038 4 This game makes Zelda look weak . the graphics are phenomenal , and the gameplay elements are great too . Not too many people gave this game a chance but I guarantee in ten years people will be talking about this game like it is a classic like how they are talking about symphony of the night now . If you haven't played this game yet go buy it . If you like adventure games you owe it to yourself to at least give it a chance .
060 4 I will keep this review short . The game is a very addictive , entertaining RPG . Great story , great gameplay , best game I played all year . Only thing that it was lacking was a lock on feature for enemies . Took me about 45 hours to complete the Main story and almost all of the side missions . If you buy this game you WILL play it to the end .
044 4 When I first looked at this game in the store I wasn't real sure about it . I was totally surprised when I got it home and tried it out . It starts out slow but that is only to prepare you for what is to come ! It has the greatest storyline and add great graphics , wonderful characters and easy to learn controls . Put all that together and you have OKAMI ! ! I am an avid gamer I love all types but mainly enjoy action / adventure . I am a 36 year old mother of 4 and I so enjoy sitting down with my kids and kicking their butt ( in a game of coarse ) we all have so much fun together . I know that alot of people look down at video games in general but I DO SPEND QUALITY TIME with my kids ! Anyway , this game was an absolute masterpiece ! It had it all ! I have played god Of War , Samari Warriors 1,2 & EX . Legends , Dynasty Warriors , Norrath , Balders Gate just to name a few . This game was the icing on the cake ! I have never written reviews about any games before but I just couldn't keep from saying something about this game ! ! I plan to play it over and over because I know there is plenty more to do in this game that I may have missed the first time . This game has to be a qualifier for , if not the winner for GAME OF THE YEAR ! ! ! !
Respectfully ,
Pretty Mama
043 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
When I first looked at this game in the store I wasn't real sure about it . I was totally surprised when I got it home and tried it out . It starts out slow but that is only to prepare you for what is to come ! It has the greatest storyline and add great graphics , wonderful characters and easy to learn controls . Put all that together and you have OKAMI ! ! I am an avid gamer I love all types but mainly enjoy action / adventure . I am a 36 year old mother of 4 and I so enjoy sitting down with my kids and kicking their butt ( in a game of coarse ) we all have so much fun together . I know that alot of people look down at video games in general but I DO SPEND QUALITY TIME with my kids ! Anyway , this game was an absolute masterpiece ! It had it all ! I have played god Of War , Samari Warriors 1,2 & EX . Legends , Dynasty Warriors , Norrath , Balders Gate just to name a few . This game was the icing on the cake ! I have never written reviews about any games before but I just couldn't keep from saying something about this game ! ! I plan to play it over and over because I know there is plenty more to do in this game that I may have missed the first time . This game has to be a qualifier for , if not the winner for GAME OF THE YEAR ! ! ! !
Respectfully ,
Pretty Mama
Okami ( Video Game )
I can't get enough of Okami ! I've beaten it and am started on a second play-though . Any action-RPG game fan has to at least try this game ! The title basically says it all . It is a typically Japanese play on words , since , depending on how you translate it , Okami can mean either wolf or king of the gods . For those people to whom that is not enough information to really understand the game , here are the basics :
100 years before the game's beginning , a huge 8 - headed dragon monster called the Orochi menaced the small village of Kamiki . After suffering Orochi's tyranny for years , the village's champion , Nagi , and a white wolf the village dubbed Shiranui , defeated the Orochi . Shiranui died from his wounds after the fight , and the village built a shrine for him . Peace reigned for 100 years , until the evil suddenly and mysteriously reappeared . . .
You control Shiranui reborn in a quest to save the land from the evil . You travel all over the land of Nippon ( which is Japanese for Japan ; how original ) fighting monsters , helping people , and healing nature of the curse of evil . The story is nothing new , and is both very linear and quite predictable . But it is very well done , mixing japanese mythology into a classic hero story , with a generous helping of humor to give it flavor .
The story has one major downside , though : it is told through cut scenes that contain bucket-loads of exposition . You will often find yourself button-mashing X desperately to try to speed things along , and that does not work very well because the important cut scenes don't let you speed up the dialogue . For instance , the very first cut scene that opens the game literally takes at least 15 minutes to get through before you can get to the action . Most of the rest are not nearly that long , but several of them do take a good 5 minutes at least . To say that it gets tedious is an understatement .
Still , the cell-shaded graphics largely make up for the tedious cut scenes . They are done in a very beautiful , yet simplistic style that evokes a traditional Japanese ink painting . Despite the simple style , though , the level of detail is outstanding . In fact , it is so detailed that there is the occasional spot of graphical slowdown . This game really pushes the hardware of the PS2 to its limits .
The music and sound are also fantastic . Most of the music evokes traditional Japanese art as much as the graphics do , while the sound effects range from wolf barks and footfalls to wind blowing gently through trees , and more . The mood is always set perfectly for whatever environment you're visiting .
Except , possibly , with the voices . Rather than real voices , people talk in a form of gibberish that sounds like someone trying to talk underwater . While it does not bother me personally , some people simply can not listen to these voice effects . Either you'll hate the voice noises with a passion , or you won't care at all . Either way , this is not a good point for the game .
The controls take a bit of getting used to , but when you have gotten used to them they become second nature . Unlike the Legend of Zelda games , there is no enemy lock-on during combat . Instead , you automatically target the closest monster ( s ) when you push the attack button . This simplifies combat without turning it into a button-mashing cake walk . It works perfectly . . . unless you get hit by the controller bug .
Yes , a * bug * in the game . Thankfully rare , as I only encountered it twice in 60 + hours of game play . Still , when it happens it is extremely annoying . During combat , while you're wailing away on a monster , the options-menu will suddenly open for no reason . Usually , the analog control on your controller will also go crazy , either just turning off or madly flickering on and off . Either case makes the game impossible to play , of course , since you control your in-game avatar with the left analog stick . The first case is easy to fix ; just turn the analog control back on and exit the menu . In the second case , you can only fix it by literally unplugging the controller and then plugging it back in .
Far more common than the controller bug are the load times . They usually are not terrible , but it seems like a loading screen comes up at least every five minutes or so . Between these and the long cut-scenes , you might sometimes wonder if there is actually any game play included .
But there * is * game play , and it is a lot of fun . There is a great deal to keep you occupied , from the compelling story line to the many treasure hunts , races , puzzles , and mini-games . Between fighting to save the world , you can go fishing , feed animals , catch thieves , and a lot more . Plus , after you beat the game once it unlocks lots of extras , including image galleries and the sound track . All of that and the wonderful atmosphere definitely make this a game worth checking out . Rent it before you buy it , if possible , to make sure you can deal with the long cut scenes , numerous load times , and weird voice effects . But if you are a fan of action RPGs like Legend of Zelda , you will definitely want to add Okami to your game library .
Summary :
Pros :
- Great story
- Great graphics
- Great music / sound
- Wonderful atmosphere
- Lots of culture and mythology to give it flavor
- Plentiful activities and mini-games
- Unlockable extras after beating the game
Cons :
- Occasional graphic slowdown
- Too much exposition
- Tedious cut-scenes
- Lots of load times
- Rare controller bug
Neutral :
- Voice noises that you might or might not hate
Over-all score : Five stars of fun-fun-fun ! But three stars over all because of the many problems .
001 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Today's video game market is a stagnant one for the most part . Publishers rely on franchises and proven formulas to make their money . Meanwhile when something creative and original comes along publishers don't want to take a chance on it in fear of lousy returns on their investment . While this does make for a great business decision , it makes for poor gaming experiences . Thankfully Okami made it to fruition .
This game is reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda . The cell shaded graphics harken back to The Wind Waker , and inevitably any third person adventure game is going to merit a Zelda comparison . However , this is definitely not a Zelda clone . It merely takes the genre and builds on it to produce something extraordinary .
The gameplay is relatively simple . You can run around , fight baddies , talk to villagers , etc . The real innovation here is the use of a paintbrush that you activate with R1 to alter your environment . If you run up on a bridge that's broken down ? No problem , activate your paintbrush and paint another one onto the landscape . Bad guy getting you down ? Simple , just activate the paintbrush , draw a slash through the enemy , and he's down for the count . I've only progressed through the first hour of the game , so I have not collected all of the paintbrush techniques . But there is no doubt that the paintbrush is a big part of the game .
The graphics are nothing short of beautiful . You do a good bit of running around in this game . Fortunately it never gets old because the scenery around you is just so awesome to look at . I never thought a Ps2 game could look so good .
The story takes on the guise of Japanese folklore ( I've read that the basis of this game is an actual legend , but I would assume some liberties have been taken with the story to fit the game ) . The story is interesting , although nothing groundbreaking ( at least as far as I have progressed ) . Still , it is enough to keep you interested .
There are some small things that annoy me . The text comes with a gibberish voiceover ( like Animal Crossing ) . Its bearable at first , but tends to grate on your nerves the farther along you go . The intro is about ten minutes too long , and I never found a way to skip past it or make it go faster . The big gripe I have is that there is no widescreen support , which would have made this game really shine on TVs that supported it .
This game might be the last great game on the Playstation 2 . I'm happy that Capcom decided to break the industry mold and publish a title that displays a lot of creativity and beauty without it being a proven franchise . I consider this game to be in the same mold as Psychonauts , Shadow of the Colossus , Katamari Damacy , etc . Games that displayed a ton of creativity and were fun . Unfortunately games like this often go unnoticed by the majority of gamers and they don't sell well . Hopefully Okami will be an exception , and it needs to be if we ever want developers and publishers to release more original and unproven content to us .
002 4 Today's video game market is a stagnant one for the most part . Publishers rely on franchises and proven formulas to make their money . Meanwhile when something creative and original comes along publishers don't want to take a chance on it in fear of lousy returns on their investment . While this does make for a great business decision , it makes for poor gaming experiences . Thankfully Okami made it to fruition .
This game is reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda . The cell shaded graphics harken back to The Wind Waker , and inevitably any third person adventure game is going to merit a Zelda comparison . However , this is definitely not a Zelda clone . It merely takes the genre and builds on it to produce something extraordinary .
The gameplay is relatively simple . You can run around , fight baddies , talk to villagers , etc . The real innovation here is the use of a paintbrush that you activate with R1 to alter your environment . If you run up on a bridge that's broken down ? No problem , activate your paintbrush and paint another one onto the landscape . Bad guy getting you down ? Simple , just activate the paintbrush , draw a slash through the enemy , and he's down for the count . I've only progressed through the first hour of the game , so I have not collected all of the paintbrush techniques . But there is no doubt that the paintbrush is a big part of the game .
The graphics are nothing short of beautiful . You do a good bit of running around in this game . Fortunately it never gets old because the scenery around you is just so awesome to look at . I never thought a Ps2 game could look so good .
The story takes on the guise of Japanese folklore ( I've read that the basis of this game is an actual legend , but I would assume some liberties have been taken with the story to fit the game ) . The story is interesting , although nothing groundbreaking ( at least as far as I have progressed ) . Still , it is enough to keep you interested .
There are some small things that annoy me . The text comes with a gibberish voiceover ( like Animal Crossing ) . Its bearable at first , but tends to grate on your nerves the farther along you go . The intro is about ten minutes too long , and I never found a way to skip past it or make it go faster . The big gripe I have is that there is no widescreen support , which would have made this game really shine on TVs that supported it .
This game might be the last great game on the Playstation 2 . I'm happy that Capcom decided to break the industry mold and publish a title that displays a lot of creativity and beauty without it being a proven franchise . I consider this game to be in the same mold as Psychonauts , Shadow of the Colossus , Katamari Damacy , etc . Games that displayed a ton of creativity and were fun . Unfortunately games like this often go unnoticed by the majority of gamers and they don't sell well . Hopefully Okami will be an exception , and it needs to be if we ever want developers and publishers to release more original and unproven content to us .
003 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Story / Gameplay
In playing as Amaterasu , A Sun-God awoken to defend a classical Japanese village in the area of Nippon , you will use a variety of weapons , combat techniques , and Celestial brushes to defeat your enemies and rid the land of an ancient evil that has been resurrected . The weapons will be your standard platforming arsenal of short and long ranged devices that you use to keep yourself from harm , and try for the opposite effect with your enemies . These will include various twists on Japanese Imperial Regalia to include , A reflector disk ( Your beginning weapon ) , Rosary Beads ( Your primary ranged weapon ) , and a Glaive ( Powerful long sword ) .
The Celestial Brush is what makes this game unique . It allows you to pause the game at any time using the R1 button and paint various symbols to have a wide reaching effect on gameplay . These include , but are not limited to , attacking enemies / objects , bringing back life to various dead flora , creating platforms , and in general showing off your God-like ability to affect almost every aspect of reality in the game . The Celestial Brush will be your major gameplay factor in practically every puzzle the game offers . It's also used for story progression and helping out some of your village friends think they can do things they really can't without them knowing .
