Okami is coming to Wii. We thought "great!" but lots of you hit Capcom's forums shouting "another lazy f-ing Wii port", and Capcom's not taking that lying down.
The company's senior director of strategic planning and research, Christian Svensson, hit the boards to defend Capcom's work on the epic PS2 quest.
"We selected Ready at Dawn to do the port. These guys are all ex-Naughty Dog and ex-Blizzard," he said. "If we wanted a cheap and dirty port, I could have turned around and picked any one of 50 houses and gotten it done for less and perhaps more quickly. Clearly, that wasn't the approach we sought for a variety of reasons (for the fans, for the reputation of our company, for the potential of the product, etc.).
"Given that the only port we've done to date was RE4, which has a 90+ gamerankings score and provided AMAZING value for the platform, has this really been Capcom's modus operendi such that this allegation should be leveled at us?" a clearly frustrated Svensson adds.
"Zack & Wiki is getting better reviews than just about anything you'll see this year on Wii, except possibly Galaxy. Shovelware is not what we do," he continued.
He goes on to explain that Ready at Dawn is first concentrating on getting the whole game running on Wii before thinking about enhancements. Svensson said: "As we are NOT at that point in the process yet, we are loathe to even mention any potential changes or enhancements for fear of disappointing the fans/media."
Why no graphical enhancements? "Okami is graphically one of the most impressive games on any platform today, and it's fair to say, we're not creating new higher res textures or higher poly models on anything. It doesn't need it."
And in justifying the descision not to add any new levels or challenges, he says: "We've got no current plans to make a 40-60 hour game 50-70 hours." Fair point.
Take a look at what else was said in the Capcom forums, then discuss below.
The game was brilliant on the PS2. So why risk changing things and messing it up. So long as the Wiimote works well with it, who cares if it still looks like a PS2 game?
i will be buying this, having seen screenshots and hearing decent reviews in the past i was very intrested in this game, not having a ps2 meant i couldnt play, now i have the perfect chance to play it on the wii.
i will be buying this, having seen screenshots and hearing decent reviews in the past i was very intrested in this game, not having a ps2 meant i couldnt play, now i have the perfect chance to play it on the wii.
Yes! My point has been proven.
More people might get to experience the game now & give it the attention it deserves
I do think they should spend more effort into doing an actual sequel or something i can't complain at Capcom when Zak & Wiki look good and Umbrella chronicles is looking decent. At least they have/are contributing some unique stuff thats had some thought put in.
Okami is one of my all time favourite games. as the game stands at the moment, the Wii-remote will be perfect. they might be able to sharpen and brighten the look of the game abit. but really all they they to do is make sure the game runs smoothly with no slowdown on the Wii. as there was a few moments where Okami slowed down on the PS2.
anyway, i'd definitely rebuy it... if i had a Wii (when i get one!)
I've heard people say Okami is quite a bit like Zelda, is that true? I'd be interested in the Wii version due to the amounts of praise it's gotten on PS2, but I really, really don't feel like playing any games that are even remotely like Zelda for at least a few years...
I've heard people say Okami is quite a bit like Zelda, is that true? I'd be interested in the Wii version due to the amounts of praise it's gotten on PS2, but I really, really don't feel like playing any games that are even remotely like Zelda for at least a few years...
The graphics are very much like LOZ: Windwaker on the Gamecube but I would think that is where the similarity ends.
I have been eyeing this on the PS2 for sometime (I love the soundtrack) but now that Capcom have announced a Wii version, I might wait and get that!
Definetly a game on my list of purchases if I ever decide to get a Wii, all Nintendo need to release is a new Pilotwings game and I'd be there in an instant...
I look forward to this game coming out on the Wii. I'm glad I didn't buy it on the PS2. I can't stand hearing about internet w****rs going on and on about stuff like this. Like they really have a clue about how things work in the games industry. Wait until the game comes out, play it and if you think it's s**t, then whine about it.
