Okami got a face lift (comparison video)

by Candace Savino { Apr 19th 2008 at 6:00PM }

Already having Okami for the PS2 is the most valid excuse for not buying the game on the Wii. If you fall into this group, you're probably still tempted to make the purchase because of the added motion controls. Should that not be enough to get your wallets in action, though, you might want to check out this side-by-side comparison video. We already knew that the Wii version looked better, but seeing the two compared with each other shows just how much.

The colors are much more vibrant on the Wii, and for a game that's main draw is its beautiful artistic style, that's kind of big deal. The 16:9 support doesn't hurt matters, either. Have any of you played both Okamis and noticed the difference for yourselves?

Gallery: Okami

Tags: action, adventure, arpg, capcom, comparison, comparison-video, okami, playstation-2, port, ps2, ready-at-dawn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ethan @ Apr 19th 2008 6:15PM

Colours aren't vibrant in an ink painting. I think it made the ps2 version feel old. Different rather than worse though.

BananaBoat @ Apr 20th 2008 9:49AM

Right. The entire art style was that you were playing an old Japanese painting. The Wii graphics completely ruin that aesthetic, but I'm not sure if that is a good thing, or a bad thing.

Okami is basically Twilight Princess without the bits that have human Link. It's worth the play for sure, but I've heard the wii controls actually hurt the experience, instead of improving it. Your mileage may vary.

Croove55 @ Apr 19th 2008 6:27PM

I kind of liked the PS2's graphics more.... odd.

Mr Khan @ Apr 19th 2008 6:33PM

As a fan of vibrant colors, i must like the Wii version more

Also, i think the filters on the PS2 version would wind up hurting your eyes after a while, since the eye tends to try to put things into focus, when the whole game is out of focus, it would produce strain after a time

SoshiKitai @ Apr 19th 2008 7:21PM

Never hurt my eyes. :/

Brian @ Apr 20th 2008 12:07PM

No.

Goity @ Apr 19th 2008 6:37PM

Could this be just because of the type of cable (composite/component)?

Mr Khan @ Apr 19th 2008 6:50PM

Could be, they don't provide info as to aspect ratio, what kind of cable either is using, or whether the Wii is in Progressive Mode or not

Ryudo @ Apr 19th 2008 7:11PM

nah I have mine using composite and it's the same as the video.

SoshiKitai @ Apr 19th 2008 7:24PM

Hmmm... The PS2 had a more paper-look, so the "not so bright"-look was better for Okami's style.

The Wii's brightness and all that jazz is nice and all... but... not that great for a game that's supposed to look like a painting.
Still cool though.

I actually got the game because I wanted to support it (and I MAKE IT MY JOB to support great games) once again (I'm one of the biggest supporters of the game, I advertised the PS2 version like mad to everyone).
The motion controls didn't really do it for me. In all honesty, I think the DS was more made for Okami's style, not the Wii. ( a side-story is SOO needed for the DS... Issun's Adventures!!! )

xeleion @ Apr 20th 2008 4:20AM

I agree Soshi.

I do like the Wii's super-saturated version, but I think it makes it less of a painting and more of a cartoon. Also, the PS2 version muted colors remind you of the looming evil you have yet to defeat (that could just be me being weird though). Using the DS as a controller would have been nice if implemented successfully.

Issun's Adventures = win, but The Adventures of Waka and Rao = epic. :D Also, The Misadventures of Susano as a downloadable sidequest... damn this game needs some sequels.

samfish @ Apr 19th 2008 7:27PM

I think the PS2 version is superior. It looks more like a moving painting. There are also effects that, for whatever reason, get completely lost on the Wii version, such as the 'ink bleeding' in the cursed zones, for example.

TheOverlord#2 SPEAKS: YOU READ IT NOW(Brawl: 1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 19th 2008 7:31PM

I'm with Mr Khan, I like the more vibrant colors instead of the dull ones.