Art / Graphics
Okami draws a lot of it's animations from Japanese watercolor paintings most famous from the Ukiyo-e style . Like the game Zelda : The Windwaker , which people most commonly relate Okami to , Cel-shading is used as opposed to 3D Polygon textures to give the game a more animated feel . This serves the purpose of bringing out smoother movements in the character models and bringing the characters themselves more to life . Unlike the aforementioned game , however , Okami uses a brushed style that helps bring more color into the game rather than focusing solely on shape definition . In short , it's the best thing that Cel-shading has ever produced . It even winds up showing off a lot better than some of the cinematic driven games to date .
Music / Voice Acting
The music in this game is on par with many of its platforming brethren , and exceeds a lot of the standards for the genre . The scores are large numbered and always seem to have a good piece of music to back-up whatever situation you , as a Brush wielding Sun-God defending good in the form of a wolf , may find yourself in . The voice acting is the only thing that could bring this game down . The simple truth ? There is none ! Well , it's no great loss because the game does fine without it . However , during the opening sequence , which consequentially is about 14 minutes too long , the little humming sounds that they use instead will probably have you wanting to claw your ears out before it's done . After this little sequence however , you should be good to go through the rest of the game .
Controls
I list Controls as its own category because quite simply , they will make or break a game . I won't lie to you , I was a little skeptical when I heard that somebody had a made Zelda clone for the PS2 based in feudal Japan . But from the moment I picked up the controller and started maneuvering smoothly through the cel-shaded environment , switching from weapons to brushes quicker than thought , I was sold . Okami has some of the most intuitive controls of any Console game I've ever played . You will almost never have one of those moments where you are left thinking , If only I had put the camera somewhere else .
Overall
Okami is a fun Action-Adventure / Platforming game that will keep you locked in to the very end . The Brushed Cel-shading quite frankly outdoes itself as you progress through rich and peaceful villages as well as dark and brooding cursed lands . The controls boast more than their fair share versatility as they put in your hands the ability to change the very fabric of existence surrounding your character with just the few buttons and strokes of your brush .
The downsides you will see in the game mostly center on the distinct lack of Voice acting and the horrendously long opening sequence . These however , do very little to detract from the overall masterpiece that Clover Studios has created .
Okami takes everything that made people love the N64 and Gamecube Zelda games , and then improves upon them ten fold ( Yes , I though it was impossible too . ) to create one of the most original and masterwork Action / Adventure games to ever hit the markets , and has no competition whatsoever on the Playstation 2 gaming console .
004 4 Story / Gameplay
In playing as Amaterasu , A Sun-God awoken to defend a classical Japanese village in the area of Nippon , you will use a variety of weapons , combat techniques , and Celestial brushes to defeat your enemies and rid the land of an ancient evil that has been resurrected . The weapons will be your standard platforming arsenal of short and long ranged devices that you use to keep yourself from harm , and try for the opposite effect with your enemies . These will include various twists on Japanese Imperial Regalia to include , A reflector disk ( Your beginning weapon ) , Rosary Beads ( Your primary ranged weapon ) , and a Glaive ( Powerful long sword ) .
The Celestial Brush is what makes this game unique . It allows you to pause the game at any time using the R1 button and paint various symbols to have a wide reaching effect on gameplay . These include , but are not limited to , attacking enemies / objects , bringing back life to various dead flora , creating platforms , and in general showing off your God-like ability to affect almost every aspect of reality in the game . The Celestial Brush will be your major gameplay factor in practically every puzzle the game offers . It's also used for story progression and helping out some of your village friends think they can do things they really can't without them knowing .
Art / Graphics
Okami draws a lot of it's animations from Japanese watercolor paintings most famous from the Ukiyo-e style . Like the game Zelda : The Windwaker , which people most commonly relate Okami to , Cel-shading is used as opposed to 3D Polygon textures to give the game a more animated feel . This serves the purpose of bringing out smoother movements in the character models and bringing the characters themselves more to life . Unlike the aforementioned game , however , Okami uses a brushed style that helps bring more color into the game rather than focusing solely on shape definition . In short , it's the best thing that Cel-shading has ever produced . It even winds up showing off a lot better than some of the cinematic driven games to date .
Music / Voice Acting
The music in this game is on par with many of its platforming brethren , and exceeds a lot of the standards for the genre . The scores are large numbered and always seem to have a good piece of music to back-up whatever situation you , as a Brush wielding Sun-God defending good in the form of a wolf , may find yourself in . The voice acting is the only thing that could bring this game down . The simple truth ? There is none ! Well , it's no great loss because the game does fine without it . However , during the opening sequence , which consequentially is about 14 minutes too long , the little humming sounds that they use instead will probably have you wanting to claw your ears out before it's done . After this little sequence however , you should be good to go through the rest of the game .
Controls
I list Controls as its own category because quite simply , they will make or break a game . I won't lie to you , I was a little skeptical when I heard that somebody had a made Zelda clone for the PS2 based in feudal Japan . But from the moment I picked up the controller and started maneuvering smoothly through the cel-shaded environment , switching from weapons to brushes quicker than thought , I was sold . Okami has some of the most intuitive controls of any Console game I've ever played . You will almost never have one of those moments where you are left thinking , If only I had put the camera somewhere else .
Overall
Okami is a fun Action-Adventure / Platforming game that will keep you locked in to the very end . The Brushed Cel-shading quite frankly outdoes itself as you progress through rich and peaceful villages as well as dark and brooding cursed lands . The controls boast more than their fair share versatility as they put in your hands the ability to change the very fabric of existence surrounding your character with just the few buttons and strokes of your brush .
The downsides you will see in the game mostly center on the distinct lack of Voice acting and the horrendously long opening sequence . These however , do very little to detract from the overall masterpiece that Clover Studios has created .
Okami takes everything that made people love the N64 and Gamecube Zelda games , and then improves upon them ten fold ( Yes , I though it was impossible too . ) to create one of the most original and masterwork Action / Adventure games to ever hit the markets , and has no competition whatsoever on the Playstation 2 gaming console .
005 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Many game critics have raved about this game , and it is no surprise . Once you start playing Okami you will quickly realize you have picked up quite the original adventure game . Okami does have certain hints of Zelda ( i.e . bombs to blow up walls , searching for treasure , interaction with different people to find quests , time change , etc . ) but at the same time Okami is a different animal . It is quite hard to explain really , but what really sets this game apart from most adventure games are the graphics and the almighty Celestial Brush . The graphics if anything will remind you most of Wind Waker , but while Wind Waker chose to go with the traditional style cel-shading ( although they worked quite well and helped that game along ) , Okami chooses to go with stylistic cel shading , if that makes any sense . . . the graphics really bring every single enviornment in the game to life and not only that but they are defintely crucial to the whole theme of Okami on which its story is basically that of a Japanese legend novel . The calliography stylings you will find are incorporated with the watercolor-like graphics of Okami , and thus this is where the Celestial Brush comes into play . Throughout the game , you will gain brushstyles ( once again reminiscent of Japanese calliography ) from mythological constellations . Once you gain these you will use them to progress throughout the game . So a bridge is a broken ? No problem you can fix it simply by waving your brush back and forth to create a new one . You will also use it a lot in the battles you will face , as you can draw bombs to defeat enemies quickly or draw a simple line through them to slash them powerfully and gain the upper advantage . Then at times you will face say , like a fire elemental and an ice elemental . . . using the brush once again , use the fire against the ice elemental and then use the brush once again to create wind and blow the fire elemental out . Tired of drowning in the water ? Draw a circle to create a lily pad and then draw wind to travel faster on the lily pad . These are just a few of the things you can do with the brush but there is much more . As for the battles themselves , they are relatively easy but not so easy that they get boring . . . all you need to use is a bit of problem-solving and you have it down , the bosses take more of that of course . I will not spoil the boss encounters at all but the ways you use your brush against them is really inventive and original . The controls are tight and quite responsive , yet the only gripe I have with this game is the camera . It's not terrible , but it seems during the battles it gets a bit frisky but it's just a minor flaw . The oriental-type music fits with the theme of the game very well , it does get a bit repetitive in some parts but it's otherwise well done .
I have never heard of Clover before , I don't know if this is the first game they have come out with or what . . . but you can be rest assured I will be looking into them after this masterpiece of a game . The PS2 is nearing its end but this is definitely one of the last games it should go out on . Okami is a must buy for this year , I promise you no PS2 owner should be without it . All critics have been raving , I have yet to hear a bad review about Okami , that should tell you something . Overall this is a must buy game , do not doubt it buy it . Peace .
006 4 Many game critics have raved about this game , and it is no surprise . Once you start playing Okami you will quickly realize you have picked up quite the original adventure game . Okami does have certain hints of Zelda ( i.e . bombs to blow up walls , searching for treasure , interaction with different people to find quests , time change , etc . ) but at the same time Okami is a different animal . It is quite hard to explain really , but what really sets this game apart from most adventure games are the graphics and the almighty Celestial Brush . The graphics if anything will remind you most of Wind Waker , but while Wind Waker chose to go with the traditional style cel-shading ( although they worked quite well and helped that game along ) , Okami chooses to go with stylistic cel shading , if that makes any sense . . . the graphics really bring every single enviornment in the game to life and not only that but they are defintely crucial to the whole theme of Okami on which its story is basically that of a Japanese legend novel . The calliography stylings you will find are incorporated with the watercolor-like graphics of Okami , and thus this is where the Celestial Brush comes into play . Throughout the game , you will gain brushstyles ( once again reminiscent of Japanese calliography ) from mythological constellations . Once you gain these you will use them to progress throughout the game . So a bridge is a broken ? No problem you can fix it simply by waving your brush back and forth to create a new one . You will also use it a lot in the battles you will face , as you can draw bombs to defeat enemies quickly or draw a simple line through them to slash them powerfully and gain the upper advantage . Then at times you will face say , like a fire elemental and an ice elemental . . . using the brush once again , use the fire against the ice elemental and then use the brush once again to create wind and blow the fire elemental out . Tired of drowning in the water ? Draw a circle to create a lily pad and then draw wind to travel faster on the lily pad . These are just a few of the things you can do with the brush but there is much more . As for the battles themselves , they are relatively easy but not so easy that they get boring . . . all you need to use is a bit of problem-solving and you have it down , the bosses take more of that of course . I will not spoil the boss encounters at all but the ways you use your brush against them is really inventive and original . The controls are tight and quite responsive , yet the only gripe I have with this game is the camera . It's not terrible , but it seems during the battles it gets a bit frisky but it's just a minor flaw . The oriental-type music fits with the theme of the game very well , it does get a bit repetitive in some parts but it's otherwise well done .
I have never heard of Clover before , I don't know if this is the first game they have come out with or what . . . but you can be rest assured I will be looking into them after this masterpiece of a game . The PS2 is nearing its end but this is definitely one of the last games it should go out on . Okami is a must buy for this year , I promise you no PS2 owner should be without it . All critics have been raving , I have yet to hear a bad review about Okami , that should tell you something . Overall this is a must buy game , do not doubt it buy it . Peace .
007 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
I can't get enough of Okami ! I've beaten it and am started on a second play-though . Any action-RPG game fan has to at least try this game ! The title basically says it all . It is a typically Japanese play on words , since , depending on how you translate it , Okami can mean either wolf or king of the gods . For those people to whom that is not enough information to really understand the game , here are the basics :
100 years before the game's beginning , a huge 8 - headed dragon monster called the Orochi menaced the small village of Kamiki . After suffering Orochi's tyranny for years , the village's champion , Nagi , and a white wolf the village dubbed Shiranui , defeated the Orochi . Shiranui died from his wounds after the fight , and the village built a shrine for him . Peace reigned for 100 years , until the evil suddenly and mysteriously reappeared . . .
You control Shiranui reborn in a quest to save the land from the evil . You travel all over the land of Nippon ( which is Japanese for Japan ; how original ) fighting monsters , helping people , and healing nature of the curse of evil . The story is nothing new , and is both very linear and quite predictable . But it is very well done , mixing japanese mythology into a classic hero story , with a generous helping of humor to give it flavor .
The story has one major downside , though : it is told through cut scenes that contain bucket-loads of exposition . You will often find yourself button-mashing X desperately to try to speed things along , and that does not work very well because the important cut scenes don't let you speed up the dialogue . For instance , the very first cut scene that opens the game literally takes at least 15 minutes to get through before you can get to the action . Most of the rest are not nearly that long , but several of them do take a good 5 minutes at least . To say that it gets tedious is an understatement .
Still , the cell-shaded graphics largely make up for the tedious cut scenes . They are done in a very beautiful , yet simplistic style that evokes a traditional Japanese ink painting . Despite the simple style , though , the level of detail is outstanding . In fact , it is so detailed that there is the occasional spot of graphical slowdown . This game really pushes the hardware of the PS2 to its limits .
