This is a rich treasure trove of Okami imagery (which I wish I could center on the page. The library computer I sometimes use doesn't let me do this). There's concept art, character designs, lots of art done for the Okami website, art done for various magazines, E3 2006 banner art, postcard art, some of the first drawings done as the game was just beginning, and even a short manga that was circulated internally at Clover Studios.
I scanned some of my favorite images from the book to post here. Possibly this isn't technically allowed, but it's not like I'm making money from this or anything. I just want to further promote Okami and its beautiful Japanese watercolor art style that is one of the best in all gaming.
This was just inside the cover. The whole book is designed like an old Japanese book with drawn in string binding. You read it right to left as well.
Aqueous God
Water Dragon
Water Dragon Entrance
Village of the Poncles
Cave of Nagi - River of the Heavens
Ark of Yamato - Control Room
Oni Island - Castle Guard Tower
This is on the very summit of Oni Island. What a location!
Kai's Anxiety
I think he's being chased by genies in this image.
This was a parody game Clover had on Capcom's website in 2006. It even had its own soundtrack, one track of which is reproduced as sheet music in the art book! It doesn't look like it can be had anywhere anymore but how cool would it be to have a full 8-bit version of Okami to play on the 3DS or Vita? Way cool!
Those are my favorites but there are many, many more in this very large art book for Okami. You can easily pick it up on Amazon here for $30. Also the HD version of the Okami game is on PSN and I'm going to play that sometime. I also have to go get the soundtrack.
I really need to get my house organized so that I can set up the old CRT TV and my PS2! I got distracted early on in this game and never finshed it. I'd get the PSn version, except that right now I'm broke and I also am nearly out of room on my hard drive. Sigh.
I need to finish it too. I've played Okami exactly like Ocarina of Time. Each time I restart them, I get farther, but I never manage to get to the end.
Some of these images give me taste of what's to come in Okami's later levels. I really, really want to finish the game.
Have you played Okamiden? Maybe one of my favorite DS games, and they did a fantastic job using the stylus as the celestial brush.
Yes but I got stuck on that boss where you climb a tower.
It was King Fury. I've got to go back and beat that boss.
That part was a pain in the butt. Good luck.
I really want to see the rest of the game. I'll have to cheat and read up on the strategy for that boss.
We should just pester Nintendo to cooperate with Capcom for another Okami game.
For sure. I wonder who would make it since Clover is kaput. Maybe Platinum since there's some people from Clover there? Seems like a mismatch considering the kinds of games Platinum have put out. But maybe not.
oh man I still haven't played any of these games. I should download the HD version.
I really want to the see the HD version in action now. I'm definitely going to get it sometime. I also want to try out the Wii version because it seems to me the Wiimote and Nunchuck would work well with the brush stroke gameplay mechanic; although, I've heard reviews that said it didn't work that great on the Wii.
I want that art book and 8-bit game so bad.
i wish that 8-bit game was somewhere. Maybe it is. I only did a quick search for it and found nothing. There is the soundtrack that was written for it that may be out there though.
Dig the Control Room and Castle Guard Tower ilustrations.
Yea, and those are areas of the game I've not gotten to yet. I so want to go and finish it and see those places in game.
I love Okami, I own it on PS2, Wii, and Okami Den for the DS.
Wish there was another title in that list. At least one for 3DS. That would be cool.
Okami was my Game of the Year in 2006. Okami-den was my Game of the Year in 2011. Does the artbook have Okami-den stuff in it?
No. It was first released in 2008 and this is a 2011 reprinting of that.
Looks like an awesome book! Sooner or later I'm going to play these games. Thankfully, I have them both now. Too bad more games don't use this great watercoler style.
I've so all over games with that style. Valkyria Chronicles has it and the upcoming game Valiant Hearts: The Great War has it too. Valiant Hearts has a date of December now. I'm real disappointed by that. I want to play that a lot.
Ah! This trailer gives me chills. I can't wait.
That art looks so cool, wish I had the money on hand to get that book.
It's a big book too. I was reading it in the coffee shop and everyone was looking over my shoulder at it.
Those are some awesome images. Thanks for sharing them, and posting links on picking up copies. I still need to try out the copy I bought a while ago.
I kinda want every version of this game. The HD one on PSN and the Wii version.
I'll still debating if I should get this game on disc or on PSN. It looks like a fun game but I'm not sure how to proceed on it. Or I even should just get it for the Wii instead.
I had thought that the Wii would be great using its motion controls for the brush strokes but reviews have said that it doesn't work as well as you would think.
I would go for the PSN version because it's in HD and will look even better than the PS2 version. Prices are about the same for either.