Okami is a 3D adventure game released for Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii in 2006. The game’s protagonist, Amaterasu, is the lupine incarnation of the sun god, called to the land of Nippon to cleanse it of demonic presence. It was a game abundantly rich in both art and cultural depth and fondly loved by its fan base despite low sales. In 2012, an HD port was released for the Playstation 3 called Okami HD: Zekkeiban (which roughly means “best version”). For this installment of Speedrun Fast, we’ll be taking a look at that HD remaster.
If you’ve played Okami, think back to how long it took to complete the game. 30 hours? 40? One-and-a-half? If you answered the third option, your name must be IEternalDarkness, current holder of the world record run for Okami HD. Yes, Okami is possible to complete in under two hours, thanks largely to one specific technique you will see frequently throughout the video.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdAqeXobs4w[/embedyt]
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The first point of notice is the fact that this run is done in New Game +, which allows players to carry over most of their items, weapons, and other things from a completed game. This is done on most Okami runs for three main reasons: first, it enables skipping of most cutscenes, particularly the long ones. Second, if players have acquired the String of Beads, it grants them immortality, infinite ink (magic), and ten times their normal offensive power, cutting down on repetitive and unnecessary battles.
The third reason is what allows runners to complete the game so quickly. During the run, IEternalDarkness makes use of a jumping glitch to break the boundaries of the game. This is performed by pausing, equipping “Karmic Transformers,” acquired only during NG+, in midair, which provides a two-frame window for the player to perform a dash upon closing the menu. The technique requires excellent timing, as a mistake will cost players time regaining their lost height.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhHCSPUDb14[/embedyt]
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A Nintendo DS sequel to Okami, called Okamiden, was released in 2010, featuring the son of Amaterasu, humorously named Chibiterasu. Both games are hidden gems that more than deserve a place in any gamer’s library.