The music and sound are also fantastic . Most of the music evokes traditional Japanese art as much as the graphics do , while the sound effects range from wolf barks and footfalls to wind blowing gently through trees , and more . The mood is always set perfectly for whatever environment you're visiting .
Except , possibly , with the voices . Rather than real voices , people talk in a form of gibberish that sounds like someone trying to talk underwater . While it does not bother me personally , some people simply can not listen to these voice effects . Either you'll hate the voice noises with a passion , or you won't care at all . Either way , this is not a good point for the game .
The controls take a bit of getting used to , but when you have gotten used to them they become second nature . Unlike the Legend of Zelda games , there is no enemy lock-on during combat . Instead , you automatically target the closest monster ( s ) when you push the attack button . This simplifies combat without turning it into a button-mashing cake walk . It works perfectly . . . unless you get hit by the controller bug .
Yes , a * bug * in the game . Thankfully rare , as I only encountered it twice in 60 + hours of game play . Still , when it happens it is extremely annoying . During combat , while you're wailing away on a monster , the options-menu will suddenly open for no reason . Usually , the analog control on your controller will also go crazy , either just turning off or madly flickering on and off . Either case makes the game impossible to play , of course , since you control your in-game avatar with the left analog stick . The first case is easy to fix ; just turn the analog control back on and exit the menu . In the second case , you can only fix it by literally unplugging the controller and then plugging it back in .
Far more common than the controller bug are the load times . They usually are not terrible , but it seems like a loading screen comes up at least every five minutes or so . Between these and the long cut-scenes , you might sometimes wonder if there is actually any game play included .
But there * is * game play , and it is a lot of fun . There is a great deal to keep you occupied , from the compelling story line to the many treasure hunts , races , puzzles , and mini-games . Between fighting to save the world , you can go fishing , feed animals , catch thieves , and a lot more . Plus , after you beat the game once it unlocks lots of extras , including image galleries and the sound track . All of that and the wonderful atmosphere definitely make this a game worth checking out . Rent it before you buy it , if possible , to make sure you can deal with the long cut scenes , numerous load times , and weird voice effects . But if you are a fan of action RPGs like Legend of Zelda , you will definitely want to add Okami to your game library .
Summary :
Pros :
- Great story
- Great graphics
- Great music / sound
- Wonderful atmosphere
- Lots of culture and mythology to give it flavor
- Plentiful activities and mini-games
- Unlockable extras after beating the game
Cons :
- Occasional graphic slowdown
- Too much exposition
- Tedious cut-scenes
- Lots of load times
- Rare controller bug
Neutral :
- Voice noises that you might or might not hate
Over-all score : Five stars of fun-fun-fun ! But three stars over all because of the many problems .
008 4 I can't get enough of Okami ! I've beaten it and am started on a second play-though . Any action-RPG game fan has to at least try this game ! The title basically says it all . It is a typically Japanese play on words , since , depending on how you translate it , Okami can mean either wolf or king of the gods . For those people to whom that is not enough information to really understand the game , here are the basics :
100 years before the game's beginning , a huge 8 - headed dragon monster called the Orochi menaced the small village of Kamiki . After suffering Orochi's tyranny for years , the village's champion , Nagi , and a white wolf the village dubbed Shiranui , defeated the Orochi . Shiranui died from his wounds after the fight , and the village built a shrine for him . Peace reigned for 100 years , until the evil suddenly and mysteriously reappeared . . .
You control Shiranui reborn in a quest to save the land from the evil . You travel all over the land of Nippon ( which is Japanese for Japan ; how original ) fighting monsters , helping people , and healing nature of the curse of evil . The story is nothing new , and is both very linear and quite predictable . But it is very well done , mixing japanese mythology into a classic hero story , with a generous helping of humor to give it flavor .
The story has one major downside , though : it is told through cut scenes that contain bucket-loads of exposition . You will often find yourself button-mashing X desperately to try to speed things along , and that does not work very well because the important cut scenes don't let you speed up the dialogue . For instance , the very first cut scene that opens the game literally takes at least 15 minutes to get through before you can get to the action . Most of the rest are not nearly that long , but several of them do take a good 5 minutes at least . To say that it gets tedious is an understatement .
Still , the cell-shaded graphics largely make up for the tedious cut scenes . They are done in a very beautiful , yet simplistic style that evokes a traditional Japanese ink painting . Despite the simple style , though , the level of detail is outstanding . In fact , it is so detailed that there is the occasional spot of graphical slowdown . This game really pushes the hardware of the PS2 to its limits .
The music and sound are also fantastic . Most of the music evokes traditional Japanese art as much as the graphics do , while the sound effects range from wolf barks and footfalls to wind blowing gently through trees , and more . The mood is always set perfectly for whatever environment you're visiting .
Except , possibly , with the voices . Rather than real voices , people talk in a form of gibberish that sounds like someone trying to talk underwater . While it does not bother me personally , some people simply can not listen to these voice effects . Either you'll hate the voice noises with a passion , or you won't care at all . Either way , this is not a good point for the game .
The controls take a bit of getting used to , but when you have gotten used to them they become second nature . Unlike the Legend of Zelda games , there is no enemy lock-on during combat . Instead , you automatically target the closest monster ( s ) when you push the attack button . This simplifies combat without turning it into a button-mashing cake walk . It works perfectly . . . unless you get hit by the controller bug .
Yes , a * bug * in the game . Thankfully rare , as I only encountered it twice in 60 + hours of game play . Still , when it happens it is extremely annoying . During combat , while you're wailing away on a monster , the options-menu will suddenly open for no reason . Usually , the analog control on your controller will also go crazy , either just turning off or madly flickering on and off . Either case makes the game impossible to play , of course , since you control your in-game avatar with the left analog stick . The first case is easy to fix ; just turn the analog control back on and exit the menu . In the second case , you can only fix it by literally unplugging the controller and then plugging it back in .
Far more common than the controller bug are the load times . They usually are not terrible , but it seems like a loading screen comes up at least every five minutes or so . Between these and the long cut-scenes , you might sometimes wonder if there is actually any game play included .
But there * is * game play , and it is a lot of fun . There is a great deal to keep you occupied , from the compelling story line to the many treasure hunts , races , puzzles , and mini-games . Between fighting to save the world , you can go fishing , feed animals , catch thieves , and a lot more . Plus , after you beat the game once it unlocks lots of extras , including image galleries and the sound track . All of that and the wonderful atmosphere definitely make this a game worth checking out . Rent it before you buy it , if possible , to make sure you can deal with the long cut scenes , numerous load times , and weird voice effects . But if you are a fan of action RPGs like Legend of Zelda , you will definitely want to add Okami to your game library .
Summary :
Pros :
- Great story
- Great graphics
- Great music / sound
- Wonderful atmosphere
- Lots of culture and mythology to give it flavor
- Plentiful activities and mini-games
- Unlockable extras after beating the game
Cons :
- Occasional graphic slowdown
- Too much exposition
- Tedious cut-scenes
- Lots of load times
- Rare controller bug
Neutral :
- Voice noises that you might or might not hate
Over-all score : Five stars of fun-fun-fun ! But three stars over all because of the many problems .
009 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
With the PS2 ' s life cycle coming to an end , there are hardly any new games that are anything remotely spectacular . Capcom's Okami however , is just that , and it's not just one of the best games to ever grace the PS2 , it's one of the most original games you'll ever play . The first thing you'll notice about Okami is the game's incredibly unique art style and graphics , which are some of the best to ever grace the PS2 . Seriously , this game looks incredible , you won't believe your eyes . Okami's storyline is based on Japanese legend dealing with the sun god Amaterasu , who you play as in the form of a white wolf , and the epic quest that awaits him . Now , what truly sets Okami apart from the rest of the pack is the caligraphy-esque celestial brush that you must use to advance throughout the game . Need a bridge ? Draw it . Need to dispatch a pesky enemy ? Draw him in half . This brush adds a new dynamic to the gameplay which is fresh and unique , and makes you wonder why no one has ever tried anything like it before in a game of this type . There's loads of side quests and mini-games as well , adding to the length of Okami which truly make it an epic game , and all of which help make this one of the best games ever on the PS2 . If there's anything bad to say about Okami , it's that the combat can get too easy at spots , but that is only an extremely minor gripe . All in all , Okami is just the thing that PS2 owners have been waiting and yearning for . An original , epic adventure that doesn't get stale and provides some of the most unique and mouth watering graphics you'll ever see . If you own a PS2 , Okami is an absolute must own , and it's one of the best games you'll ever play .
010 4 With the PS2 ' s life cycle coming to an end , there are hardly any new games that are anything remotely spectacular . Capcom's Okami however , is just that , and it's not just one of the best games to ever grace the PS2 , it's one of the most original games you'll ever play . The first thing you'll notice about Okami is the game's incredibly unique art style and graphics , which are some of the best to ever grace the PS2 . Seriously , this game looks incredible , you won't believe your eyes . Okami's storyline is based on Japanese legend dealing with the sun god Amaterasu , who you play as in the form of a white wolf , and the epic quest that awaits him . Now , what truly sets Okami apart from the rest of the pack is the caligraphy-esque celestial brush that you must use to advance throughout the game . Need a bridge ? Draw it . Need to dispatch a pesky enemy ? Draw him in half . This brush adds a new dynamic to the gameplay which is fresh and unique , and makes you wonder why no one has ever tried anything like it before in a game of this type . There's loads of side quests and mini-games as well , adding to the length of Okami which truly make it an epic game , and all of which help make this one of the best games ever on the PS2 . If there's anything bad to say about Okami , it's that the combat can get too easy at spots , but that is only an extremely minor gripe . All in all , Okami is just the thing that PS2 owners have been waiting and yearning for . An original , epic adventure that doesn't get stale and provides some of the most unique and mouth watering graphics you'll ever see . If you own a PS2 , Okami is an absolute must own , and it's one of the best games you'll ever play .
011 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
I was very eager to get this title on import , knowing that it was somewhat ' unique ' in terms of it's genre label - yes it has rpg elements , but it's something quite separate . I only wish there were more such games on the ps2 or any format for that matter . This is storytelling , videogame-style , at it's best , Capcom / Clover have produced a real gem , it's an experience , like Zelda , a highly enjoyable slice of fantasy that is sure to hold you in it's thrall for some 50 hours or more , a visual treat and beautiful soundtrack also . If you consider yourself a gamer then get this , it's destined for cult status , in a word SUPERB . . .
013 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Hands down , Okami is one of the finest Playstation 2 games ever made . An engrossing story mixed with intricate gameplay make Okami a textbook example of how a game should be done . Okami is a masterpiece that brings a huge world to life , and any action / adventure fan would be happy to have this title on their shelf .
Okami centers on the legend of the Japanese sun god Amaterasu . The game stays centered around Japanese tales . You needn't know these stories to be engrossed in the games overall main story , though . All you need to know from the get go is Amaterasu is the sun god reborn as a wolf to rid Japan of a demonic curse that has swept the land . The God responsible for this was actually killed 100 years ago . It's time to make sure history doesn't repeat itself , and it's up to Amaterasu to get rid of this evil God . Amaterasu is joined by her companion Issun , who throughout the game will do all the talking , and also provides a nice sense of humor to the game . At first the story is simplistic , but don't be fooled . There are several subplots in the game that eventually become part of the overall story . You'll do more than stop this curse from spreading across the land . You'll rescue villages , battle fearsome monsters and everything epic in Okami . It also helps that the game is a massive 30 hours of steady going gameplay .
The story is mostly told through beautiful cutscenes , and quite a bit of dialogue . None of the dialogue is directly spoken so you'll have to read it all . It's unfortunate that a masterpiece such as Okami doesn't have voice acting , but in the end it's forgiveable . The cinematics and artistic style of Okami are fantastic . Visually the game is by far one of the best looking of any game this generation . It's so distinct and original . There's no game out there that looks like this . Equally impressive is the fantastic music score that clearly defines the setting of the game and actually brings you into its unique world .
You'll be able to explore quite a bit of the world . There's a lot of running around to do and you'll have some excitement doing it . Amaterasu carries around a sword like weapon all the time which she'll use whenever she engages in a battle . Battling isn't tough in Okami , nor is it too frequent to the point where it's annoying . So you won't be frustrated while traveling through Okami and putting up a good fight . The battle mechanics work almost like any other action / adventure title with one exception : the powers of the gods at your disposal .
Throughout the journey Amaterasu can use a brush technique to unleash her powers as well as the powers of her allies . When in battle you can press R1 and it will bring up a canvas . You'll then be given control of a paint brush and you can unleash several powers . When it gets dark out you can use the paint brush to make the sun come back up . There are other powers too , such as being able to cut through stone . This mechanic takes a moment to get used to at first , but you'll adapt surprisingly fast . Even better , this isn't a simple gimmick . You'll find it imperative to use these powers to solve puzzles and progress further on in your adventure . It's an integral part of the gameplay and storyline . You don't start off with all the powers of the paint brush , of course , you'll have to travel through the game and get them . This system certainly breathes new life into the genre as a whole .
