A poor man’s Genshin Impact
bland and paper-thin in almost every regard, stretched out to an absurd length making for an overall miserable experience in my opinion
from the very first moments of the game you're assaulted with walls and walls of just the most boring, repetitious dialogue, and it's always either banal exposition about the ancient evil corrupting the land, or a prophecy or other played out fluff like that, overbearing tutorialisng about stuff like don't like walk into fire or something, or incredibly tepid attempts at humour that almost never landed for me, your companion character issun's constant harassment towards like every woman you come across was particularly painful
i found none of the characters interesting or likeable, aside from amaterasu because she's really cute
it doesn't help that almost all of these long conversations are presented in the most boring 'A cam to B cam' kind of way, near the end of the game i realised i was reading the words, but i was retaining nothing, i found it tragically funny when near the end when all the characters you've met along the way were praying for me and giving me words of encouragement and all that, i didn't know who half of them were
the game has dungeons akin to ones you'd find in zelda games, but if you're hoping for some good puzzles like i was you'll be very disappointed, they're usually just a long series of rooms with puzzles i figured out in like a second without effort, turning them into a slog
this is partially due to the brush techniques, the main gimmick of the game. these allow you to manipulate the environment around you, but they're all pretty uninspired; draw a line from some fire and you can melt some ice, use some wind to make a thingy turn, use some ice to freeze something in place, slow down time so you can run past a fast guy, make specific parts of water go up, etc.
these are not only boring and kinda clunky to use but the way they're set up is part of what makes the puzzles so obvious, if a room has fire in it, you're probably going to use it, if you see a swirly bit of water, you're probably going to use it, and it rarely gets more complicated than that, you rarely have to like combine them together in an interesting way or anything like that, and you can't really give a 'wrong answer' to any of the puzzles if that makes sense, it's just drag this one thingy to this other thingy and a door opens more often than not
the slowing down time ability is also funny because once you get it, 99% of the combat encounters become just spamming it and mashing X, meaning most of the brush techniques are on par with bad zelda items; being glorified keys rather than tools for general use
if these were the only issues i would find okami to be merely mediocre, but it's so ridiculously long for how shallow it is that it crosses a line
the game is essentially JUST this, along with running back and forth across an oversized overworld, for over thirty hours, and i wanted it to be over after two
it never gets any better, i had to take breaks from it for days at a time and considered dropping it at multiple points, it was heartbreaking whenever i thought i'd killed the final boss and then like a dark cloud comes out of it and it goes somewhere else and the narrator lady is like 'wow their journey is FAR from over!!'
this happened multiple times, and it got even worse when the game started needlessly recycling content as well, making you re-fight a load of bosses you've already fought
i was kind of indifferent to the artstyle in all honesty, but that underwater area looked amazing. i felt similarly about the music, i mostly found it kinda dull but there were a handful of songs i really liked and enhanced some moments i otherwise wouldn't have cared about. i also liked feeding all the animals as well because they're cute and i like them :3
unfortunately that's the nicest i have to say, okami is just one of the most painfully boring games i've played in quite a while and the only thing i feel after finishing it is a sense of relief. i've literally just finished it, and have already forgotten most of it
from the very first moments of the game you're assaulted with walls and walls of just the most boring, repetitious dialogue, and it's always either banal exposition about the ancient evil corrupting the land, or a prophecy or other played out fluff like that, overbearing tutorialisng about stuff like don't like walk into fire or something, or incredibly tepid attempts at humour that almost never landed for me, your companion character issun's constant harassment towards like every woman you come across was particularly painful
i found none of the characters interesting or likeable, aside from amaterasu because she's really cute
it doesn't help that almost all of these long conversations are presented in the most boring 'A cam to B cam' kind of way, near the end of the game i realised i was reading the words, but i was retaining nothing, i found it tragically funny when near the end when all the characters you've met along the way were praying for me and giving me words of encouragement and all that, i didn't know who half of them were
the game has dungeons akin to ones you'd find in zelda games, but if you're hoping for some good puzzles like i was you'll be very disappointed, they're usually just a long series of rooms with puzzles i figured out in like a second without effort, turning them into a slog
this is partially due to the brush techniques, the main gimmick of the game. these allow you to manipulate the environment around you, but they're all pretty uninspired; draw a line from some fire and you can melt some ice, use some wind to make a thingy turn, use some ice to freeze something in place, slow down time so you can run past a fast guy, make specific parts of water go up, etc.