Wow... some Wii fans are idiots. Capcom has been the only third party developer to contribute decent titles to your platform (the only 3rd party Wii title to crack top 10 software sales was RE4) and you guys are bitching at them. Okami with upgraded textures isn't going to be a massive upgrade because Capcom is still limited to 480p. Instead of bitching at them, Wii fans should be thanking them. Ofcourse, that also means you're going to get a lot of last-gen ports because it's the only system that doesn't require a massive reworking of the graphics engines. Both MS and Sony require developers to use atleast 720p.
Woo Capcom are a little defensive aren't they! *handbags at dawn*
Methinks the lady doth protest too much...
I think its good to see a developer come out swinging at stupid criticism like this, it shows that they believe in their product. Okami was amazing and frankly so few people bought it that a straight port will still mean that there's a huge market that have never played it or even heard of it, with Wii mote attached and a bit of a marketing push this may make the impact that it just couldn't on the PS2.
Okami was and still is a fantastic game that deserves to played and enjoyed by as many people as is humanly possible. Not quite sure it will get many 'enhancements' by the Wiimote other than an easier use of the heavenly brush, but to play around with the controls too much could be disastrous! Leave it simple, don't tack on some stupid ass control scheme just because you can, and the game will be fine.
I already have it on the PS2 so I won't be buying it again, but for people that haven’t experienced it themselves, do yourselves a favour and grab yourself a copy!
I've heard people say Okami is quite a bit like Zelda, is that true? I'd be interested in the Wii version due to the amounts of praise it's gotten on PS2, but I really, really don't feel like playing any games that are even remotely like Zelda for at least a few years...
The graphics are very much like LOZ: Windwaker on the Gamecube but I would think that is where the similarity ends.
I have been eyeing this on the PS2 for sometime (I love the soundtrack) but now that Capcom have announced a Wii version, I might wait and get that!
it does have more similarities other than just graphics in comparison to the Wind Waker. the settings are quite similiar to Zelda, in you go into towns and areas talking to very Zelda-esque type people to find clues on how to progress the story. yes i know a million other games have a similiar way of doing things, but Okami definitely does take its inspiration from Zelda. Dungeons in Okami will be a familiar to anybody who has played a Zelda game.
it took me a good 30 hours to get through Okami too.
The game was brilliant on the PS2. So why risk changing things and messing it up. So long as the Wiimote works well with it, who cares if it still looks like a PS2 game?
Impressive to see someone from the industry speak in a direct, explicit yet meaningful way, instead of the usual PR spin-s**t. Also, Okami is beautiful.
Well said Svensson- if studios have invested more in a product than many of the public realises then they should defend themselves from criticisms which could otherwise harm sales.
unless capcom upscale the graphics to 480p,include a 16:9 mode and possibly some new content then (great game or not) it won't sell as much as it should,end of. i honestly think that wii owners are tired of being undersold with lazy ps2 ports or, in the case of medal of honour heroes 2, psp ones. here's an idea for developers : get your finger out of your bottoms and put some effort in and you may be surprised how well it does.
The Wii's lack of high end hardware was always going to create some problems and ports are one of them. Unlike 360 and PS3, developers have to make a NEW game if they want to release their multi-format title on Wii. They can't very well ignore a console with over 12 million userbase. At the same time they haven't got the resources to make a new game while handling the 'proper' versions for 360 and PS3. The result is PS2 ports. However, many people missed out on Okami when it was released on PS2 and its a game that suits Wii really well so it can be excused as being labeled 'yet another PS2 port'.
Woo Capcom are a little defensive aren't they! *handbags at dawn*
Methinks the lady doth protest too much...
I think its good to see a developer come out swinging at stupid criticism like this, it shows that they believe in their product. Okami was amazing and frankly so few people bought it that a straight port will still mean that there's a huge market that have never played it or even heard of it, with Wii mote attached and a bit of a marketing push this may make the impact that it just couldn't on the PS2.
I totally agree dude, I was just being being light-hearted about it. There's certainly plenty of justification in defending a quality IP such as this.
i will be buying this, having seen screenshots and hearing decent reviews in the past i was very intrested in this game, not having a ps2 meant i couldnt play, now i have the perfect chance to play it on the wii.
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