Your description of the game is awesome. it is quite fascinating and fanticising and though you did not have the drive to play it beyond the first hour, i am sure that your minute by minute description of the first hour will go a long way in introducing the game to many other first timers.
One of my friends plays Okami all the time and raves about it being an amazing experience. I have seen him playing and it does look spectracular but I have not played it yet myself.
The story really starts just as he finished. If he would have had a bit more time to return and see what has happened, he might have understood a lot more.
Personally, I thought chapter 3 overstayed its welcome just a bit, but since chapter 4 was some of the best gaming I've ever played, that was quite all right.
Well, it's been a long time since I played the campaign, but I assume I was talking about the level where you're just in the plane and you're bombing guys from above while trying to avoid hitting churches and non-combatants. If I remember, you don't play as either of the main characters so it kind of feels like it was shoved in there to show off some cool effects and neat gameplay. Nothing wrong with that.
"There's also one level that, though it's really awesome to play, doesn't seem to fit into the story at all."
I just played through the game and the only two I can think of are possibly the first level or All Ghillied Up, but those do have their place in the story line. Which level were you referring to out of curiosity? Other than that, totally spot on review. It's games like this that make you realize all over again how important audio is to a good game.
This is one of my favorite games of all time. I'm not alone; there's a reason there's a major project to recreate it for modern systems, after all. A couple comments: as you might imagine from the sheer scale, the story is complex, interesting, and has a good sense of humor. The first hour is just the tip of the iceberg. Secondly, space combat becomes much more fun once you properly outfit your flagship and fleet.
I agree with Greg. I think the story is kinda cliche too ('be abstract and ambiguous because its easy'). However, I did eagerly click on each sign :)
But who cares anyway? Storyline was just one aspect of the grading criteria. Besides, I don't want to get to know my goos personally! I'll just have to show up at each gooball's next of kin residence with bad news because of each and every mistake I make in the level.
You forgot to say that for each level there is an "obsessive completion distinction criteria" (OCD) for completing the level (e.g. with a very high number of goo balls collected or in a very short time etc)
PS: 3 for story is a bit unfair... I actually quite like the sign things and if you find them annoying... well, just don't read them!
I didn't mention this in my review (thought I had), but it looks like the original writer and director are getting back together again to make a sequel, currently titled Starfighter.
I'm going to be starting a games review blog soon, and someone pointed me to this. When I saw the Last Starfighter review I just had to read. Thanks for not overly mocking the movie that filled the void in between releases of star wars and a few star treks. And yes a lot of it is extremely cheesy, but as you say it is a fun, light hearted, sci-fi movie. I actually couldn't go to the movies when this was in theaters that weekend because I had went to the movies several weekends before, and I guess my Mom didn't want to pay for it or something :-) That being said, I pretty much wore out the video when I was a kid, rewatching parts I particularly loved, until I got to the point where it was no fun anymore. Then I hadn't watched it in a long, long, time and finally rewatched it on dvd. The music is really nice especially in dolby digital 5.1. Still one of my faves though. Just a shame it didn't make that much money, because a sequel would have been tres cool. And you're right the graphics don't hold up very well, (in fact they don't look much better than alot of pre-vis nowadays), but since the story and characters are engaging you kind of forgive it for that. It's kind of cool that someone who didn't live in the 80's actually enjoys a movie from it, I still don't think they make movies like the used to.
Well, I was born in 1984 so I can't really comment on how groundbreaking I would have perceived it. I guess I sounded a bit cynical in my review of the graphics, but it's really tough for me to imagine them being the best of the best at the time. I think if I had seen the movie when I was a kid I would have ignored them, as I pretty much give the original Star Wars movies a pass now. Unfortunately, I was a spoiled 24 year old when I first saw the movie!
And yeah, there were some excellent cheesy lines in the film. They all felt appropriate though, good times.
I've seen worse (or at least as bad) CGI in recent movies. I don't know if you're old enough to remember the state of the art from 1984, but this was beyond groundbreaking. Nobody else even bothered to try anything remotely like it again until around a decade later. I remember when this came out - vividly. I was drooling over it for months until it finally came out in theaters. I was a little disappointed, even back then, because it didn't quite live up to the hype. I still loved it though. Especially the battles at the end. My favorite scene was when the goofy bad guy is panicking near the end when the ship is going down. He asks the lizard/snail general guy what are they going to do now? The general flips his automatic monacle over his eye all cool, and says "We die". I mean, how cool is that?
