They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The above has just one. “EXHAUSTION”. Just seeing the above (lone) snap I took of the Okamiden PAX 2010 booth makes me remember the disappointingly small amount of time I got to spend at there, mostly due to utter fatigue. I daresay that convention is too much for just one woman. A woman who almost forgot to play Okamiden, despite it being PAX high priority list. I feel sleepy just looking at it. Sleepy, and disappointed. Clearly, fatigue affected my ability to take another shot. Luckily you still get a slight impression of the beautiful Okamiden artwork splashed across the walls.
So, how is the game? I like it a lot better than Okami already. Everything about this DS sequel feels like an improvement, from the “chibi”-izing of the characters, to the color scheme (which relies more heavily on the sakura-toned pinks and cool pastels), to the intuitive use of the Celestial Brush. The map system is much improved, and it’s nice having one available at all times without having to go into the menu. I didn’t get to do much in terms of battle, but not being warped into some little electric pig pen when I encountered enemies was nice. Using the DS’ B button instead of the Wii motion controls was easier and so far I prefer it.
A trail of plants and flowers still blooms as you run, but it’s…well, cuter. It’s all just cuter. And it’s not that I buy or enjoy my games on cute factor alone. Typically the games in my library include the words “eviscerate” or “shameless blood bath” in the descriptor. But in terms of what they’ve done with the art style, this feels like a better direction, both for their intended audience and for the time period they’re depicting. Something about Okami feels too dark now that I’ve seen Okamiden.
With the limited nature of the demo, these are the only details I can give, but they are exactly in line with what we’ve already seen in Okamiden game play videos. I daresay this iteration of Okami will get the attention it deserves.
