I'm Playing Okami on my PC...and it's Magical!

I've decided to dub 2017 as the "Year of the Port."  It seems like there have been a bunch of console-only titles that have finally made their way to PC.  I highly enjoyed delving into the strange world of Bayonetta and have been floored to play one of my all-time console favorites--Okami (Okami HD)--on my PC.  In general, I try to avoid re-masters and re-releases.  This time I just couldn't keep myself from jumping at the opportunity to have a better version of a game I truly enjoyed.  But, was it worth it?  Is Okami still the game that I remember it being almost ten years ago?  ....Sort of.

It's back!

Okami was originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2006.  I used my 2008 stimulus money to stimulate the economy and purchased a Wii (I am not much of a console gamer and mostly enjoy Mario Kart).  It was only after buying the Wii that I discovered that besides the Zelda series that there weren't a lot of notable titles.  And I can only play so much "Mario" themed stuff before I get bored...So I began searching for the best games for the Wii and kept seeing the name Okami pop up.  I decided that it would be worthwhile to check it out...even if it sounded like something that was completely bizarre.

The story in Okami is based around Japanese folklore, something that I know absolutely nothing about.  You play as the resurrected god/wolf/deity Amaterasu and are on a mission to lift an evil curse from the land of Nippon (that's an old-school name for Japan).  Of course, the story is never this straightforward and you will find yourself zigging and zagging to try to keep up with all the twists and turns.  Probably the most interesting aspect of Okami are the "celestial brush techniques"--these are special abilities that you unlock throughout the game and they are very much like painting.  Certain enemies are susceptible to attacks using these techniques and mastering them is a lot of fun.  (I'm going to say that they are more fun on the PC--most of the time when I was playing this on the Wii I had moments where I contemplated throwing my controller through a window--the motion controls on my Wii were particularly picky...especially after I accidentally vacuumed the cord to the motion sensor bar and cracked one of the lens covers)

Should you bite and spend another $20 to add this classic to your PC library?  I'm going to say yes, but that it's not perfect.  Here's the list:

Pros:

--Art style/graphics.  Okami has always been celebrated for its traditional Japanese inspired art style and the HD upgrade means that it still looks amazing after more than ten years.  The floral theme, scrolls, and block prints that are used throughout the game are stunning and make me want to learn more about Japanese art.

--Interesting and quirky story.  Like the art style, the story also has its roots in traditional Japanese stories and characters.  It's enlightening to learn the names of the deities and to see their stories unfold into the fictional story in the game.

--Combat style/celestial brush.  I don't know if I can say that I've played another game with a combat system that is as unique as Okami.  The whole idea of drawing your abilities seems absurd.  Sometimes it can be frustrating (some of the brushstrokes require you to be fairly exact--this was really challenging on the Wii, but is less so with mouse and keyboard), but it adds a new layer to the traditional system of attacking and dodging.  Learning which enemies are susceptible to certain skills through trial and error is enjoyable.  Mastering the brush strokes is the highlight of the game.

--Side quests....tasks...beads...there's much more than just the main story.  My PC playthrough clocked in at around 36 hours (I would guess that if you stuck to the main storyline that you could definitely finish it in less than 30) and I made a somewhat concerted effort to complete side quests and do some collecting (there's 99 stray beads...I've never gotten remotely close to finding them all).  If you're looking for something to keep you busy--there's plenty here.

--Boss fights.  Every boss fight challenges you to utilize your knowledge of the brush strokes.  It's not simply about avoiding or doing damage--it's about figuring out what works best.  I have always enjoyed how the strokes you learn directly apply to fighting the very next boss.

--Replayability.  There is rating system built into the game that challenges players to earn the coveted "cherry blossom" ranking (you're rated on the time in which you complete the fight and the amount of damage you take).  If you're feeling driven enough you can continue playing and try to earn those cherry blossoms for every category.  Personally, I got three on this last playthrough (out of six...I think) and that's the most I've ever gotten.  There are also those stinkin' beads.....or the unlockable demon fang items...or the fish tome....there are plenty of reasons to play again.

--Amazing soundtrack featuring traditional Japanese instruments.  I especially enjoy the music when you enter combat.

Cons:

--Cutscene animations are weirdly shaky.  It's a weird thing that bugged me throughout the game.  I don't think it is intentional and am hoping that it is a bug that can be sorted out relatively soon.  If you're bothered by the way that the characters seem to have a shimmery, shaking effect...you're not alone.

--Effin' camera controls.  This is my #1 complaint with so many console games.  The camera never stays where I want it to and just won't adjust to movement.  It's kind of nice that you can click the middle button to recenter the camera, but even that can be annoying on scenes with a lot of movement.  With mouse/keyboard controls, the mouse is used to control the camera.  It's also used for doing other things like tackling which means that it's something you need to use.  Unfortunately it seems to be so touchy that I had to mentally make myself take my hand off the mouse when I was exploring so the camera wouldn't be jumping all over the place.  (There are some settings for the camera that I didn't mess with.  There's a chance I missed something ridiculously easy to fix.)

--Reading.  I personally don't mind a game where you read the dialogue, but I know that there are some people who don't believe that reading and games should mix.  If you dislike reading, you're in for some torture.

--It repeats.  (SPOILERS...yup.)  Didn't I just fight that same boss before?  Why yes, yes I did.  And I'm going to fight it at least 2 more times.  This didn't bother me in previous playthroughs, but it bugged me this time.  Yes, the fights are fun the first time...but not so much on the third time.

I have always enjoyed Okami and it was great to play it on the PC.  Gaming has changed so much in the ten plus years since it was initially released, but it still has a unique style that makes it stand out.  Those of you that played it on consoles will enjoy the improved performance, graphics, and controls on the PC.