As you go on your adventure , you'll also be given chances to make Amaterasu more powerful . You can learn moves at the dojo , and you can find health powerups , and get more ink reserves for your brush techniques . There are also plenty of weapons and items to help you out on your quest . The game is easy , even when faced against some of the bosses , but it's a lot of fun , and has a lot of variety . You could go through Okami never actually dying once . This isn't to say the game doesn't have its challenges . Some puzzles have their own unique challenges that could leave you stumped for a moment .
Okami is also full of plenty of other small things you can do as you traverse the land . You can restore vegetation to the land , feeding animals in need of food . These don't sound too appealing , but there are a couple of things that make it worth your while . For starters , these scenes just look beautiful . Second , you get praise for doing so . Praise helps you to improve your powers and strengths . These aspects of the game can keep you busy for quite some time .
Okami is a masterpiece . A highly expansive game with a vast world to explore . It's beautiful cinematics and well crafted storyline , among a few other things , make this one of the best Playstation 2 games out there . It's simply a fantastic game to play and the fun last for a long time . Okami is the definition of quality .
The Good
+ Engrossing storyline
+ The game is absolutely beautiful ; among the best looking for the Playstation 2
+ The game sounds fantastic
+ Battling is a lot of fun
+ The brush techniques are really innovative
+ Plenty of side-quest and mini games to keep you busy
+ For an action / adventure title the journey is long , lasing for over 30 hours . . . on top of that the game is full of replay value
The Bad
- The only truly bad thing about Okami is that there is no voice acting in the game . There's gibberish whenever a text box pops up , but no actual voice acting to speak of .
014 4 Hands down , Okami is one of the finest Playstation 2 games ever made . An engrossing story mixed with intricate gameplay make Okami a textbook example of how a game should be done . Okami is a masterpiece that brings a huge world to life , and any action / adventure fan would be happy to have this title on their shelf .
Okami centers on the legend of the Japanese sun god Amaterasu . The game stays centered around Japanese tales . You needn't know these stories to be engrossed in the games overall main story , though . All you need to know from the get go is Amaterasu is the sun god reborn as a wolf to rid Japan of a demonic curse that has swept the land . The God responsible for this was actually killed 100 years ago . It's time to make sure history doesn't repeat itself , and it's up to Amaterasu to get rid of this evil God . Amaterasu is joined by her companion Issun , who throughout the game will do all the talking , and also provides a nice sense of humor to the game . At first the story is simplistic , but don't be fooled . There are several subplots in the game that eventually become part of the overall story . You'll do more than stop this curse from spreading across the land . You'll rescue villages , battle fearsome monsters and everything epic in Okami . It also helps that the game is a massive 30 hours of steady going gameplay .
The story is mostly told through beautiful cutscenes , and quite a bit of dialogue . None of the dialogue is directly spoken so you'll have to read it all . It's unfortunate that a masterpiece such as Okami doesn't have voice acting , but in the end it's forgiveable . The cinematics and artistic style of Okami are fantastic . Visually the game is by far one of the best looking of any game this generation . It's so distinct and original . There's no game out there that looks like this . Equally impressive is the fantastic music score that clearly defines the setting of the game and actually brings you into its unique world .
You'll be able to explore quite a bit of the world . There's a lot of running around to do and you'll have some excitement doing it . Amaterasu carries around a sword like weapon all the time which she'll use whenever she engages in a battle . Battling isn't tough in Okami , nor is it too frequent to the point where it's annoying . So you won't be frustrated while traveling through Okami and putting up a good fight . The battle mechanics work almost like any other action / adventure title with one exception : the powers of the gods at your disposal .
Throughout the journey Amaterasu can use a brush technique to unleash her powers as well as the powers of her allies . When in battle you can press R1 and it will bring up a canvas . You'll then be given control of a paint brush and you can unleash several powers . When it gets dark out you can use the paint brush to make the sun come back up . There are other powers too , such as being able to cut through stone . This mechanic takes a moment to get used to at first , but you'll adapt surprisingly fast . Even better , this isn't a simple gimmick . You'll find it imperative to use these powers to solve puzzles and progress further on in your adventure . It's an integral part of the gameplay and storyline . You don't start off with all the powers of the paint brush , of course , you'll have to travel through the game and get them . This system certainly breathes new life into the genre as a whole .
As you go on your adventure , you'll also be given chances to make Amaterasu more powerful . You can learn moves at the dojo , and you can find health powerups , and get more ink reserves for your brush techniques . There are also plenty of weapons and items to help you out on your quest . The game is easy , even when faced against some of the bosses , but it's a lot of fun , and has a lot of variety . You could go through Okami never actually dying once . This isn't to say the game doesn't have its challenges . Some puzzles have their own unique challenges that could leave you stumped for a moment .
Okami is also full of plenty of other small things you can do as you traverse the land . You can restore vegetation to the land , feeding animals in need of food . These don't sound too appealing , but there are a couple of things that make it worth your while . For starters , these scenes just look beautiful . Second , you get praise for doing so . Praise helps you to improve your powers and strengths . These aspects of the game can keep you busy for quite some time .
Okami is a masterpiece . A highly expansive game with a vast world to explore . It's beautiful cinematics and well crafted storyline , among a few other things , make this one of the best Playstation 2 games out there . It's simply a fantastic game to play and the fun last for a long time . Okami is the definition of quality .
The Good
+ Engrossing storyline
+ The game is absolutely beautiful ; among the best looking for the Playstation 2
+ The game sounds fantastic
+ Battling is a lot of fun
+ The brush techniques are really innovative
+ Plenty of side-quest and mini games to keep you busy
+ For an action / adventure title the journey is long , lasing for over 30 hours . . . on top of that the game is full of replay value
The Bad
- The only truly bad thing about Okami is that there is no voice acting in the game . There's gibberish whenever a text box pops up , but no actual voice acting to speak of .
015 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
This is the most unique adventure game in recent years . Okami is a mixture of different gameplay . Prior to buying this game I was expecting more combat . You control a reincarnated god wolf and travel thru many beautiful scenaries . You will talk to people , solve simple fun puzzles , do some platforming , feed various animals , collect / buy weapons , play mini-games , and fight cool enemies . Your goal is to save ancient Japan from demons .
The setting is very unique . Its Japanese mythology with cell-shaded graphic which resembles Ancient Japanese water / oil painting . You visit cool Japanese style towns , pirate ship , dungeon , many beautiful environment and fight mythological enemies / beast with a Japanese twist . A visual pleasing game . You will want to see what the next level looks like , its like traveling ! The bosses are really cool too but there are only a few ! The characters are zany and funny . Wait until you meet Rao ! !
One disappointment is the lack of voice acting , you have to read text ! Minus 0.5 points for overall score .
The combat portion does not happen during the ' normal ' game , there are talisman in the environment and when you touch it the game switches into combat scenario with confined ' border ' . A unique aspect of this game is the ' celestrial brush ' . Its hard to describe this gameplay but you basically draw with a brush . There are many different brush powers . You can draw and fill missing bridge gap , draw a line thru enemies and slash them to death , or draw a circle in the sky to make night turn into day or a crescent to make day turn into night . These are few examples . The game difficulty is pretty easy . Overall a fun adventure ride for everyone , all ages and players .
Graphics : 4.5 / 5 , Music / Sound : 5 / 5 , Story : 5 / 5 , Gameplay : 4 / 5 , Design : 5 / 5 , Fun : 4.5 / 5 , Value : 5 / 5 , Overall : 4.5 / 5
016 4 This is the most unique adventure game in recent years . Okami is a mixture of different gameplay . Prior to buying this game I was expecting more combat . You control a reincarnated god wolf and travel thru many beautiful scenaries . You will talk to people , solve simple fun puzzles , do some platforming , feed various animals , collect / buy weapons , play mini-games , and fight cool enemies . Your goal is to save ancient Japan from demons .
The setting is very unique . Its Japanese mythology with cell-shaded graphic which resembles Ancient Japanese water / oil painting . You visit cool Japanese style towns , pirate ship , dungeon , many beautiful environment and fight mythological enemies / beast with a Japanese twist . A visual pleasing game . You will want to see what the next level looks like , its like traveling ! The bosses are really cool too but there are only a few ! The characters are zany and funny . Wait until you meet Rao ! !
One disappointment is the lack of voice acting , you have to read text ! Minus 0.5 points for overall score .
The combat portion does not happen during the ' normal ' game , there are talisman in the environment and when you touch it the game switches into combat scenario with confined ' border ' . A unique aspect of this game is the ' celestrial brush ' . Its hard to describe this gameplay but you basically draw with a brush . There are many different brush powers . You can draw and fill missing bridge gap , draw a line thru enemies and slash them to death , or draw a circle in the sky to make night turn into day or a crescent to make day turn into night . These are few examples . The game difficulty is pretty easy . Overall a fun adventure ride for everyone , all ages and players .
Graphics : 4.5 / 5 , Music / Sound : 5 / 5 , Story : 5 / 5 , Gameplay : 4 / 5 , Design : 5 / 5 , Fun : 4.5 / 5 , Value : 5 / 5 , Overall : 4.5 / 5
017 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
This game is AMAZING ! The graphics style is very original also . You wander the country of Nippon destroying different demons to restore peace in the land as a wolf called Amaterasu . Definately NOT a kids game , I'm an older teen and I LOVED it . It would probably be good for kids though , but the controls are a little tricky at first . However , the thing that annoyed the crap outta me was the narration , it's this screetchy mumbling that sounds like they took what someone was saying ( in Japanese , maybe ? ) and warped it . I muted my tv whenever it came on . I hope that Capcom / Clover Studios comes out with a continuation of this , because it really is a fabulous game !
018 4 This game is AMAZING ! The graphics style is very original also . You wander the country of Nippon destroying different demons to restore peace in the land as a wolf called Amaterasu . Definately NOT a kids game , I'm an older teen and I LOVED it . It would probably be good for kids though , but the controls are a little tricky at first . However , the thing that annoyed the crap outta me was the narration , it's this screetchy mumbling that sounds like they took what someone was saying ( in Japanese , maybe ? ) and warped it . I muted my tv whenever it came on . I hope that Capcom / Clover Studios comes out with a continuation of this , because it really is a fabulous game !
019 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Okami rates among the most beautiful games I've ever seen .
The main point of the game is that you're the reincarnation of a god , awakened after a hundred years to dispatch of the evil that's overtaken the land . The entire landscape is bleak and dead - - affected by the evil , and it's your task to both fight the ultimate evil , and restore the land using various techniques you learn throughout the game .
One of the really interesting aspects of the game is that , since the main character is folk tale diety ( in the form of a wolf ) , the player can affect the environment of the game by drawing with a calligraphy brush . A circle stroke in the sky creates a sun to turn night into day . Another stroke across a dead tree brings it bursting into full bloom . A slashing stroke across your enemies cuts them .
My only minor complaint so far is that perhaps it does a little too much shepherding in terms of letting you know where to go next . However , this doesn't detract for the game overall . At the same time , the player does have a good deal of freedom - - I haven't felt railroaded through the storyline at all . Perhaps the extra guidance will make this game more accessible also for people who aren't usually gamers .
If you're looking for something visually interesting , occasionally humorous , and with very different gameplay from the usual fare , Okami is highly recommended .
020 4 Okami rates among the most beautiful games I've ever seen .
The main point of the game is that you're the reincarnation of a god , awakened after a hundred years to dispatch of the evil that's overtaken the land . The entire landscape is bleak and dead - - affected by the evil , and it's your task to both fight the ultimate evil , and restore the land using various techniques you learn throughout the game .
One of the really interesting aspects of the game is that , since the main character is folk tale diety ( in the form of a wolf ) , the player can affect the environment of the game by drawing with a calligraphy brush . A circle stroke in the sky creates a sun to turn night into day . Another stroke across a dead tree brings it bursting into full bloom . A slashing stroke across your enemies cuts them .
My only minor complaint so far is that perhaps it does a little too much shepherding in terms of letting you know where to go next . However , this doesn't detract for the game overall . At the same time , the player does have a good deal of freedom - - I haven't felt railroaded through the storyline at all . Perhaps the extra guidance will make this game more accessible also for people who aren't usually gamers .
If you're looking for something visually interesting , occasionally humorous , and with very different gameplay from the usual fare , Okami is highly recommended .
021 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
I was walking through the store the other day when I stumbled upon this gem . I picked it up and immediatly brought it home , and proceeded to dive right into it . I was immediatly greeted with a tale out of Japanese ( Shinto ) folklore .
I was mainly suprised because I had heard of the Japanese game , but had not heard that any US company was translating it . The translation is excellent , although they committed the usual sin of shortening some of the more complex japanese names for people , places , and gods .