Lilinka @ Apr 19th 2008 7:33PM

Well, I just lost my job thanks to the business I worked for decided to close shop, so it'll be awhile before I can get my hands on this. But yeah, I want.

Legion @ Apr 19th 2008 7:44PM

The wii version looks much better. The alternative looks pretty drab and dull. It lacks the captivation of the wii port.

GamerGuyX @ Apr 21st 2008 7:37PM

Yet fails to look like a painting. Which is the whole point behind the game.

Legion @ Apr 21st 2008 10:22PM

I don't know, it still looks like a moving painting to me.

If I like it enough, which will most likely be the case since I'm loving it so far, I'll go ahead and get the PS2 version as well.

SoshiKitai @ Apr 19th 2008 9:09PM

Obviously "Shine Over Style" is how most of this crowd thinks.

If you guys have the ability to: Try the PS2 version for a while, the "drab and dull"-style (as you guys put it) FITS Okami's ink-paint style.
Just saying, if you want to prove us wrong, try it, then say it.

Ninegauger @ Apr 19th 2008 9:33PM

Yeah... the dull look looked neat but the fact that my Wii is actually hooked up (and the wide-screen) means I'll just have to play it on the Wii. It's pretty neat so far.

Josh @ Apr 19th 2008 11:49PM

I'm probably going to get the Wii version in the near future, but I did like the washed out colors of the original.

Co @ Apr 20th 2008 12:15AM

Just rented the Wii version, and having never played the PS2 version, this game is pretty neat. Gotta say though, the lack of a lock-on system and "snap to back" camera button is hurtin' me! You spoiled me Zelda!!!!

Jace @ Apr 20th 2008 1:30AM

I spent a lot of time watching a roommate play Okami on his PS2 last year, and it indeed looked great. I am playing it now on my Wii, and it looks great as well. I actually prefer the brighter look of the Wii version, but I'm just a color junkie. I certainly wouldn't say the Wii version lacks style. However, I second the notion that this game really needs a DS iteration.

misterhearn @ Apr 20th 2008 2:33AM

Well I never played the PS2 version but looking @ the vid, you see the colors are brighter and dynamic but this is a GREAT game I see why it got all the acclaim it did, this is a must for Wii owners right up there with Zelda, Galaxy and Metroid, Mario Kart is great online but once I started playing Okami it got put in park. Is there any extra content on this version compared to the PS2 one?

The only thing that will pull me away from this is when GTA is released and I'll still have to finish this in between

Phizzy @ Apr 20th 2008 3:43AM

More contrast != Higher quality

The PS2 version looked like a moving painting. The Wii version looks like a Wii game. That's not a good thing.

Bryan W @ Apr 20th 2008 4:15AM

Everyone who has been saying that the duller colors are more fitted to the style of Japanese Ink Painting should head to a museum and check out an exhibit. Unless you're looking at stuff from the early Muromachi period (which was often black and white anyways), ink painting can have rather bold and vibrant colors. Especially the reds and yellows. Check out stuff by Maeda Seison from the Meiji period. It's quite stunning.

o_o @ Apr 20th 2008 4:39AM

The picture of the Okami official artbook features a lot of 'washed-out' colours, though. >_>

o_o @ Apr 20th 2008 4:37AM

If you have an LCD screen, and you set your PS2 Okami's game options to "LCD," the colours also appear brighter. >_>

I don't think the brightness of the colours is really a major improvement to the game. I'm just hoping that the controls are as good as people are expecting them to be.

TheFreak @ Apr 20th 2008 5:32AM

It's funny, really. If the Wii version of Okami somehow was released first, then ported to the PS2, nobody here would be talking about how the PS2 game looks like a "virtual painting"...they'd say the colors are washed out. Then complain about the move from the Wii-mote to Analog stick.

