Here are some quotes from Game Informer (I hope this isn't illegal): "Playability: The Wii's motion controls make some brush strokes a bit more frustrating, especially the slash move." From the main article: "...I must say that the Wii is not my preferred console on which to play this game. While the motion controls seemed like a perfect fit, in practice it's much more imprecise than the PS2's analog stick, making many moves mor difficult to perform accurately (this is especially frustrating during scripted Susano events). I did manage to get used to it, and -- in the end -- it's a small blemish on hat is otherwise a full-on masterpiece." He still gave it 9.25. The other reviewer in GI gives it an 8.5, saying: "When Okami first came out o PS2, there was a lot of talk bout how its draw-on-the screen mechanic would be a perfect fit for the Nintendo Wii...surprise, wrong...a few technical fumbles make this an inferior port. The Wii version doesn't register your Celestial Brush techniques very well, and this sours the experience quite a bit." So it's clearly not a game breaker, it just worries me. Nintendo Power gave it a 75 (again, look at metacritic.com), citing the PS2 version as being superior.

Considering you have a PS3, you can get the PS2 version for cheap, so that might be the one to get.

The Wii one is full price I think.

This is from the May's issue of EGM. I'll include only the excerpts that pertain to this topic:

First Review from Nick:

While returning to it's gorgeous sumi-e Japanese watercolor brushstroke world was like revisiting a distant dream, the new motion controls were----surprise!----a slightly rude awakening. Okami's paintbrush-on-canvas mechanics that drive combat and interaction with the world seem perfectly suited to the Wii remote but simply aren't reliably precise. Many action take several more tries than they should, where they didn't require a second thought with the PS2's conventional controls.

Second Review from Milkman: While I'm glad to say that any Wii owners who passed up the original PS2 version have a lot to look forward to her---it's practically identical----the conversion is weakest where it counts the most: in the brush mechanics. Even the most basic excercises in the PS2 version(like slicing a boulder in half) suddenly demand a mysterious precision on Wii, leading to unexpected and unnecessary frustration. The Wii version may be a distant second best to the PS2 iteration, but it's still a journey worth taking.

Third Review from Jennifer: I played only a bit of this beauty on PS2, and perphaps that's a good thing----while everything these two say about the problematic motion controls is absolutely true, Okami remains transcendent.

Let me mention that each review was extremely positive overall and Okami garnered an A, B+ and another A for ratings. This should not deter you from getting the game in the least because I have it myself and it's absolutely amazing. I would however rethink which version you decide to buy if you have a choice in the matter. Then again, it seems continued support from Capcom relies on strong sales of each released title, so for those wishing on a sequel oneday, may want to go for the Wii version to show support.

 

jlauro said: For those asking for a link: http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/okami You can see the score of 75 along with: Nintendo Power Okami is a work of genius, but you should play the original game instead of the Wii version if you can. [May 2008, p.88]

Thanks, but in the time it took for Neos to complain twice that I didn't link to the metacritic site he could have gone there himself.

Onyxmeth said: This is from the May's issue of EGM. I'll include only the excerpts that pertain to this topic: First Review from Nick: While returning to it's gorgeous sumi-e Japanese watercolor brushstroke world was like revisiting a distant dream, the new motion controls were----surprise!----a slightly rude awakening. Okami's paintbrush-on-canvas mechanics that drive combat and interaction with the world seem perfectly suited to the Wii remote but simply aren't reliably precise. Many action take several more tries than they should, where they didn't require a second thought with the PS2's conventional controls. Second Review from Milkman: While I'm glad to say that any Wii owners who passed up the original PS2 version have a lot to look forward to her---it's practically identical----the conversion is weakest where it counts the most: in the brush mechanics. Even the most basic excercises in the PS2 version(like slicing a boulder in half) suddenly demand a mysterious precision on Wii, leading to unexpected and unnecessary frustration. The Wii version may be a distant second best to the PS2 iteration, but it's still a journey worth taking. Third Review from Jennifer: I played only a bit of this beauty on PS2, and perphaps that's a good thing----while everything these two say about the problematic motion controls is absolutely true, Okami remains transcendent. Let me mention that each review was extremely postivie overall and Okami garnered an A, B+ and another A for ratings. This should not deter you from getting the game in the least because I have it myself and it's absolutely amazing. I would however rethink which version you decide to buy if you have a choice in the matter. Then again, it seems continued support from Capcom relies on strong sales of each released title, so for those wishing on a sequel oneday, may want to go for the Wii version to show support.

Aw crap...I trust EGM. I haven't received that yet. I get that and GI, but I don't trust GI very much. That's 5 reviewers from GI and EGM, though...

fazz said: Considering you have a PS3, you can get the PS2 version for cheap, so that might be the one to get. The Wii one is full price I think.

I actually already have it on PS2 but it's just one of those games I never got back to (along with God of War 2, RE4, etc). I held off on this one because I thought the Wii version would be a lot more fun for brush strokes. I'm rather shocked that the port seems to be sloppy.

Well if that isn't funny. 3 Multi platform game critics give Okami WII 9+ and an ultimate pro Nintendo magazine gives it "good"... a 7,5%.

Hating PS2 ports or something? If so... pathetic. WII version is about 40USD in the US, so not fully priced.

*~Onna76~* said: Well if that isn't funny. 3 Multi platform game critics give Okami WII 9+ and an ultimate pro Nintendo magazine gives it "good"... a 7,5%. Hating PS2 ports or something? If so... pathetic. WII version is about 40USD in the US, so not fully priced.

IGN in their podcast said that every single part of Okami Wii is better than the PS2 version.  They said the controls were signifficantly better. They had 2 complaints:

1) that the framerate hasn't been upped to 60FPS like RE4 Wii was, and

2) the dodge mechanic on the nunchuk doesn't work very well.  They also mentioned though that the dodge mechanic is completely useless in Okami, and there is never a single situation that requires you use it (Matt claimed he beat the whole game without it easily).  

They laughed at the Nintendo Power review, called them ignorant, and said there is no valid reason to consider this worse than the PS2 version.  They said Nintendo Power was probably attacking it because it's a PS2 port, but they called Nintendo Power stupid for attacking a great game, even if it is a PS2 port.

I can't see the Wii version not being better unless they TOTALLY screwed up the controls. Trying to paint with dual analog was like trying to tie your shoes wearing mittens.

Wow ... I was expectimg more from the Wii version ... still it seams that these problems are just minor issues :)