these are not only boring and kinda clunky to use but the way they're set up is part of what makes the puzzles so obvious, if a room has fire in it, you're probably going to use it, if you see a swirly bit of water, you're probably going to use it, and it rarely gets more complicated than that, you rarely have to like combine them together in an interesting way or anything like that, and you can't really give a 'wrong answer' to any of the puzzles if that makes sense, it's just drag this one thingy to this other thingy and a door opens more often than not
the slowing down time ability is also funny because once you get it, 99% of the combat encounters become just spamming it and mashing X, meaning most of the brush techniques are on par with bad zelda items; being glorified keys rather than tools for general use
if these were the only issues i would find okami to be merely mediocre, but it's so ridiculously long for how shallow it is that it crosses a line
the game is essentially JUST this, along with running back and forth across an oversized overworld, for over thirty hours, and i wanted it to be over after two
it never gets any better, i had to take breaks from it for days at a time and considered dropping it at multiple points, it was heartbreaking whenever i thought i'd killed the final boss and then like a dark cloud comes out of it and it goes somewhere else and the narrator lady is like 'wow their journey is FAR from over!!'
this happened multiple times, and it got even worse when the game started needlessly recycling content as well, making you re-fight a load of bosses you've already fought
i was kind of indifferent to the artstyle in all honesty, but that underwater area looked amazing. i felt similarly about the music, i mostly found it kinda dull but there were a handful of songs i really liked and enhanced some moments i otherwise wouldn't have cared about. i also liked feeding all the animals as well because they're cute and i like them :3
unfortunately that's the nicest i have to say, okami is just one of the most painfully boring games i've played in quite a while and the only thing i feel after finishing it is a sense of relief. i've literally just finished it, and have already forgotten most of it
Easily one among the most gorgeous video games that I've ever played, but I feel like even that would be putting my experience of playing through Okami very lightly. The art design is remarkable, but everything about what Okami presents as a narrative makes for a highly rewarding experience from start to finish, for all of its references to Japanese folklore it never feels like it alienates outsiders but brings them into a new world with such ease.
As far as games that are clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda have gone, this is easily one among the very best - ranking right alongside most of said series' best games too, but seeing how everything comes together from the beautiful world designs and the fun combat and side quests, there's always a reason to get lost throughout the world of Nippon through the eyes of Hideki Kamiya. While it may be easy enough to get the gist of how the combat with certain enemies work, you're always made to learn how to put every new technique into play when you're entering new battles - and this also results in some of the most rewarding boss fights that you could ever ask for.
An easy all-time favourite for me, I can't wait to play through it again and 100% it.
As far as games that are clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda have gone, this is easily one among the very best - ranking right alongside most of said series' best games too, but seeing how everything comes together from the beautiful world designs and the fun combat and side quests, there's always a reason to get lost throughout the world of Nippon through the eyes of Hideki Kamiya. While it may be easy enough to get the gist of how the combat with certain enemies work, you're always made to learn how to put every new technique into play when you're entering new battles - and this also results in some of the most rewarding boss fights that you could ever ask for.
An easy all-time favourite for me, I can't wait to play through it again and 100% it.
Drew a wiener on the paper mask the dog wears
This adventure is not just only about its vast sights and discoveries, but also the people you meet along the way!
An unforgettable journey with feels all over the place!
All hail Issun and Furball!
An unforgettable journey with feels all over the place!
All hail Issun and Furball!
A true masterpiece, fantastic from it's artistic presentation and gameplay, easy to pick up and rewarding to master, with a colorful world just begging to be explored. The story is simple yet full of both comical and emotive moments, especially at the end, the final boss is one of the best I've ever encountered in gaming, taking advantage of everything you've learned so far, not to mention the incredible music. This is a game everyone should try at least once on their lifetime.
Okami is a gorgeous game and I can see it why it turned heads back in the day. The unique mechanic of this game is the paintbrush, which doubles as a puzzle solving mechanic and a weapon for combat encounters. This game has wonderful atmosphere and music and the entire world looks like a painting.
