Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

[Donkeyboy]

This thread is dedicated to the games that didn't quite reach their potential by falling victim to shoddy design choices/just not working out right.

Case in point: While Okami on the Wii is drop-dead gorgeous, the painting needs a little finer tuning and the combat just fucking sucks.  I know that it was hard for Ready At Dawn to port a game that massive in scope and scale, but it comes off as a half-assed job in the end.  Both the port developer and the source material deserve better, but I guess that's a moot point by now.

Here I was looking forward to a true reimagining of what I can safely and confidently call one of my top 5 all-time favorite games ever.  But now I feel sorry for the entire world.  It's like having an ex that you still have feelings for show up to your HS reunion in a wheelchair - she's no less pretty, but she doesn't get out like she used to, and that's a pity, because nobody danced quite like she used to.

[mr.giggity]

It's like having an ex that you still have feelings for show up to your HS reunion in a wheelchair - she's no less pretty, but she doesn't get out like she used to, and that's a pity, because nobody danced quite like she used to.

Thats a great analogy

[Donkeyboy]

That's how I really feel about it.  It breaks my heart in horrible, saddening ways.  I don't think I've ever wanted to cry at what a game could/should have been before, but this is it, and here I am actually contemplating it.  It's that hurtful. 

The combat is executed by swinging the Wii remote, and attacks occur 1/2, maybe 1/3 of the time.  No combo hits, because you have to time your hits right, and it's IMPOSSIBLE to do that.  You'll get a standard 3-hit combo by the force of dumb luck before you will by actually practicing and performing the way it asks you to. 

The painting mechanic works and works well, but needs more tuning from the aspect that the failure rate on drawing patterns/strokes is substantially higher on the Wii than on the PS2 - you'd fail a brush stroke on the PS2, but you'd almost always nail it on the 2nd try if it didn't work (3rd if you just needed to slow down and take your time)...Wii version, try about 4-5 times on average.  Drawing straight lines has never been such a pain in the ass. 

The graphical upgrade is there, though.  I did notice the lack of the "paper" filter that was used in the PS2 version, but when 480p and true 16:9 is staring you in the face, it never matters that much.  It's the same gorgeous game with a better coat of paint, but unfortunately it's not the same sublime play experience.  I wanted to be able to recommend this game wholeheartedly, but now I'm having second thoughts about doing so.  It's beautiful and broken, and that's where my previous analogy fits like a glove.