You control the sun Goddess ( genderless in the game ) who has come down in the form of a wolf to rid Japan of a demonic curse of darkness . I'll give you a basic rundown on what to expect from the game in what I consider a few key areas .
The Good :
- Graphics : The graphics are simply amazing . Its almost like the whole game is in the visual style of the old Japanese ink brush paintings . The vivid colors and light vs . dark playing off each other are beautiful . They might not be ultrarealistic , but they are amazing to watch .
- Sound : The sound in the game is absolutely amazing in all details EXCEPT the gibberish used for interaction with people ( gets annoying after a while ) . The traditional japanese music and the other sounds in the game add to the experience .
- Story : Imagine taking characters from tons of Japanese folklore , various stories from the folklore , and then rolling them all into one big fight to restore the island of Japan to beauty . I don't want to spoil any of it for you , but suffice it to say I am looking into getting a book on Shinto folklore .
- Gameplay : I am going to split gameplay into two parts . first is the basic adventure style gameplay . You control a wolf . You can run and the longer you run the faster you will start running . You can jump , and even double jump off of a wall . You can headbut things . Its your basic adventure controls but in the context of controlling a wolf . I won't go into it much except to say that it controls very well , and is very comfortable to use . I've played some games where it was more frustrating to control and it detracted from the game , this is not one of them .
Second is the Celestial Brush controls . You'll notice a lot of the world is outlined in black . This is because you can hit R1 and use your brush powers at any time in the game . The game tilts and its like you're staring at a frame out of the game drawn with the japanese brush and ink . The amazing part is you can control the brush with the analog stick and touch it to the paper with Square . This allows you to paint , and depending on what you paint various things happen in the game world . This goes from repairing bridges and water-powered mills , to bringing gusts of air to power windmills , to slashing through enemies or rocks , on through a total of 13 special powers . It controls very well , and the switch between the regular game and the painting is instantaneous . It gives you the feeling you're really controlling a god in the form of a wolf .
022 4 I was walking through the store the other day when I stumbled upon this gem . I picked it up and immediatly brought it home , and proceeded to dive right into it . I was immediatly greeted with a tale out of Japanese ( Shinto ) folklore .
I was mainly suprised because I had heard of the Japanese game , but had not heard that any US company was translating it . The translation is excellent , although they committed the usual sin of shortening some of the more complex japanese names for people , places , and gods .
You control the sun Goddess ( genderless in the game ) who has come down in the form of a wolf to rid Japan of a demonic curse of darkness . I'll give you a basic rundown on what to expect from the game in what I consider a few key areas .
The Good :
- Graphics : The graphics are simply amazing . Its almost like the whole game is in the visual style of the old Japanese ink brush paintings . The vivid colors and light vs . dark playing off each other are beautiful . They might not be ultrarealistic , but they are amazing to watch .
- Sound : The sound in the game is absolutely amazing in all details EXCEPT the gibberish used for interaction with people ( gets annoying after a while ) . The traditional japanese music and the other sounds in the game add to the experience .
- Story : Imagine taking characters from tons of Japanese folklore , various stories from the folklore , and then rolling them all into one big fight to restore the island of Japan to beauty . I don't want to spoil any of it for you , but suffice it to say I am looking into getting a book on Shinto folklore .
- Gameplay : I am going to split gameplay into two parts . first is the basic adventure style gameplay . You control a wolf . You can run and the longer you run the faster you will start running . You can jump , and even double jump off of a wall . You can headbut things . Its your basic adventure controls but in the context of controlling a wolf . I won't go into it much except to say that it controls very well , and is very comfortable to use . I've played some games where it was more frustrating to control and it detracted from the game , this is not one of them .
Second is the Celestial Brush controls . You'll notice a lot of the world is outlined in black . This is because you can hit R1 and use your brush powers at any time in the game . The game tilts and its like you're staring at a frame out of the game drawn with the japanese brush and ink . The amazing part is you can control the brush with the analog stick and touch it to the paper with Square . This allows you to paint , and depending on what you paint various things happen in the game world . This goes from repairing bridges and water-powered mills , to bringing gusts of air to power windmills , to slashing through enemies or rocks , on through a total of 13 special powers . It controls very well , and the switch between the regular game and the painting is instantaneous . It gives you the feeling you're really controlling a god in the form of a wolf .
023 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Okami is stunningly beautiful .
the controls are easy to master , the brush techniques are explained well and are a welcome change to standard gameplay . The story is well written , compelling , and ( along with all the clever side quests ) offer at least 50 hours of play . The characters are memorable , the humor falls a tad bit short in a few instances but generally , when it was intended that the player be laughing out loud , I was .
Graphics : 10 / 10 simply stunning . the only game i've played that blows me away anymore is Shadow of the Colossus for entirely different reasons . the gameworld is bright and colorful , and while the areas are your typical snow / woods / field , the characters and quests contained inside are always different and leave nothing to be desired .
Sound : 8 / 10 the music is good . . . but dialogue grows annoying almost immediately . The designers use a . . . squiggly ? sound for voices . the squiggles and tone / pitch are different for every character , so that you can tell all the major players apart by their voice , but it does get old fast . Otherwise sound is find .
Control : 9 / 10 simple and very intuitive . The brush techniques are explained and demonstrated very well .
Gameplay : 10 / 10 the entire game is pure fun . There are . . . 3 ? boss fights where you fight the same creature ( ( under different names , colors , and circumstances ) ) that may be a bit tiresome , but otherwise it never gets old .
Story : 10 / 10 the writing is absolutely wonderful . Just when you think you've beaten the game , a new evil is introduced , and while this might become old for some , the numerous sidequests offer a welcome change of pace ; I especially loved the 2 girls you have to impress w / your brush techniques .
Overall : 10 / 10 You owe it to yourself to * at least * rent this game , this is definitely a Must-Have for * any * gamer . It's a shame that Clover was shut down , they've done an amazing job .
024 4 Okami is stunningly beautiful .
the controls are easy to master , the brush techniques are explained well and are a welcome change to standard gameplay . The story is well written , compelling , and ( along with all the clever side quests ) offer at least 50 hours of play . The characters are memorable , the humor falls a tad bit short in a few instances but generally , when it was intended that the player be laughing out loud , I was .
Graphics : 10 / 10 simply stunning . the only game i've played that blows me away anymore is Shadow of the Colossus for entirely different reasons . the gameworld is bright and colorful , and while the areas are your typical snow / woods / field , the characters and quests contained inside are always different and leave nothing to be desired .
Sound : 8 / 10 the music is good . . . but dialogue grows annoying almost immediately . The designers use a . . . squiggly ? sound for voices . the squiggles and tone / pitch are different for every character , so that you can tell all the major players apart by their voice , but it does get old fast . Otherwise sound is find .
Control : 9 / 10 simple and very intuitive . The brush techniques are explained and demonstrated very well .
Gameplay : 10 / 10 the entire game is pure fun . There are . . . 3 ? boss fights where you fight the same creature ( ( under different names , colors , and circumstances ) ) that may be a bit tiresome , but otherwise it never gets old .
Story : 10 / 10 the writing is absolutely wonderful . Just when you think you've beaten the game , a new evil is introduced , and while this might become old for some , the numerous sidequests offer a welcome change of pace ; I especially loved the 2 girls you have to impress w / your brush techniques .
Overall : 10 / 10 You owe it to yourself to * at least * rent this game , this is definitely a Must-Have for * any * gamer . It's a shame that Clover was shut down , they've done an amazing job .
025 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Even though it is on a last-gen system , Okami is a real contender for the 2006 Game of the Year . That alone should give some idea of just how wonderful the game is . The graphics are nothing short of works of art . The gameplay and story line is extremely innovative - - finally a breath of fresh air in the industry !
Give this game a try , it is definately worth a chance .
026 4 Even though it is on a last-gen system , Okami is a real contender for the 2006 Game of the Year . That alone should give some idea of just how wonderful the game is . The graphics are nothing short of works of art . The gameplay and story line is extremely innovative - - finally a breath of fresh air in the industry !
Give this game a try , it is definately worth a chance .
027 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
WOW ! This game is extremely awesome . The graphics are a style all their own . The spoken dialog is refreshingly unique . The battles are really cool . The boss battles will keep your brain on edge . ( In a Good Way : )
If your looking for a nice change of pace then buy this game . I fear Okami will be one of those missed treasures .
028 4 WOW ! This game is extremely awesome . The graphics are a style all their own . The spoken dialog is refreshingly unique . The battles are really cool . The boss battles will keep your brain on edge . ( In a Good Way : )
If your looking for a nice change of pace then buy this game . I fear Okami will be one of those missed treasures .
029 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
I won't go into the technical aspects of the game here - other reviewers have already done that , and it'd just be redundant . You know how the game plays , what you're probably wondering is . . . what's so special about it ? Why does everyone fall so insanely in love with it ? Besides the Celestial Brush , it doesn't sound * that * unique / inventive . So , here I'll go into the little things that make this game truly something special . Don't worry , I won't list everything you'll discover - that'd be spoiling the fun for you . I'll just say that I spent an HOUR simply running around the first main area you come across , and I still haven't found all the secrets .
This is one of those rare games in which it's simply fun to move . When you run , you gradually go faster and faster , until you're speeding along with flowers erupting in your trail . When you jump , you leap gracefully in the air . When you jump off walls , fall leaves / grass erupts where you touched the wall . Sure , they're just graphical effects and don't stay permanently , but they're nice touches that just have to bring a smile to your face . As you play the game , you gain more moves , and it becomes that much more fun .
You can pause the game at any time by pressing R1 - this makes the screen go into a sepia tone , making it look like beautiful sketches on a scroll . You can swing the camera around and view the frozen action onscreen . This , of course , leads to you pulling off cool maneuvers and pressing R1 at JUST the right moment to view the cool , graceful action onscreen .
Use the brush at any moment to draw your powers , draw a smiley face ( which will simply fade when you release R1 ) , or just draw a big blob of ink on the person / enemy ( they'll be covered in ink when you release R1 , and they'll pause , surprised , and then shake it off ) . Draw dots in the night sky and watch stars appear , then fall away - shooting stars , created by you for the people of this cursed land .
. . . The same people who call you Snowy , or Chalky , or Snowball . There's something incredibly special and satisfying about being this powerful being who saves the land . . . and the people you're saving have no idea it's YOU . I love Amaterasu in this game . . . she's not doing it for praise , for glory , for adoration . She's just doing it for the people . You save the village , everybody's happy - and they just might share some food with the stray white wolf who appears at their celebration . On the other side of the coin ( or spiritual realm , literally ) - whenever you meet another god , they're all bowing to you , worshipping you , acknowledging your power ( she's the Mother of All , after all ) . But Amaterasu takes it all with the same dignity she does the villagers .
Ridiculously enough , the game only gets better as you progress . The areas you go , and the situations you run into - it's just beyond your imagination . The characters you meet are all extremely memorable , the story is awesome , the gameplay deepens and expands - the combat becomes even more awesome as you learn new moves and gain new weapons . And of course the new brush techniques you learn open up abilities you simply couldn't conceive of before .
The ONLY thing I think you should be aware of is that , besides the things you do for the plot , such as clearing a cursed area , nothing you do with your powers seems permament . You can draw the sun in the daytime sky , and it'll shine proud and red . . . for all of 10 seconds . You can create trees and grass , and people will gape and animals will run towards them . . . but they disappear in 5 seconds . Drop a bomb in front of a villager and they'll go flying . . . then disappear and reappear back at their previous location , happily doing whatever activity they were doing before . But while disappointing , it also adds some flexibility to your powers - would it REALLY be fun if everything you did was permanent ? Of course not - you'd be afraid to try anything for fear of killing off someone , or whatever . It's nice to be able to play a freeform game like this and not have to worry about Factions and things like that .
I also wasn't too thrilled with the music , ESPECIALLY the music that plays when you use the Celestial brush . It wasn't BAD , but it was definitely . . . I don't know , Medieval Japanese ? It obviously went very well with the rest of the game , but just wasn't to my personal taste . It certainly wasn't bad , though , and really did help set the mood and add to the game .
Overall - yes , you should buy this . You're guaranteed to smile , to have fun , to enjoy yourself . And the best part is , it's at least a 30 - 40 hour long game . That's easily worth the $40 you have to pay to own this masterpiece .
030 4 I won't go into the technical aspects of the game here - other reviewers have already done that , and it'd just be redundant . You know how the game plays , what you're probably wondering is . . . what's so special about it ? Why does everyone fall so insanely in love with it ? Besides the Celestial Brush , it doesn't sound * that * unique / inventive . So , here I'll go into the little things that make this game truly something special . Don't worry , I won't list everything you'll discover - that'd be spoiling the fun for you . I'll just say that I spent an HOUR simply running around the first main area you come across , and I still haven't found all the secrets .