If you think first hour reviews are idiotic then why are you reading this site in the first place?
The site is clear about this being a review of the first hour of the game, not a judgement of the full game. And, despite what you say, there are actually quite a few positive notes in the review at any rate.
I, like yourself, think Okami is a fantastic game - but I'm not going to get all wound up because someone else had a different impression of the first 60 minutes (which I actually quite enjoyed myself). I've never understood this kind of rabid response to reviews... so your opinion is different, fine. Don't take it so personally.
I found your site via your slashdot signature, and I was very surprised to see this film review here.
The Last Starfighter was the first film I ever saw in a cinema, back when I was 8 years old. For the past few years, on and off, I've considered getting hold of a copy. Each time I had the thought I decided to pass, for fear the movie would suck and spoil my memories.
I think you've just persuaded me to risk watching it regardless. As a child I thought it was a great film, and definitely helped me become a fan of sci-fi films.
You don't put ANYTHING good about the rest of the game or how your review is totally wrong about how it sucks in your review. Now, I know this is the first hour of the game, but could you at least consider the rest of the game in here. People who read this will probably assume that from this 'first hour review' the whole game sucks.
And no i'm not doing a first hour review of this game because first hour reviews are idiotic. You can't judge a game by the first hour.
Look, if you don't like my reviews, then don't read them. I specialize in a certain type of review, and I don't plan to change. I'm especially not advertising that a game sucks. Okami does not suck. Okami's first hour sucks. There is a big difference, but it is the truth.
I also respectively disagree that Okami wouldn't have made sense if you were just given the brush right away. Is it really necessary to know absolutely every background detail about the world the moment you start the game? I would say no. You may not agree, and I understand that, but sometimes games just have to let you play. Getting the brush right away wouldn't have changed anything. It's not like the brush really had anything to do with any of the opening scenes anyway except for one part that I can remember.
If you have to have some kind of confirmation that Okami is a good game or your world will be shattered, please read IGN or Gamespot or the countless of other video game review websites out there. Here are a few links:
I would welcome you to write your own first hour review of the game if you'd like, or a complete review of the game. If it's well written, I will post it giving you credit. I don't set out to destroy a game's reputation or anything so sinister, please understand that.
People who can't get through the first hour of Okami obviously havn't gotten through many games in there career because COUNTLESS numbers of games have done this. And why shouldn't they? Its the easiest way to explain all the information you need to know in order to enjoy the game. If they just threw you out there with the celestial brush saying go find Sakuya then you would be like WTF is this supposed to mean? I quite frankly don't care if a game throws in a 30-hour long promo at the start to get you filled in on all the information, becuase i dont judge good games by the first hour. i'd rather the producers spend the majority of there time making the game completely awesome then spend the whole time trying to make the first hour of the game look cooler to all of you nit-picky people.
I've beaten Okami, and while I would give the complete package an 8 or 9 out of 10, it deserves the score it gets for the first hour. Just because a game is popular or I know the complete game is good, doesn't mean it will get an extra bump here. I actually know a few people who couldn't get past the first hour of Okami.
And it's funny you bring up Legend of Zelda, because if you're talking about Twilight Princess, well, that game would probably get a lower first hour score than Okami. Ocarina of Time, however, does an excellent job introducing all the necessary elements.
The worst thing a game can do is start the game with loads of talk and conversation. That's not a game. All three of my worst first hours are guilty of that.
I was all >.< throughout reading the review after seeing the 1 overview. Then I saw "beaten before/enjoyed immensely" so I dont have to tell you it gets to be one of the coolest PS1 rpgs created =D. I agree it is a slow start tho. On a random note it was my first rpg to have a clock go over 100 hours visually. I spent over 100 hours on my first run through FFVII as well, but that clock stops at 99:59:59 hehehe
Your description of the game is awesome. it is quite fascinating and fanticising and though you did not have the drive to play it beyond the first hour, i am sure that your minute by minute description of the first hour will go a long way in introducing the game to many other first timers.
One of my friends plays Okami all the time and raves about it being an amazing experience. I have seen him playing and it does look spectracular but I have not played it yet myself.
