Ōkami (PlayStation 2)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Ōkami (PlayStation 2).

To do:

Look into the prerelease videos found in the Presents from Issun menu. The PS2 version has more videos if you get 5000+ Praise in a playthrough, and these extra videos are not available in any rerelease.
Upload the clean versions of songs featured in promo videos. They can be found on YouTube and on Disc 5 of the OST CDs. I'll try to get my rips up.

Judging by the prerelease screenshots, Ōkami had a rough development.

Development Timeline#

To do:

Find which day the trailers were shown if possible.
Verify date on the Jun. 6th screenshots.
Find dates for the rest of the trailers and when the first prototypes were shown.

2003

xxx - Development begins. (?)
Sep. 29th - Oldest file present in prototype.

2004

Mar. 30th - Clover Studio Co., Ltd. planned establishment announced. 1
Apr. 21st - Ōkami announced. 2
May. 13th - Ōkami first screenshots shown. 3
Jul. 1st - Clover Studio established. 4
Sep. 24th-26th - First trailer shown at Tokyo Game Show 2004.

2005

May. 18th-20th trailer shown at Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Jun. 6th - More screenshots are shown, they are wildly different from the last and have areas seen in the final game. 5
Aug. 3rd - Build date for the Taikenban/First Bite demo.
Sep. 16th–18th trailer shown at Tokyo Game Show 2005.
Oct. 18th - Build date for the Dengeki PlayStation D90 demo disk
Nov. 18th - Build date for version that would later be distributed to Play Mag. [https://web.archive.org/web/20260715174328/https://hiddenpalace.org/%C5%8Ckami_(Nov_18,_2005_prototype)]

2006

Apr. 20th - Ōkami releases on PS2 in Japan.

2004#

To do:

Find not watermarked/unstretched versions of some of these, assuming they exist.
Document the trailers in depth. The areas below and more appear in them.
- Upload clean rips of these trailers. Youtube crunched most of the current uploads.

Around mid 2004, the first set of screenshots was sent to outlets. Outside of the characters, none of this made it into the final.

Logo#

The logo itself remains intact, but the wheel of characters itself isn't. In order, it's Amaterasu & Mr. Orange, Early Susanoo, Early Kushi, Fisherman, Kokari & Karude, Himiko, Raiden, Red Imp, Yellow Imp, Black Imp, Blue Imp, Green Imp, and Chimera. Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Logo.jpg

Imp#

Curiously, the imp concept art in the artbook is an edit that lines up with the final design.

2004 concept art	Released artbook concept art

Dejima#

Amaterasu's tongue is out, for some reason

Combat#

While the context surrounding this map is long gone, it itself is not. It can be found in the prototype, albeit it's very broken without some work.

The Chimera enemy. An unknown red effect is happening in the background.

Unknown Start Area#

An area featured heavily in early materials. They briefly tried to save it by reusing it for Kamui, but it didn't make it. The combat area above is a subsection of this area.

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Unknown_Start_Area_2.jpg

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Unknown_Start_Area_3.jpg

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Unknown_Start_Area_4.png

Unknown Area Divine Intervention#

The same area as above, but either before or mid early divine intervention. These screenshots seem to have been taken sequentially to showcase the effect. Unlike the final game, this isn't a prerendered cutscene.

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Divine_Intervention_1.jpg

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Divine_Intervention_2.jpg

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Divine_Intervention_3.jpg

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Divine_Intervention_4.jpg

Then, there are aerial shots of it.

Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Divine_Intervention_5.jpg

(Source: GAME Watch & Cultura & Game Developer)

Unknown#

To do:
Find origin of this image.

This photo features what might be the earliest look at a recognizable HUD. It's unknown where this photo was taken. Okami_(Prerelease)_-_Unknown_Area.png

(Source: playasia)

2005#

By now the game started to somewhat resemble the final game. The original filenames suggest these were shared during E3. An early HUD featuring the ill-fated compass is present. Curiously, it seems you originally started with only 1 ink pot instead of 3.

Kamiki Village#

A fairly recognizable Kamiki, albeit with some things missing. An iteration close to this one is still used in the First Bite demo.

This early wind effect can be seen in some of the beta maps in the prototype. The early wallet and the small island are missing here.

A shot of Kushi's mill. A differing design and a chest can be spotted.

Kushi by her mill with an early dialog box and cutscene bars.

A good high up view of Kamiki. Mr. Orange's house is missing. What is presumably the Konohana tree is in the background. It shouldn't be visible at this angle, nor nearly as large. Additionally, what seems to be a second is also visible?

Taka Pass#

Unlike Kamiki, Taka Pass is downright unrecognizable. This version is technically still used in the final, just in the introduction Moon Cave cutscene. An image of it appears in the prototype.