This is one of those rare games in which it's simply fun to move . When you run , you gradually go faster and faster , until you're speeding along with flowers erupting in your trail . When you jump , you leap gracefully in the air . When you jump off walls , fall leaves / grass erupts where you touched the wall . Sure , they're just graphical effects and don't stay permanently , but they're nice touches that just have to bring a smile to your face . As you play the game , you gain more moves , and it becomes that much more fun .
You can pause the game at any time by pressing R1 - this makes the screen go into a sepia tone , making it look like beautiful sketches on a scroll . You can swing the camera around and view the frozen action onscreen . This , of course , leads to you pulling off cool maneuvers and pressing R1 at JUST the right moment to view the cool , graceful action onscreen .
Use the brush at any moment to draw your powers , draw a smiley face ( which will simply fade when you release R1 ) , or just draw a big blob of ink on the person / enemy ( they'll be covered in ink when you release R1 , and they'll pause , surprised , and then shake it off ) . Draw dots in the night sky and watch stars appear , then fall away - shooting stars , created by you for the people of this cursed land .
. . . The same people who call you Snowy , or Chalky , or Snowball . There's something incredibly special and satisfying about being this powerful being who saves the land . . . and the people you're saving have no idea it's YOU . I love Amaterasu in this game . . . she's not doing it for praise , for glory , for adoration . She's just doing it for the people . You save the village , everybody's happy - and they just might share some food with the stray white wolf who appears at their celebration . On the other side of the coin ( or spiritual realm , literally ) - whenever you meet another god , they're all bowing to you , worshipping you , acknowledging your power ( she's the Mother of All , after all ) . But Amaterasu takes it all with the same dignity she does the villagers .
Ridiculously enough , the game only gets better as you progress . The areas you go , and the situations you run into - it's just beyond your imagination . The characters you meet are all extremely memorable , the story is awesome , the gameplay deepens and expands - the combat becomes even more awesome as you learn new moves and gain new weapons . And of course the new brush techniques you learn open up abilities you simply couldn't conceive of before .
The ONLY thing I think you should be aware of is that , besides the things you do for the plot , such as clearing a cursed area , nothing you do with your powers seems permament . You can draw the sun in the daytime sky , and it'll shine proud and red . . . for all of 10 seconds . You can create trees and grass , and people will gape and animals will run towards them . . . but they disappear in 5 seconds . Drop a bomb in front of a villager and they'll go flying . . . then disappear and reappear back at their previous location , happily doing whatever activity they were doing before . But while disappointing , it also adds some flexibility to your powers - would it REALLY be fun if everything you did was permanent ? Of course not - you'd be afraid to try anything for fear of killing off someone , or whatever . It's nice to be able to play a freeform game like this and not have to worry about Factions and things like that .
I also wasn't too thrilled with the music , ESPECIALLY the music that plays when you use the Celestial brush . It wasn't BAD , but it was definitely . . . I don't know , Medieval Japanese ? It obviously went very well with the rest of the game , but just wasn't to my personal taste . It certainly wasn't bad , though , and really did help set the mood and add to the game .
Overall - yes , you should buy this . You're guaranteed to smile , to have fun , to enjoy yourself . And the best part is , it's at least a 30 - 40 hour long game . That's easily worth the $40 you have to pay to own this masterpiece .
031 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
In a world of sequels and rehashed games , Okami is a breath of fresh air .
Okami is one of the best games I've played in a long time . The Japanese art style is fantastic , the music awesome and the gameplay fun . My only small complaint is the game is very easy .
Any gamer that doesn't like Okami should throw his controller in the garbage and quit gaming .
032 4 In a world of sequels and rehashed games , Okami is a breath of fresh air .
Okami is one of the best games I've played in a long time . The Japanese art style is fantastic , the music awesome and the gameplay fun . My only small complaint is the game is very easy .
Any gamer that doesn't like Okami should throw his controller in the garbage and quit gaming .
033 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
This game has just been re-released as a Greatest Hits game and I picked mine up at Best Buy for $19.99 ! I have a Wii and I was interested in playing that version but this one's half the price plus I don't have to deal withy any iffy Wii waggle controls !
034 4 This game has just been re-released as a Greatest Hits game and I picked mine up at Best Buy for $19.99 ! I have a Wii and I was interested in playing that version but this one's half the price plus I don't have to deal withy any iffy Wii waggle controls !
035 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
I'll just cut right to the chase . Okami is a beautiful and wonderfully written work of ART . And yet , not enough people know about it because 1 ) It is a PS2 game , which , though we may deny it , is a dying console and 2 ) Released around the same time was the highly anticipated Zelda : Twilight Princess , and while Z : TP is a great game ( I have played it ) it comes nowhere NEAR the beauty of Okami .
Steeped in Japanese folklore , Okami looks as if it were freshly painted onto the screen with rice paper and a caligraphy paintbrush . It's that beautiful . It also includes one of the most innovative tools that has ever stepped onto the PS2 : The Celestial Brush . Simply press the R1 button , and the screen becomes a piece of elegant parchment with a paintbrush suspended over it . Then press the square button to push the brush onto the paper and paint one of many simple symbols . Release the R1 button , and something miraculous happens , whether it be a tree blooming before your very eyes , or a poor enemy being sliced in half .
Another thing that makes this game shine is its soundtrack . The music sounds like it has come straight from ancient Japan , becoming sad or bouncy or calming wherever the incredible story line turns .
In this game , you play as the goddess Amaterasu , who is on Earth in the form of a white wolf . While the game is long , ( My first game clocked in at over 45 hrs ) the length doesn't come from being frustrated by hard puzzles or impossible-to-beat enemies . It's just a long and entertaining game . The battles are simple enough , but the creatures ( the bosses especially ) are very detailed and unique .
With a cast of unforgettable characters , beautiful music , and an all-over great storyline and graphics , this game , unjustly eclipsed by a franchise that has since run its course ( no offense to Zelda lovers , the games are good , but they are getting a bit old ) , is a must-have for any RPG lover , as well as all you wolf-lovers out there ! ( Myself included : )
036 4 I'll just cut right to the chase . Okami is a beautiful and wonderfully written work of ART . And yet , not enough people know about it because 1 ) It is a PS2 game , which , though we may deny it , is a dying console and 2 ) Released around the same time was the highly anticipated Zelda : Twilight Princess , and while Z : TP is a great game ( I have played it ) it comes nowhere NEAR the beauty of Okami .
Steeped in Japanese folklore , Okami looks as if it were freshly painted onto the screen with rice paper and a caligraphy paintbrush . It's that beautiful . It also includes one of the most innovative tools that has ever stepped onto the PS2 : The Celestial Brush . Simply press the R1 button , and the screen becomes a piece of elegant parchment with a paintbrush suspended over it . Then press the square button to push the brush onto the paper and paint one of many simple symbols . Release the R1 button , and something miraculous happens , whether it be a tree blooming before your very eyes , or a poor enemy being sliced in half .
Another thing that makes this game shine is its soundtrack . The music sounds like it has come straight from ancient Japan , becoming sad or bouncy or calming wherever the incredible story line turns .
In this game , you play as the goddess Amaterasu , who is on Earth in the form of a white wolf . While the game is long , ( My first game clocked in at over 45 hrs ) the length doesn't come from being frustrated by hard puzzles or impossible-to-beat enemies . It's just a long and entertaining game . The battles are simple enough , but the creatures ( the bosses especially ) are very detailed and unique .
With a cast of unforgettable characters , beautiful music , and an all-over great storyline and graphics , this game , unjustly eclipsed by a franchise that has since run its course ( no offense to Zelda lovers , the games are good , but they are getting a bit old ) , is a must-have for any RPG lover , as well as all you wolf-lovers out there ! ( Myself included : )
037 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
This game makes Zelda look weak . the graphics are phenomenal , and the gameplay elements are great too . Not too many people gave this game a chance but I guarantee in ten years people will be talking about this game like it is a classic like how they are talking about symphony of the night now . If you haven't played this game yet go buy it . If you like adventure games you owe it to yourself to at least give it a chance .
041 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Those are just some words that describe this wonderful game . The graphics are beautiful and mimic japanese water color . Cherry Blossoms float down from the sky as you run across the fields . If you ever need to chill out , pop this baby in .
As I played this game I was so reminded of Zelda : WindWaker and the game has many elements similar to Zelda . So , this game too is as fun , if not more fun than a Zelda game .
The characters are cute and there is humor in the storyline which will have you chuckling . As you restore the dark and dreary land , flowers bloom , rivers flow , and the music becomes inspiring . . . . you'll get chills .
The controls are perfect and the Celstial Brush is so easy to use . I love it .
I recommend this game definitely ! If you love Zelda you are sure to love Okami as well . If you enjoy japanese culture you'll love it even more .
042 4 Those are just some words that describe this wonderful game . The graphics are beautiful and mimic japanese water color . Cherry Blossoms float down from the sky as you run across the fields . If you ever need to chill out , pop this baby in .
As I played this game I was so reminded of Zelda : WindWaker and the game has many elements similar to Zelda . So , this game too is as fun , if not more fun than a Zelda game .
The characters are cute and there is humor in the storyline which will have you chuckling . As you restore the dark and dreary land , flowers bloom , rivers flow , and the music becomes inspiring . . . . you'll get chills .
The controls are perfect and the Celstial Brush is so easy to use . I love it .
I recommend this game definitely ! If you love Zelda you are sure to love Okami as well . If you enjoy japanese culture you'll love it even more .
045 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
In an interview , David Jaffe , the man behind the overrated / slightly enjoyable God of War said that game execs were thinking in terms of franchise and sequels rather than creating something good and original . We have Okami from Clover Studios which not only has a quite striking and beautiful graphic style but a unique gameplay idea which made many magazine and website people make it a buzz game and a must play . It's certainly a great game and one that , unfortunately , probably won't get as much attention as it should .
Story : In Kamini Village , it became a tradition to offer a maiden to the dreaded demon Orochi . But when one maiden is picked which a swordsman named Nagi harbors a love for , he steps in to take him down only he's not as powerful . A white wolf named Shiranui steps in and helps and vanquishes Orochi before Shiranui succumbs to his injuries . 100 years later , Orochi is reborn and the white wolf is brought back with the spirit of the powerful god Amaratesu and with the help of a companion Issun , the mystical Celestial Brush and Nagi's descendant have to once again bring down Orochi .
Graphics : I always grow suspicious of game creators ' claims that a game is a painting come to life and whatnot but with Okami that's literally the case . It makes you feel that you're literally inside a painting and such scenes , such as restorations of cursed areas are quite beautiful and awesome . And I never got tired of seeing them either with probably my favorite effect being the water splashes and waterfalls . This is an example of a game creating an atmosphere and not needed expensive flashy FM。's to do it .
Sound / Music : Similar to Animal Crossing , the characters don't necessarily speak in English but in gibberish with English text provided . While it is disappointing that there's no voice , it probably would've took too much space anyway but seeing a dramatic scene and see character ramble like they're intoxicated is kind of odd . The music though is quite appropriate and even lovely in places .
Gameplay : One of the 2 aspects to get attention , one of which being the graphics , was the Celestial Brush . Basically you can unleash your inner Picasso where pressing R1 turns the screen into a canvas where you can draw certain shapes . Enemies can be cut by drawing a straight line , trees and flowers can be fully restored and bloom by drawing a circle around it and there's others but I don't want to spoil them . While there's not a lot of variety in the patterns , it's still quite a cool gameplay idea that never gets stale or useless .
The game isn't really chockful of sidequests where you have to hunt down certain people or do certain things to get anywhere but instead it offers a whole range of stuff to do that is optional yet recommended . Certain actions , such as feeding animals or restoring trees and cursed grass nets you Praise , which you can use to upgrade your guy , by getting him more ink or more health . You'll become a bounty hunter going after certain enemies on your wanted list and filling your fish catalog when you go fishing . There's so much to do that it seems daunting but that's ok , it works just fine .
Should you play Okami ? Definately . Like fans of Ico who didn't get it upon initial release . Okami will probably get fans that way as well , unless people find its merits right from the get-go .
047 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
As you may be aware , this game was almost universally praised by critics , but still didn't do phenomenally well in sales . Why ? I have no idea , because after my playthrough , I can honestly say that I have nothing but respect for this game . This is truly a well thought out and well designed game . You really can't ask for much more than you get . But anyway , enough of my endless praise , on to the review !
Graphics ( score 10 / 10 ) : This is literally one of the most beautiful games on the PS2 I've ever seen . Plus , it achieves this beauty by using stylized graphics instead of uber-realistic ones . It's really quite refreshing to see a game like Okami when the general push in the videogame industry has been for ever more realistic styles of graphics . Okami has the appearance of a painting ; every bit of the environment looks like the swirling lines and bright colors of a watercolor painting . Honestly , I have no complaints in this category .