The story really starts just as he finished. If he would have had a bit more time to return and see what has happened, he might have understood a lot more.
I recommend playing more than 60 mins ;)
Personally, I thought chapter 3 overstayed its welcome just a bit, but since chapter 4 was some of the best gaming I've ever played, that was quite all right.
You didn't even mention the pokemon monster training thing. Not that it matters.
Well, it's been a long time since I played the campaign, but I assume I was talking about the level where you're just in the plane and you're bombing guys from above while trying to avoid hitting churches and non-combatants. If I remember, you don't play as either of the main characters so it kind of feels like it was shoved in there to show off some cool effects and neat gameplay. Nothing wrong with that.
"There's also one level that, though it's really awesome to play, doesn't seem to fit into the story at all."
I just played through the game and the only two I can think of are possibly the first level or All Ghillied Up, but those do have their place in the story line. Which level were you referring to out of curiosity? Other than that, totally spot on review. It's games like this that make you realize all over again how important audio is to a good game.
I totally agree with the end credits. Quite possibly the best way to wrap up a game I've ever seen in my life.
This is one of my favorite games of all time. I'm not alone; there's a reason there's a major project to recreate it for modern systems, after all. A couple comments: as you might imagine from the sheer scale, the story is complex, interesting, and has a good sense of humor. The first hour is just the tip of the iceberg. Secondly, space combat becomes much more fun once you properly outfit your flagship and fleet.
Story a 6?
the writing, voiceacting and story is the best in any game, period.
a 6? what the #$@^%
nice review indeeds, i just finished playing it again myself. This will make around 5 runs through that game.
time to move on to majoras mask.
Truly, these zelda games are better than anything I've played since. And they're cheap!
I agree with Greg. I think the story is kinda cliche too ('be abstract and ambiguous because its easy'). However, I did eagerly click on each sign :)
But who cares anyway? Storyline was just one aspect of the grading criteria. Besides, I don't want to get to know my goos personally! I'll just have to show up at each gooball's next of kin residence with bad news because of each and every mistake I make in the level.
You forgot to say that for each level there is an "obsessive completion distinction criteria" (OCD) for completing the level (e.g. with a very high number of goo balls collected or in a very short time etc)
PS: 3 for story is a bit unfair... I actually quite like the sign things and if you find them annoying... well, just don't read them!
I didn't mention this in my review (thought I had), but it looks like the original writer and director are getting back together again to make a sequel, currently titled Starfighter.
Too bad Robert Preston is dead.
I'm going to be starting a games review blog soon, and someone pointed me to this. When I saw the Last Starfighter review I just had to read. Thanks for not overly mocking the movie that filled the void in between releases of star wars and a few star treks. And yes a lot of it is extremely cheesy, but as you say it is a fun, light hearted, sci-fi movie. I actually couldn't go to the movies when this was in theaters that weekend because I had went to the movies several weekends before, and I guess my Mom didn't want to pay for it or something :-) That being said, I pretty much wore out the video when I was a kid, rewatching parts I particularly loved, until I got to the point where it was no fun anymore. Then I hadn't watched it in a long, long, time and finally rewatched it on dvd. The music is really nice especially in dolby digital 5.1. Still one of my faves though. Just a shame it didn't make that much money, because a sequel would have been tres cool. And you're right the graphics don't hold up very well, (in fact they don't look much better than alot of pre-vis nowadays), but since the story and characters are engaging you kind of forgive it for that. It's kind of cool that someone who didn't live in the 80's actually enjoys a movie from it, I still don't think they make movies like the used to.
Keith Weatherby II
Uhfgood -AT- verizon -DOT- net
You should do Trials 2
Well, I was born in 1984 so I can't really comment on how groundbreaking I would have perceived it. I guess I sounded a bit cynical in my review of the graphics, but it's really tough for me to imagine them being the best of the best at the time. I think if I had seen the movie when I was a kid I would have ignored them, as I pretty much give the original Star Wars movies a pass now. Unfortunately, I was a spoiled 24 year old when I first saw the movie!
And yeah, there were some excellent cheesy lines in the film. They all felt appropriate though, good times.
