Okami HD Xbox One review: The masterpiece finally comes to Xbox One

This is the first fourth dimension it'southward available on an Xbox console, and the gameplay doesn't disappoint. Ōkami is rooted in Japanese legends and sociology, then information technology gives players an insight into some of the more esoteric aspects of the culture. Despite some missteps with the controls, Ōkami HD is but as remarkable today as information technology was over a decade ago.

History and story

To understand Ōkami, in particular, its art way and meaning, y'all have to accept a expect at Japanese paintings. Dissimilar our concept of Western works, Japanese art is equally much about calligraphy and focusing on brush strokes every bit it is about conveying meaning. It has to be atheistically pleasing, merely they oftentimes also tell a story because they tin be a sort of a certificate. Paintings by legendary artists like Sesshū Tōyō illustrate this perfectly. His art may exist static, but it still captures the intensity of motion.

In Ōkami, players takes on the role of a mythical dominicus goddess.

In Ōkami, players accept on the role of a mythical sun goddess known as Amaterasu. Merely like any diety, she possesses the ability to have whatsoever form and presents herself equally a ferocious wolf. Her job is to restore colour — through that life — to the world by destroying the creatures who have stolen it. You lot eventually have to have on Orochi, an 8-headed demon and tyrannical monster responsible for turning the world into a ruined wasteland. While this may seem like a daunting task, the employ of humorous dialogue and quirky characters give it a lighthearted feel.

Gameplay and progression

Since Amaterasu is a deity, she has a troupe of worshippers. If she gains more worshippers, she becomes stronger. This is an interesting style of leveling up, aside from being a securely philosophical take on the matter. Gaining more worshipers tin be accomplished by restoring color and doing other proficient deeds throughout the lengthy thirty-hour campaign.

Ōkami is filled with various twists and turns. The story isn't equally simple as the game initially lets on.

Ōkami is filled with various twists and turns. The story isn't every bit simple as the game initially lets on. Ōkami may at first appear to be a brawler, where you go from one loonshit to the side by side, merely it includes a lot of items to collect, side quests, and upgrades. The surround variety also adds to the complexity of the game. Players become a chance to explore an underwater city, traverse the insides of a behemoth, control a ruler, climb upward a seemingly endless tower, and fifty-fifty observe a foreign form of space travel. You never know what you'll witness next. This unpredictability is 1 of the reasons why Ōkami succeeds, because as soon equally you lot retrieve you take an understanding of what'south going on, there's an unprecedented job hurled at you.

Visuals and inspirations

The game is presented in the renowned Sumi-e ink style which is a two-1000-year-old art form. Sumi-eastward's earliest practitioners were highly disciplined monks trained in the art of concentration, clarity, and simplicity. Each stroke has a purpose and mission. Aside from beingness a part of the game's visuals, the in-game power to draw and change the environs ties back to the philosophy behind Sumi-e.

In sure sequences the brush tin can even become a sword or a cannon with the ability to fire ink projectiles.

Over the course of the entrada, Amaterasu learns xiii core brush techniques which help the player complete various puzzles. In sure sequences, the brush tin even become a sword or a cannon with the ability to fire ink projectiles. For case, early on in the game, you're required to swim across a river that doesn't exist. The solution to this is to accept out your castor and paint a river connecting yous to the other side. The solutions become more complex every bit the story unfolds, but creation is at the heart of every trial.

Sumi-e is all well-nigh creation, and Ōkami gives y'all the ability to do that in the more than farthermost manner imaginable by changing the very fabric of reality. The game is not only a great adventure, just it besides pays homage to its inspirations with utter reverence.

Controls and performance

While the motion and fighting controls are great — despite the slightly finicky camera — the main problem lies with the cartoon. We originally played Ōkami on the Nintendo Wii and never encountered and so many problems. The motility controls made using the castor to describe a star or paint objects intuitive and simple. The Xbox One version requires you to hold downwards two buttons while manipulating a thumbstick at the same time. This results in many mistakes and somewhat defeats the purpose of Sumi-e. It's not unplayable by whatever stretch of the imagination merely takes you lot out of the experience for too long. Your strokes aren't svelte because you always feel like you're wrestling with the controller. The Nintendo Wii version was by no means perfect either, but information technology was better than this.

Cartoon using a controller feels clunky and unwieldy.

Because that Sumi-due east is all about precision, its use with a controller isn't ideal. It takes a long time for you to get used to it and even and so information technology never feels natural. Surely the developers could've implemented a more forgiving system which mayhap guided the actor'southward paw a little. Sometimes nosotros wonder if the Xbox One controller would've benefitted from a touchpad or move capabilities like Sony's DualShock 4 for PlayStation. Maybe even Kinect would've lent a helping hand here, just we all know what happened there.

Ōkami HD is a polished experience on Xbox One and fifty-fifty features Xbox I X support. The gameplay is polish, and the frame charge per unit is stable. While we don't know the exact resolution the game runs at on Microsoft'due south latest console, it looks absolutely breathtaking and is a definite footstep in a higher place base hardware. For many years now, game reviewers have been talking about how a particular title looks like "a painting in move." We believe that Ōkami Hard disk drive is the only game that can claim that due to its center-popping visuals and use of Sumi-e.

Ōkami Hard disk conclusion

Overall, Ōkami HD is a great game which is let down merely its hard brush controls. Luckily, that doesn't take away too much from the experience, and anyone tin enjoy the title's gorgeous visuals and powerful story. The fact that Ōkami remains this practiced even after a decade is not only a testament to the artists merely also legendary director Hideki Kamiya. The game is one of Kamiya's crowning achievements fifty-fifty though he'south spearheaded experiences like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, and Resident Evil. If y'all own an Xbox One, this is a must-buy. Owners finally get to play this masterpiece subsequently all these years.

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Pros:

Gorgeous and colorful visuals.
Intriguing story with quirky characters.
Innovative drawing gameplay.

Cons:

Slightly hard brush controls.
Photographic camera problematic at times.
Annoying character voices.

Ōkami Hard disk volition be bachelor on December 12, 2022, on Xbox One, Windows PC, and PlayStation iv, priced at $xix.99.

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