Music ( score 10 / 10 ) : The music is also excellent . Okami features a collection of traditional sounding Japanese music , which fits the themes and settings of the game very well . All of it is pleasant to listen to with none of it grating on the ears . The game has some pseudo-voice acting , with the characters making sounds like gibberish syllables as they speak . If you've ever played Starfox on the N64 then you know what I'm talking about . Some people found this really annoying , but once I got used to it , it didn't bother me at all .
Characters ( score 10 / 10 ) : Amaterasu , the goddess of the sun in the form of a wolf , is your main character . She doesn't really speak ; she only barks , whines or growls . Issun , your tiny little sidekick , does most of the talking . Overall , I have to say that I got a lot more character development and backstory out of this game than I was expecting . Issun and Amaterasu are surprisingly well-developed . Outside of the main characters , there are a whole cast of quirky and interesting NPCs , which keep things entertaining .
Story ( score 10 / 10 ) : Compared to other RPGs , the story is pretty unique . You start out with some back story about the evil demon Orochi , who was defeated by Amaterasu in the past . This battle ended up killing them both . But surprise ! Neither of them is actually dead and you must play as Amaterasu to destroy Orochi once and for all . Okay , alright . So this is pretty much the same save the world scenario in every RPG ever made . But Okami really handles this story well , and makes it feel fresh . Not to mention , there are even some twists along the way , as well as several subplots to keep your interest . I personally thought that their attempt to take a common RPG formula and present it in fresh new light was excellently handled .
Battle System ( score 10 / 10 ) : This is an action RPG ( no turn-based combat here ) , so everything takes place in real time as you smack enemies using the Square button . Battles occur like this : you touch an enemy on the field ( no random battles ) and the screen takes you to an enclosed circular area . You are free to run around this area and smack the enemies with your weapon . You can also open the menu to use an item . Now , I'm a huge fan of turn-based combat and don't normally like action RPGs , but Okami is truly a fun game to play . I like the fact that it isn't so difficult that a turn-based fan cannot pick it up , but it still manages to remain somewhat challenging . I especially enjoyed the creative boss battle designs . I won't spoil those , but just know that they are very fun to figure out .
Gameplay ( score 10 / 10 ) : This is a bit of a catch-all category for me . The controls work wonderfully . The camera isn't unwieldy or difficult , which is very important in an action RPG . Also , this is the only game I can think of where simply running is fun . The controls for movement are fluid and smooth , and when you run , grass and leaves sprout in your wake . It really does make you feel like you're controlling a goddess with proper divine abilities .
Overall ( score 10 / 10 ) : NOTE this score is not an average ; it's my subjective overall score . I don't often hand out perfect 10 / 10 scores for games , especially not in every category , but Okami truly deserves it . I can't really recommend this game enough , especially if you are a fan of action RPGs , regular RPGs , or really any games in general . It's pretty cheap now , so pick up Okami for your collection ; it's really worth it .
048 4 As you may be aware , this game was almost universally praised by critics , but still didn't do phenomenally well in sales . Why ? I have no idea , because after my playthrough , I can honestly say that I have nothing but respect for this game . This is truly a well thought out and well designed game . You really can't ask for much more than you get . But anyway , enough of my endless praise , on to the review !
Graphics ( score 10 / 10 ) : This is literally one of the most beautiful games on the PS2 I've ever seen . Plus , it achieves this beauty by using stylized graphics instead of uber-realistic ones . It's really quite refreshing to see a game like Okami when the general push in the videogame industry has been for ever more realistic styles of graphics . Okami has the appearance of a painting ; every bit of the environment looks like the swirling lines and bright colors of a watercolor painting . Honestly , I have no complaints in this category .
Music ( score 10 / 10 ) : The music is also excellent . Okami features a collection of traditional sounding Japanese music , which fits the themes and settings of the game very well . All of it is pleasant to listen to with none of it grating on the ears . The game has some pseudo-voice acting , with the characters making sounds like gibberish syllables as they speak . If you've ever played Starfox on the N64 then you know what I'm talking about . Some people found this really annoying , but once I got used to it , it didn't bother me at all .
Characters ( score 10 / 10 ) : Amaterasu , the goddess of the sun in the form of a wolf , is your main character . She doesn't really speak ; she only barks , whines or growls . Issun , your tiny little sidekick , does most of the talking . Overall , I have to say that I got a lot more character development and backstory out of this game than I was expecting . Issun and Amaterasu are surprisingly well-developed . Outside of the main characters , there are a whole cast of quirky and interesting NPCs , which keep things entertaining .
Story ( score 10 / 10 ) : Compared to other RPGs , the story is pretty unique . You start out with some back story about the evil demon Orochi , who was defeated by Amaterasu in the past . This battle ended up killing them both . But surprise ! Neither of them is actually dead and you must play as Amaterasu to destroy Orochi once and for all . Okay , alright . So this is pretty much the same save the world scenario in every RPG ever made . But Okami really handles this story well , and makes it feel fresh . Not to mention , there are even some twists along the way , as well as several subplots to keep your interest . I personally thought that their attempt to take a common RPG formula and present it in fresh new light was excellently handled .
Battle System ( score 10 / 10 ) : This is an action RPG ( no turn-based combat here ) , so everything takes place in real time as you smack enemies using the Square button . Battles occur like this : you touch an enemy on the field ( no random battles ) and the screen takes you to an enclosed circular area . You are free to run around this area and smack the enemies with your weapon . You can also open the menu to use an item . Now , I'm a huge fan of turn-based combat and don't normally like action RPGs , but Okami is truly a fun game to play . I like the fact that it isn't so difficult that a turn-based fan cannot pick it up , but it still manages to remain somewhat challenging . I especially enjoyed the creative boss battle designs . I won't spoil those , but just know that they are very fun to figure out .
Gameplay ( score 10 / 10 ) : This is a bit of a catch-all category for me . The controls work wonderfully . The camera isn't unwieldy or difficult , which is very important in an action RPG . Also , this is the only game I can think of where simply running is fun . The controls for movement are fluid and smooth , and when you run , grass and leaves sprout in your wake . It really does make you feel like you're controlling a goddess with proper divine abilities .
Overall ( score 10 / 10 ) : NOTE this score is not an average ; it's my subjective overall score . I don't often hand out perfect 10 / 10 scores for games , especially not in every category , but Okami truly deserves it . I can't really recommend this game enough , especially if you are a fan of action RPGs , regular RPGs , or really any games in general . It's pretty cheap now , so pick up Okami for your collection ; it's really worth it .
049 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
This has got the be the best PS2 game I have played so far ! In my family 2 people play this game , myself and my elementary school daughter . I was the one who started it but it was my daughter who finished it and went at it 4 times through and through whenever she has no school work to do .
This is so good , it will leave you wanting for a Part 2 ! Clean and decent . Its an action-adventure with cool weaponry , awesome artistic environment and great story that make it such an engaging game you will not want to stop playing .
The game is based on Japanese folklore about a mythical goddess , Amaterasu who is a female wolf that set out to cleanse the land of Nippon of the darkness and evil that infest it . In your quest ( as Amaterasu ) you are accompanied by a tiny human artist called Issun who provided the much appreciated comic relief . He acts as interpreter for Amaterasu while they interact with various characters in the story .
I think that a lot of games make their mark with obvious Wow ! factor . Okami has a lot of that too . But some things about Okami applies only to itself and this makes it so special and so different from most other adventure games . And those are the little things that endear the characters to you !
For example , the busty Sakuya , the female spirit guardian to whom Issun was so enamoured ( actually he is smitten by every beautiful woman in the story ) you will first meet as an adult . Much later in the story you will meet Sakuya as a little girl , barely past being a toddler ! And as a child she was clueless about her very important role but was so cute !
When the kimono-clad women run , they had a very interesting gait that will make you laugh !
Another example : Whenever Amaterasu senses danger ( before Issun or you does ) she growls , digs her front paws on the ground , lowers her front shoulders and assume an attack position . You cannot help but admire her courage !
This game is also easy on the player as you have plenty of life before you die . In the event you die , you need not return to a previous far-away scene which in other games can mean repeating long difficult challenges , but you only repeat that scene where you die . Nice !
Just about the only thing I can see which might be a con is the strange language the characters speak . It's not Japanese . More like gibberish . You can still understand it of course because of English captions . Also the sound of this gibberish on certain ocassions does not reflect what you might imagine as the emotion of the things being spoken . For example , a character is angry but the sound of his or her gibberish is still calm although you can clearly read from the English captions that the speaker is shouting mad . Thankfully , this is far in between . The main characters still retain the correct tone of their emotions as spoken in the gibberish .
I strongly suggest that you get a hold of the Official Strategy Guide . When I first played this , it was all so strange that I couldnt figure out what it's all about . The weapon system and its upgrade is very very different . The guide explained that this is so because Amaterasu is a goddess , hence she has god-like powers . And I tell you , Amaterasu's weapons are nothing short of phenomenal ! You can make day into night and vice versa . Freeze time . Walk on water , wade on a lake of fire . Summon thunder , lightning and windstorm . How cool is that ? ! ! ! The Official Guide makes everything clear and packed full of useful hints that I am sure we would have missed had we played without it .
Highly Recommended . Capcom , please bring out Okami Part 2 !
050 4 This has got the be the best PS2 game I have played so far ! In my family 2 people play this game , myself and my elementary school daughter . I was the one who started it but it was my daughter who finished it and went at it 4 times through and through whenever she has no school work to do .
This is so good , it will leave you wanting for a Part 2 ! Clean and decent . Its an action-adventure with cool weaponry , awesome artistic environment and great story that make it such an engaging game you will not want to stop playing .
The game is based on Japanese folklore about a mythical goddess , Amaterasu who is a female wolf that set out to cleanse the land of Nippon of the darkness and evil that infest it . In your quest ( as Amaterasu ) you are accompanied by a tiny human artist called Issun who provided the much appreciated comic relief . He acts as interpreter for Amaterasu while they interact with various characters in the story .
I think that a lot of games make their mark with obvious Wow ! factor . Okami has a lot of that too . But some things about Okami applies only to itself and this makes it so special and so different from most other adventure games . And those are the little things that endear the characters to you !
For example , the busty Sakuya , the female spirit guardian to whom Issun was so enamoured ( actually he is smitten by every beautiful woman in the story ) you will first meet as an adult . Much later in the story you will meet Sakuya as a little girl , barely past being a toddler ! And as a child she was clueless about her very important role but was so cute !
When the kimono-clad women run , they had a very interesting gait that will make you laugh !
Another example : Whenever Amaterasu senses danger ( before Issun or you does ) she growls , digs her front paws on the ground , lowers her front shoulders and assume an attack position . You cannot help but admire her courage !
This game is also easy on the player as you have plenty of life before you die . In the event you die , you need not return to a previous far-away scene which in other games can mean repeating long difficult challenges , but you only repeat that scene where you die . Nice !
Just about the only thing I can see which might be a con is the strange language the characters speak . It's not Japanese . More like gibberish . You can still understand it of course because of English captions . Also the sound of this gibberish on certain ocassions does not reflect what you might imagine as the emotion of the things being spoken . For example , a character is angry but the sound of his or her gibberish is still calm although you can clearly read from the English captions that the speaker is shouting mad . Thankfully , this is far in between . The main characters still retain the correct tone of their emotions as spoken in the gibberish .
I strongly suggest that you get a hold of the Official Strategy Guide . When I first played this , it was all so strange that I couldnt figure out what it's all about . The weapon system and its upgrade is very very different . The guide explained that this is so because Amaterasu is a goddess , hence she has god-like powers . And I tell you , Amaterasu's weapons are nothing short of phenomenal ! You can make day into night and vice versa . Freeze time . Walk on water , wade on a lake of fire . Summon thunder , lightning and windstorm . How cool is that ? ! ! ! The Official Guide makes everything clear and packed full of useful hints that I am sure we would have missed had we played without it .
Highly Recommended . Capcom , please bring out Okami Part 2 !
051 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Okami first caught my attention with the graphics . The art in this game is awe-striking ( and isn't just reserved for the cutscenes - it lasts throughout the game ) . Amaterasu , the wolf that you play as , wields the celestial brush to alter the world . The interface of trying to paint with a joystick takes some getting used to but once you adjust it seems both smooth and creative . The story made it hard to pull myself away from this game and each time I started to rejoice that I had nearly completed the game the plot thickened and a new thread was introduced . Most of the characters and stories are based on Japanese folklore and tell a fascinating tale .
The gaming experience is great . One of the few adventure games that lives up to Zelda ( and in some ways surpasses it ) . There are tons of sidequests to keep even the best gamer busy for a long time , even after the main storyline has run its course . The challenges are set on a good curve - easy and explanatory at the beginning and move toward puzzles that take more thinking or ingenuity to solve .
