10 Gaming Flops Much Better Than Their Reputations
6. Ōkami
Ōkami (狼 - meaning "wolf" in Japanese), when released in 2006 finally gave the colossally successful PS2 the last missing piece of the puzzle - a Zelda-like adventure game. Ōkami gave non-Nintendo fans a chance to enjoy a rich world filled with adventure. Smothered in a glorious Edo-period inspired aesthetic that perfectly frames its traditional Japanese setting.
Once again, Ōkami was adored by critics. Even winning IGN's Game Of The Year in 2006. The same year an actual Zelda game, Twilight Princess, was released. Ōkami is a triumph but was released at a terrible time. Fans of Zelda games were just going to play Twilight Princess on the global mega-hit console Nintendo Wii, whilst non-Nintendo fans were moving towards the HD revolution starting in 2006 with the release of the Xbox 360 and PS3. Ōkami became lost within the video game conversation in favour of Wii Sports and Bully.
If Ōkami was released a year or two earlier, it would have been a smash hit. Going against a new console cycle and a new Zelda game? It didn't stand a chance.