About Okami HD

Ammy say what?

Okami HD is an overhaul of the original Okami, which was released in 2006. The game is an action-adventure set in ancient Japan.  The player takes the form of a white wolf named Ammy, a form of the Shinto Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. The original Okami was produced by Clover Studio and published by Capcom. The game was originally released for PS2 and later for the Wii. In December of 2017, an HD port was released for Windows PC, PS4, and XBOX One. The Nintendo Switch version followed in August of 2018.

The game did not sell well when it was originally released. However, lackluster sales didn’t stop it from being named IGN’s 2006 game of the year.

Okami HD Story

Everyone wants something, huh?

Okami is heavily based on Japanese folklore. The main character is the sun goddess Amaterasu but in wolf form. She finds a travelling companion in the tiny artist Issun. They start their journey in a tiny village and eventually travel through the entirety of Nippon.  Along the way, she rescues deities known as brush gods, who teach the goddess new techniques.

The story weaves different folktales together to tell a larger story. The plot takes time to give the characters personality and makes you want to help them. There are plenty of touching and humorous moments to go around.

Okami HD Gameplay

Time to go on an adventure!

Players take control of the white wolf Amaterasu . Over the course of the game, you will be able to select a weapon type that best fits your playstyle. You will also be able to choose which attacks you learn through in-game training.

Much of the gameplay involves using the celestial brush. There are 13 in total. These techniques are used to solve puzzles, fight monsters, and manipulate the overworld. Using these techniques consumes ink, which is like magic in other games. New brush techniques usually unlock new areas. Every area has its own characters and plot line as well as side quests and collectibles. Due to the number of collectibles and hidden areas, the game has good replay value. One collectible, the stray beads, grants you infinite health and ink in a second playthrough if you collect them all.

Okami HD Combat

Fight for your life as Ammy

Combat in Okami HD uses a combination of brush techniques and weapons. There isn’t a way to target an individual enemy, but many brush techniques can be used as AOE. There are three main types of weapon to use alongside the celestial brush: a reflector, rosary beads, and a glaive. Reflectors are best for defensive players, rosary beads are fast and ranged, and the glaive has the most power.

Players can also equip a sub weapon. When equipped, each item type will have a different effect. Some combinations work better than others and may take some experimenting to figure out.

During combat, there are two stats the player needs to keep an eye on. The first is solar energy, which is your character’s health. The second is the number of ink bottles you have. If Amaterasu runs out of ink, a lot of combat moves, and brush strokes will not be available. The amount of health and ink Amaterasu has can be upgraded with praise, which is gained whenever quests are completed.

Okami HD Quest/Mission System

Alright kid, what do you want?

All the information for quests and missions are kept in a section of the fan menu. Okami HD keeps a record of monsters fought, important dialogue, items found, moves learned, and animals met. There are leisurely quests, like feeding animals, as well as monster bounties for each area.

The main quest is kept track of through the journal in the fanmenu. The game goes through a bunch of different areas, including a small village, forests, cities, and the ocean. Each area has its own quests and NPCs. There is something new to do in each area, which keeps the game fresh.
Sometimes the quests can be downright silly, like when you must save a boy’s dog from a lake by fishing.

Okami HD Graphics

Those cherry blossoms though...

The art of Okami is all done in the style of an ink painting. The HD update has brought the game up to modern graphic standards for PC and most consoles. The game has lower graphic quality on the Nintendo switch, but it’s still an improvement over the 2006 version. All the graphics in the game are done in the same ink painting style.

Okami HD Developer

Capcom does it again

The original game was developed by Clover Studios and released by Capcom. Clover Studios shut down shortly after the game’s release. Capcom developed an HD version for PS3 in 2012, which was used to build the 2017 HD version. The game runs well and doesn’t suffer from any major bugs. The HD version supports the PlayStation Move for the PlayStation version and touch screen controls for certain parts on the Switch.

Okami HD Price

Even Ammy has to pay

Okami HD is available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo switch. The HD remake of the game is priced at 19.99. There are no pay-to-win elements or in-game purchases, as the entire game is included for the 19.99 purchase price. It’s worth noting that the game is only available via digital download on the Nintendo Switch.

Final Verdict

Ammy's ready, are you?

I’d give this game an 8.5 out of 10, but it's closer to a nine if anything. It’s a beautiful and engaging game.

Pros:

• -Charming characters
• -Beautiful art style
• -Lots of content for the price

Cons:

• -Camera can be difficult to control
• -Directions can be vague
• -Lots of tutorials

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