My only annoyance with the game was the battles . They seemed to be easily avoidable and not especially challenging . Occassionally you would run into a stronger character that was really complicated to fight and it was frustrating because I sometimes felt unprepared .
I still very highly recommend this game . I was enamored with it at the very beginning and still consider it an amazing game . definitely a worthwhile purchase .
052 4 Okami first caught my attention with the graphics . The art in this game is awe-striking ( and isn't just reserved for the cutscenes - it lasts throughout the game ) . Amaterasu , the wolf that you play as , wields the celestial brush to alter the world . The interface of trying to paint with a joystick takes some getting used to but once you adjust it seems both smooth and creative . The story made it hard to pull myself away from this game and each time I started to rejoice that I had nearly completed the game the plot thickened and a new thread was introduced . Most of the characters and stories are based on Japanese folklore and tell a fascinating tale .
The gaming experience is great . One of the few adventure games that lives up to Zelda ( and in some ways surpasses it ) . There are tons of sidequests to keep even the best gamer busy for a long time , even after the main storyline has run its course . The challenges are set on a good curve - easy and explanatory at the beginning and move toward puzzles that take more thinking or ingenuity to solve .
My only annoyance with the game was the battles . They seemed to be easily avoidable and not especially challenging . Occassionally you would run into a stronger character that was really complicated to fight and it was frustrating because I sometimes felt unprepared .
I still very highly recommend this game . I was enamored with it at the very beginning and still consider it an amazing game . definitely a worthwhile purchase .
053 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
Ironic that as the current generation of games wraps up , the PS2 has finally landed its own epic , Zelda-style adventure .
Zelda : The Wind Waker's toon-shaded graphics , engaging characters and brilliant game design seemed like the interactive version of a Miyazaki animated film . Okami does as well , but its world is rendered in the thick black strokes and pastel colors of an elaborate Japanese brush painting .
This was no arbitrary artistic choice , either - the style plays heavily into the gameplay . Playing as the wolf-god Amaterasu , you wield a variety of weapons and attacks throughout the game ( combat is fast , fun and deep , with a huge and creative menagerie of enemies ) and then pause the action via the R1 button to use the Celestial Brush .
The screen fades to a monotone , sepia version of the scene , a bushy brush descends onto the page , and then you use the analog stick to paint all manner of brushstrokes , whorls and spirals to create a huge variety of results once you return to active gameplay . Slice enemies in half , direct streams of fire , water , ice and lightning , conjure bombs , the sun or the moon , repair broken bridges and structures , or encircle withered trees to bring them back to verdant , overflowering life . The Celestial Brush is an ingenious gameplay element , with a wealth of applications and uses , and it never gets old .
In fact , nothing in this game gets old , because you are constantly presented with new sights , new abilities and new wonders throughout the epic quest . Topping out at around 50 - 60 hours ( including all sidequests ) , Okami is at least twice as long as I'd assumed it would be , and features a massive , rich storyline to propel it along . Although the chattered dialogue is annoying at first , I can't see how this game would have been possible otherwise - it's got a staggering amount of cut scenes , and all are extremely well-directed , staged and written . Yes , some of the characters ( particularly your companion , Issun ) have an odd , ' hip ' tone , but translations are extremely well-done , especially for a game of this size .
As a game designer , I'm just amazed at the enormous variety of gameplay packed into this thing - not just the immensely satisfying combat and the arsenal of brush mechanics , but also a treasure trove of fun , clever mini-games , sidequests , puzzles , secrets and a huge variety of collection-based activities ( each of them more compelling than the usual find X of Y play found in most adventures ) . Everything is well-tuned , fun , and fits perfectly in the world .
Okami features superior production values to match the brilliant design . Amaterasu's animations are exquisite , especially as you tear across the landscape , watching as flowers and foliage sprout and then fade in your wake . The entire world is alive with all manner of visual effects , from the lush eruptions of blooms whenever you cure a cursed area to the elegant black brushstrokes that depict the wind in the sky . The game also features one of the most gorgeous scores I've heard in ages , rivaling that of Final Fantasy X .
Everything in this experience exudes taste and detail and love . Simply put , this game is an absolute masterpiece , and deserves to rank along with the best adventure games ever made , on any platform . 5 / 5 .
054 4 Ironic that as the current generation of games wraps up , the PS2 has finally landed its own epic , Zelda-style adventure .
Zelda : The Wind Waker's toon-shaded graphics , engaging characters and brilliant game design seemed like the interactive version of a Miyazaki animated film . Okami does as well , but its world is rendered in the thick black strokes and pastel colors of an elaborate Japanese brush painting .
This was no arbitrary artistic choice , either - the style plays heavily into the gameplay . Playing as the wolf-god Amaterasu , you wield a variety of weapons and attacks throughout the game ( combat is fast , fun and deep , with a huge and creative menagerie of enemies ) and then pause the action via the R1 button to use the Celestial Brush .
The screen fades to a monotone , sepia version of the scene , a bushy brush descends onto the page , and then you use the analog stick to paint all manner of brushstrokes , whorls and spirals to create a huge variety of results once you return to active gameplay . Slice enemies in half , direct streams of fire , water , ice and lightning , conjure bombs , the sun or the moon , repair broken bridges and structures , or encircle withered trees to bring them back to verdant , overflowering life . The Celestial Brush is an ingenious gameplay element , with a wealth of applications and uses , and it never gets old .
In fact , nothing in this game gets old , because you are constantly presented with new sights , new abilities and new wonders throughout the epic quest . Topping out at around 50 - 60 hours ( including all sidequests ) , Okami is at least twice as long as I'd assumed it would be , and features a massive , rich storyline to propel it along . Although the chattered dialogue is annoying at first , I can't see how this game would have been possible otherwise - it's got a staggering amount of cut scenes , and all are extremely well-directed , staged and written . Yes , some of the characters ( particularly your companion , Issun ) have an odd , ' hip ' tone , but translations are extremely well-done , especially for a game of this size .
As a game designer , I'm just amazed at the enormous variety of gameplay packed into this thing - not just the immensely satisfying combat and the arsenal of brush mechanics , but also a treasure trove of fun , clever mini-games , sidequests , puzzles , secrets and a huge variety of collection-based activities ( each of them more compelling than the usual find X of Y play found in most adventures ) . Everything is well-tuned , fun , and fits perfectly in the world .
Okami features superior production values to match the brilliant design . Amaterasu's animations are exquisite , especially as you tear across the landscape , watching as flowers and foliage sprout and then fade in your wake . The entire world is alive with all manner of visual effects , from the lush eruptions of blooms whenever you cure a cursed area to the elegant black brushstrokes that depict the wind in the sky . The game also features one of the most gorgeous scores I've heard in ages , rivaling that of Final Fantasy X .
Everything in this experience exudes taste and detail and love . Simply put , this game is an absolute masterpiece , and deserves to rank along with the best adventure games ever made , on any platform . 5 / 5 .
055 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
This game is a blast , the graphic style is like almost nothing I've ever seen before , but it is by no means perfect . The stop-start style of battles is distracting , and the fake voices make the game almost so annoying to be unplayable . Other than that , its deep , gorgeous , and etheral , I just would have liked the option to turn those damned blurbings off .
056 4 This game is a blast , the graphic style is like almost nothing I've ever seen before , but it is by no means perfect . The stop-start style of battles is distracting , and the fake voices make the game almost so annoying to be unplayable . Other than that , its deep , gorgeous , and etheral , I just would have liked the option to turn those damned blurbings off .
057 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
First of all , I believe that this game sadly is overlooked in the news of the release of two new next-gen consoles and much more heavily marketed hits like Gears of War and Final Fantasy XII . While those two games deserve the acclaim they recieve , so does Okami . Often one sees endless titles that end with a 2 or 3 or 4 and so on , with endless sequels and publishers taking full advantage of popular brands without adding much originality to each subsequent release . In that light , a game like Okami has to recieve its due credit for delivering an experience completely brand new and compelling and doing it very well . Overall , this game is extremely long and interesting , lasting an amazing 40 + hours and that is quite a feat for an action / adventure game . ( That is if you do everything in the game , to complete the story its still at least 25 + hours ) What makes this game unique is twofold . Its graphics are an important part of the experience really showing off what the PS2 can do . The animation and wonderous experience of bringing color and life back to ancient Nippon is breathtaking and one must see the game in action to appreciate the little details such as flowers that grow beneath your feet as you run . The gameplay is the second thing of note . For one , you play as a wolf . A novel idea in itself , however , you are no ordinary wolf . You are the sun god Amaterasu who has reincarnated herself in the form of a legendary white wolf . Not only are you a wolf , but you wield godly celestial brush techniques . These techniques require you to draw your actions on the screen to assist you with puzzles and battles as you acquire new powers . Powers include lightning , fire , cherry bombs , power slash , wind , and so on . You call up a brush screen with r1 and draw away . The dynamic is easy to get used to and very fun . Overall I have to say this game is truly memorable and anyone with a ps2 should at least try it out .
058 4 First of all , I believe that this game sadly is overlooked in the news of the release of two new next-gen consoles and much more heavily marketed hits like Gears of War and Final Fantasy XII . While those two games deserve the acclaim they recieve , so does Okami . Often one sees endless titles that end with a 2 or 3 or 4 and so on , with endless sequels and publishers taking full advantage of popular brands without adding much originality to each subsequent release . In that light , a game like Okami has to recieve its due credit for delivering an experience completely brand new and compelling and doing it very well . Overall , this game is extremely long and interesting , lasting an amazing 40 + hours and that is quite a feat for an action / adventure game . ( That is if you do everything in the game , to complete the story its still at least 25 + hours ) What makes this game unique is twofold . Its graphics are an important part of the experience really showing off what the PS2 can do . The animation and wonderous experience of bringing color and life back to ancient Nippon is breathtaking and one must see the game in action to appreciate the little details such as flowers that grow beneath your feet as you run . The gameplay is the second thing of note . For one , you play as a wolf . A novel idea in itself , however , you are no ordinary wolf . You are the sun god Amaterasu who has reincarnated herself in the form of a legendary white wolf . Not only are you a wolf , but you wield godly celestial brush techniques . These techniques require you to draw your actions on the screen to assist you with puzzles and battles as you acquire new powers . Powers include lightning , fire , cherry bombs , power slash , wind , and so on . You call up a brush screen with r1 and draw away . The dynamic is easy to get used to and very fun . Overall I have to say this game is truly memorable and anyone with a ps2 should at least try it out .
059 4 This review is from :
Okami ( Video Game )
I will keep this review short . The game is a very addictive , entertaining RPG . Great story , great gameplay , best game I played all year . Only thing that it was lacking was a lock on feature for enemies . Took me about 45 hours to complete the Main story and almost all of the side missions . If you buy this game you WILL play it to the end .
Okami ( Video Game )
this is a master piece , its art its beatiful . . . where do i start , words don't describe this game . . i love it , the music is wonderful .
this game combines all the the good elements in gaming into a single one ( mystical ninja ( music & weirdness ) + zelda perfection ( and i mean that there are no missable events or items in the game ( although there is only one missable ? ? ? ? in the game ) ) + some dragonball ideas ( not power ups ) , i played this game for 133 hours ( of course everything is completed ) and i'm sorry it ended ( you can finish the game much faster but i tend to enjoy such masterpieces ) . . .
RESULT : if you love traditional japanese music & culture + perfectly programmed games . . . then this game is for you .
Warning : The Wii Version of this game is not worth it at all , its not playable . and i surely can tell you that you won't finish the game using the wii-mote because its not precise , you can't draw with ease ( and you need that a lot ) and on later levels you need a really precise aiming on the 3rd wall-monster ( one of the toughest parts of the game ) the wiimote won't help you there , I just don't want you to hate the game for precision lack of the wiimote . oh . . this game is designed to be played by the wiimote and the nunchuck only .
040 4 this is a master piece , its art its beatiful . . . where do i start , words don't describe this game . . i love it , the music is wonderful .
this game combines all the the good elements in gaming into a single one ( mystical ninja ( music & weirdness ) + zelda perfection ( and i mean that there are no missable events or items in the game ( although there is only one missable ? ? ? ? in the game ) ) + some dragonball ideas ( not power ups ) , i played this game for 133 hours ( of course everything is completed ) and i'm sorry it ended ( you can finish the game much faster but i tend to enjoy such masterpieces ) . . .
RESULT : if you love traditional japanese music & culture + perfectly programmed games . . . then this game is for you .
Warning : The Wii Version of this game is not worth it at all , its not playable . and i surely can tell you that you won't finish the game using the wii-mote because its not precise , you can't draw with ease ( and you need that a lot ) and on later levels you need a really precise aiming on the 3rd wall-monster ( one of the toughest parts of the game ) the wiimote won't help you there , I just don't want you to hate the game for precision lack of the wiimote . oh . . this game is designed to be played by the wiimote and the nunchuck only .