I've seen worse (or at least as bad) CGI in recent movies. I don't know if you're old enough to remember the state of the art from 1984, but this was beyond groundbreaking. Nobody else even bothered to try anything remotely like it again until around a decade later. I remember when this came out - vividly. I was drooling over it for months until it finally came out in theaters. I was a little disappointed, even back then, because it didn't quite live up to the hype. I still loved it though. Especially the battles at the end. My favorite scene was when the goofy bad guy is panicking near the end when the ship is going down. He asks the lizard/snail general guy what are they going to do now? The general flips his automatic monacle over his eye all cool, and says "We die". I mean, how cool is that?
If you think first hour reviews are idiotic then why are you reading this site in the first place?
The site is clear about this being a review of the first hour of the game, not a judgement of the full game. And, despite what you say, there are actually quite a few positive notes in the review at any rate.
I, like yourself, think Okami is a fantastic game - but I'm not going to get all wound up because someone else had a different impression of the first 60 minutes (which I actually quite enjoyed myself). I've never understood this kind of rabid response to reviews... so your opinion is different, fine. Don't take it so personally.
I found your site via your slashdot signature, and I was very surprised to see this film review here.
The Last Starfighter was the first film I ever saw in a cinema, back when I was 8 years old. For the past few years, on and off, I've considered getting hold of a copy. Each time I had the thought I decided to pass, for fear the movie would suck and spoil my memories.
I think you've just persuaded me to risk watching it regardless. As a child I thought it was a great film, and definitely helped me become a fan of sci-fi films.
Steve
You don't put ANYTHING good about the rest of the game or how your review is totally wrong about how it sucks in your review. Now, I know this is the first hour of the game, but could you at least consider the rest of the game in here. People who read this will probably assume that from this 'first hour review' the whole game sucks.
And no i'm not doing a first hour review of this game because first hour reviews are idiotic. You can't judge a game by the first hour.
Look, if you don't like my reviews, then don't read them. I specialize in a certain type of review, and I don't plan to change. I'm especially not advertising that a game sucks. Okami does not suck. Okami's first hour sucks. There is a big difference, but it is the truth.
I also respectively disagree that Okami wouldn't have made sense if you were just given the brush right away. Is it really necessary to know absolutely every background detail about the world the moment you start the game? I would say no. You may not agree, and I understand that, but sometimes games just have to let you play. Getting the brush right away wouldn't have changed anything. It's not like the brush really had anything to do with any of the opening scenes anyway except for one part that I can remember.
If you have to have some kind of confirmation that Okami is a good game or your world will be shattered, please read IGN or Gamespot or the countless of other video game review websites out there. Here are a few links:
I would welcome you to write your own first hour review of the game if you'd like, or a complete review of the game. If it's well written, I will post it giving you credit. I don't set out to destroy a game's reputation or anything so sinister, please understand that.
People who can't get through the first hour of Okami obviously havn't gotten through many games in there career because COUNTLESS numbers of games have done this. And why shouldn't they? Its the easiest way to explain all the information you need to know in order to enjoy the game. If they just threw you out there with the celestial brush saying go find Sakuya then you would be like WTF is this supposed to mean? I quite frankly don't care if a game throws in a 30-hour long promo at the start to get you filled in on all the information, becuase i dont judge good games by the first hour. i'd rather the producers spend the majority of there time making the game completely awesome then spend the whole time trying to make the first hour of the game look cooler to all of you nit-picky people.
I've beaten Okami, and while I would give the complete package an 8 or 9 out of 10, it deserves the score it gets for the first hour. Just because a game is popular or I know the complete game is good, doesn't mean it will get an extra bump here. I actually know a few people who couldn't get past the first hour of Okami.
And it's funny you bring up Legend of Zelda, because if you're talking about Twilight Princess, well, that game would probably get a lower first hour score than Okami. Ocarina of Time, however, does an excellent job introducing all the necessary elements.
The worst thing a game can do is start the game with loads of talk and conversation. That's not a game. All three of my worst first hours are guilty of that.
I was all >.< throughout reading the review after seeing the 1 overview. Then I saw "beaten before/enjoyed immensely" so I dont have to tell you it gets to be one of the coolest PS1 rpgs created =D. I agree it is a slow start tho. On a random note it was my first rpg to have a clock go over 100 hours visually. I spent over 100 hours on my first run through FFVII as well, but that clock stops at 99:59:59 hehehe