Okami: Let’s Talk About the Motions

 

image from artofokami.com

Now I was going to write this about how Okami is a game that is a horrible caricature of Japanese culture.

Then I found out it was made by a Japanese studio.

I had everything written out and then someone told me I might want to research.

Anyways, this revelation made me realize that some of my readers may want me to go back to talking about gameplay. My mind hit me with a bolt of brilliance as I realized Okami was the perfect subject matter for that.

Now, many of you played the inferior Playstation 2 version. However, the superior version is clearly the Wii version, which utilizes the greatest of all controls.

The Unresponsive motion variety.

Perhaps some context, Okami utilizes a system where utilizing certain unlocked brushstrokes will activate powers like so.

 

image from Okami.wikia.com

You see, while the Playstation version utilizes an accurate system for its brushstroke power system utilizing the square button to make the brush rise and fall. The Wii version uses a similar system with button presses, however, it utilizes the very inaccurate motion control system to aid in this system. So you’re mostly trying to create the simple lines and WOOPS, there it goes everywhere and nowhere and all you wanted was a circle.

It saddens me to know that such control schemes are being mostly abandoned these days. While some small amounts of gyro controls are still kept in this generation, it’s just not the same. Oh how we missed a great generation of Nintendo thinking motion controls were the future, for they truly are. The most painful, mind-numbing future that gaming should be.

Okami wets a wiggle, out of waggle.