I know some of you are proud to have your PS2 copies...I know I am...but if you actually believe one version to be undeniably superior to another over a graphic filter and a pronounced color pallette, you're really not appreciating how much work it took to make the Wii version as accurate as it is. They had trouble with the paper filter, so they tried to enhance the colors. Nothing's broken. It doesn't look ugly. It still plays the same. Stop complaining.

It would be an entirely different matter if the Wii version were 15 frames slower than the PS2 game, or areas were sacrificed, or heck, the entire cel-shaded style removed entirely. Those would be blatently stupid moves. The fact that a single particular filter was the only trouble they ran into when converting the game from one completely different hardware to another is amazing. Far as I'm concerned, both are the exact same game. Please stop making it a difficult sell.

Charles @ Apr 20th 2008 8:54AM

This seems like something that would require the TV to actually be there rather than a blurry video such as this, because here the paper filter isn't clear in either version of the game...

Robert @ Apr 20th 2008 11:30AM

The washed out look makes it look antique, but I love the vibrant colors, because that's what the Wii is all about.

Perverted @ Apr 20th 2008 2:41PM

The washed out colours suited the night level better and the brighter colours suited the river level.....I didn't notice a paper filter or whatever....But I don't mind it still looks sort of original in it's cel shaded graphics.

Matthew @ Apr 20th 2008 5:40PM

I must say this time Capcom and Nintendo have dropped the ball on a port that could have sparked a lot more interest into the Wii. Okami is a perfect opportunity to exapand the typical control scheme of the Wii. However it fails to do this, the controls are the worse I've ever experienced, I thought we passed the Red Steel phase. In addition to the lacking of the paper filtering, the old Japaneses painting feel is not there and it is looking like a half attempt. If the controls were up to par I could overlook this. Bottom line, Okami is a wicked story, beautifully presented, it makes me smile I don't know why lol... if you haven't played the ps2 version, this is a must pick up.

Rich @ Apr 20th 2008 10:46PM

I played probably an hour of the PS2 Okami, put it down and never had the desire to play again for one reason: the painting mechanic by use of analog stick was slow and boring IMO. It ruined the pace of the game. So if the Wii can make it faster and more intuitive, as IGN says, then I'll pick up the Wii version.

TheHuntIsOn @ Apr 21st 2008 8:33AM

I always thought this was a problem with the PS2 as a whole, the colours seemed quite flat. Perfect for MGS and GT... the more "realistic" games.

The Wii version also seems to have clearer lines around the wolf guy. Just looks sharper as a whole.

Prefer the Wii version.

Think Adrian @ Apr 21st 2008 12:51PM

So if I set to color settings of my TV to much higher - all my games get a "face lift" ?

Other than that, I can't see any more improvements by comparing två consoles in a video with less the qualilty and resolution...

Ninjikiran @ Apr 21st 2008 11:10PM

Call me stupid, call me a graphics whore but I enjoy the colorfulness more than the monochromatic color scheme. It is all down to perception, I personally find it to be a much more beautiful game with the vibrancy while others think the faded look which inspires of old Asian art matches their perception more.

Art is a matter of interpretation~ and although both are pretty some are going to like one style more than another. Anyway that is just my 2 cents. I just say in the end of the day respect another opinion~

As for controls, I have no trouble with the Wii-Mote controls as of far, I know its definitely not as accurate as the PS2 controller but after about an hour into playing the game and using it in the two major swings I have gotten used to it with much less error. Even the quick time scenes end easily~.

It makes the game a lot more challenging though in my opinion since you need to keep more coordination with the screen and your hand while annoying to others lol.

Its still a great game, if you never played the PS2 version(like such as myself) the wii-mote will become second nature without the nuances

greatslack @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:07PM

Well, the cheapest price for a new copy of the PS2 version on Amazon is $54 and the closest GameStop with a new copy is an hour and a half drive away, so does anyone know where to get a new copy of the PS2 version for less than the Wii version? If not, it looks like the Wii for me.