controls are honestly pretty fun too, but they get hard to use as you get more abilities later in the game.

What a strange, narrow-minded comment coming from a developer. Why not just let people enjoy the game, regardless which system they prefer?

I actually think the controls on the Wii are a VAST improvement compared to traditional controller options, they felt like you were actually wielding a brush rather than desperately trying to contort a joystick to get the right shape

I understand his reasoning as it wasn't the original version, but I strongly disagree with him. I haven't played the HD remaster yet, but between PS2 and Wii, I found Wii to be a much more natural feeling experience.

@Nintendoid720 Understood. Thanks for the info.

The Wii version was actually the 1st console I played it on.

Eh. I couldn’t play through the PS2 version. The wii and switch versions were the best controls for me. I do slightly prefer the wii version more but haven’t played recently enough to know if it is nostalgia or not.

@Harmonie I remember that, such a bad idea that the Wii Menu couldn't be operated with button controls. If you were planning to boot the console and play a button-controlled game (with the GC or CC controller), it sucked you had to pick up the remote just to launch the game so you could then put it down and pick up the other controller.

I bought and played and then quickly gave up and sold the Wii game.

As a HUGE Zelda fan I've wondered if I sold the game short, but IDK. I just didn't like the battle interface and while it was visually pretty, the rest of the game was just not for me. I don't think HD is going to fix that, but I'm glad others find the game so awesome. I really wanted to! I'll happily replay an older Zelda instead.

Still can't believe a WiiU version never happened, the Gamepad is a perfect fit. The sequel would be sick on NS2 with mouse controls though.

The wii version i kind of had the same issue which i had with a lot of wii games in that if you dont like motion controls (or have trouble using them) then you are straight out of luck.

@Nintendoid720
Yeah i found the touch controls worked very well for me and i dont usually use them that often but it was nice that they were optional since it meant you could pick and choose when to use them, for me i fount them good for getting off abilities like the bomb in combat (something i remember having trouble with on wii)

I've never played Okami - without spoiling anything, could a fan explain why I should pick it up for PS4 (disregarding price)? I do love a good PS2 game

I bought it on PS2, then Wii, then PS3, then Switch. I got furthest in with the Wii version and I should really finish it someday, having bought it 4 times 😅

Motion controls for the brush? Inspired. Waggle controls for attacking/running, though? Get right in the bin

@itsgood2slide You and me both! I tried it on Wii and didn’t get too far. Imported the Switch cartridge and still couldn’t get through it. I want to love the game, but I don’t.

Interesting, I bought it back then and couldn’t understand the hype. Only played a few hours. Maybe the remaster is worth a try after all.

Just finished the HD remake on Switch (was hyped after the sequel announcement) and I found it quite enjoyable. With the exception of that Blockhead Grande, though it can be cheesed with a quick phone recording and I suppose the little emotional moment following is kind of poignant for such a simple enemy.

Detraction withdrawn.

Oops, I already have it on the Wii...

@GravyThief I imagine PS3 on CRT is similar to the 360: early games were fine, but as HDTVs gained dominance, a lot of games were released with smaller fonts, and were difficult, if not impossible, to read on an SDTV.

If you'd have to pick between PS2 or Wii I'd still go with the Wii, nvm the motion controls, you get widescreen, not having to deal with memory cards and you'd be on way superior hardware.

...it also fits right in with the other Nintendo games.

I appreciate the perspectives on here. I just assumed his statement was because playing on Wii means buying used which doesn't count as a sale. Whereas on Switch, it's digital only and so can't be resold.

@ItsAlwaysSunnyyy
It's a very fine example of a PS2 action game. Back then the structure of the game is heavily compared to Legend of Zelda, especially since when Okami came out, Twilight Princess was the latest Zelda game where Link can transform into a wolf. Expect "dungeons", getting items or abilities to progress further, large bosses and plenty other side quests.

Good story that expands into something grander. A very Japanese setting with memorable characters. Tight gameplay with some parts of the game changing things up here and there. Amaterasu is cool as heck.

Course, there are a couple or so things that people may not like. If you already don't like the art style then don't bother. Camera control can be a bit stiff and difficult to look around. Certain parts of the story or a quest can be difficult to understand, leading to confusion on what to do or where to go next.

Played and finished it on ps2 way back then, I though the game is an action title, it's actually an rpg. Love the game, can't wait for the sequel 😃

Nobody really talks about it but the Wii version is missing some of the graphical effects compared to the PS2 original. The controls are likely the bigger sticking point, but in general the porting job was, while fine given the circumstances, not the best now that we have other options.

I got and beat the Wii version. I loved the game, but the controls were way too unreliable. I do think that some Wii games got them perfectly right, though. I also have the Xbox version, but haven't played it yet.

By the way, Okamiden (DS) didn't have this problem because the stylus was a perfect fit.

I loved the Wii version. But I would choose the Switch version as well. For portability, gameplay etc. I'm so glad it came to both consoles.

He’s right. The Wii version was terrible.

I guess since he didn't make Okamiden he won't want fans playing that either, or acknowledge it in Okami 2?

The Wii version had better brush controls and none of the weird graphical errors that were in the HD version, but everything else about HD is better. Also, kinda random but in the Wii version, the sky box in Shinshu field was blue instead of white and looked much nicer.

@Lord There were other games the motion controls enhanced like Call of Duty. The motion controls actually made sense for Okami, but were not implemented well enough. The team likely did not have the technical expertise to implement them properly. Now it would be easier, though, since computer vision has advanced considerably in the past 20 years.

@8bit-Man Because he's an 𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓽. And if there's one thing 𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓼 love, it's telling people how they're experiencing their 𝓪𝓻𝓽 wrong. Because as we all know, the great thing about art is how there is one and only one correct way to experience it.

Okami was so overrated anyway. Disjointed combat within a bloated experience.

Bought the HD version on Switch and I can't play it. This game is the first and only game that gives me motion sickness.

My experience playing OKAMI on Wii when it first came out was great.
Wii Motion controls gave the game what it needed and the whole experience was fantastic.

Yeah, that ship sailed many years and several systems ago Kamiya. Besides, if not for the Wii, I'd never have been able to fall in love with that game. It's so nice, we own it twice! Wii and Switch.

@sdelfin mostly its fine, it's only on the blooming games and digging mini games that it can get iffy.

I still have the PS2 version I originally played, and bought it again on Switch. But perhaps we can all just play and enjoy whatever we want, eh?

@KingMike You can control the Wii menu with a Classic Controller. The cursor moves with the left analog stick.

Loved the Wii version of Okami myself. Calligraphy using motion controls to mimic the brush was very unique and immersive imo.