From the 15 hours or so that I played, my favourite parts were the boss fights. The regular combat encounters got tiring after a while, especially when I kept accidentially stumbling into them while trying to explore or get from A to B. The combat is very basic, and though you occasionally get new moves to add to your arsenal, after a few encounters you've seen it all.
Where I fell off was the minigames and the sheer amount of time spent reading text boxes and listening to dialogue. The worst part is that the dialogue is incessant gibberish noises. I get that voice acting is expensive, but if you can't give the characters actual voices, I would rather listen to nothing at all and just read text. The noises were incredibly grating and you spend a significant amount of time in dialogue scenes. So much time in fact, that in the end I just found this game too slow to get going.
From the 15 hours or so that I played, my favourite parts were the boss fights. The regular combat encounters got tiring after a while, especially when I kept accidentially stumbling into them while trying to explore or get from A to B. The combat is very basic, and though you occasionally get new moves to add to your arsenal, after a few encounters you've seen it all.
Where I fell off was the minigames and the sheer amount of time spent reading text boxes and listening to dialogue. The worst part is that the dialogue is incessant gibberish noises. I get that voice acting is expensive, but if you can't give the characters actual voices, I would rather listen to nothing at all and just read text. The noises were incredibly grating and you spend a significant amount of time in dialogue scenes. So much time in fact, that in the end I just found this game too slow to get going.
younger me was stupid for disliking this game. Okami kinda slaps
Mogs the Legend of Zelda at every turn.
The best Zelda game isn't a Zelda game!
Okami's woodblock-painting art style and comical re-telling of Japanese mythology make for a lovable Zelda-like; if you can put up with the 50-hour campaign, tedious field combat, and excrutiating amounts of tutorializing in the opening hours.
Okami was a game I picked on a whim one day and I was absolutely blown away. Incredible game up and down. There are some occasional control issues and the combat is susceptible to minor jank, but that doesn’t hold this masterpiece bacl
Ever play a game, think "this is really awful", and then find out it's universally loved and praised and you're not entirely sure why?
Yeah. That.
After the 2nd or 3rd hour of dialog, I was pretty checked out.
The art style is gorgeous, I'll give it that.
Yeah. That.
After the 2nd or 3rd hour of dialog, I was pretty checked out.
The art style is gorgeous, I'll give it that.
my sisters a bitch but atleast she let me play this goofy ahh japanese game so she ight ig
🕗 Total time played (approx.): 66h
🏆 Completion: 100%
REVIEW:
Okami, a shining star in the sky of the gaming world, gleams with a grace and elegance that is unparalleled. Released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, this masterpiece has captured the hearts of players worldwide and rightfully secured its place as a timeless classic in the history of video games. With a captivating story, breathtaking visual presentation, and unique gameplay that pushes the boundaries of the medium, Okami is in my opinion undoubtedly one of the greatest games of all time and a triumph of the creative art form of video games.
The story of Okami unfolds in a world threatened by evil forces. As the sun goddess Amaterasu, embodied in the form of a majestic white wolf, players embark on an epic journey to free the land from darkness and save its inhabitants. The story is profound and rich in Japanese mythology and folklore, giving the game a fascinating cultural depth. From the very beginning, one is drawn into a world full of magic, secrets, and unforgettable characters that captivate until the end of the adventure.
What truly sets Okami apart from other games, however, is its visual presentation. Inspired by traditional Japanese ink wash paintings, Okami's graphics are a true feast for the eyes. Each screen is like a living painting, coming to life with vibrant colors, intricate details, and an unparalleled aesthetic. The world of Nippon is a kaleidoscope of beauty and imagination that mesmerizes players and immerses them in a magical reality. Even after all these years, Okami's graphics remain impressive and timeless, showing that art in video games can have a transformative power.
But Okami is not just a visual delight; it is also a masterpiece of gameplay. Players control Amaterasu through an semi-open world full of puzzles, battles, and adventures. With her divine brush, they can wield the power of nature by painting symbols to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and bring the world around them to life. This unique mechanic gives the game a refreshing originality and challenges players to use their creative skills to overcome obstacles and save the land. The controls are intuitive and fluid, making it easy even for beginners to immerse themselves in the world and feel like true heroes.
Yet what truly makes Okami unforgettable are the small details and intricacies that elevate the game to a true work of art. The music, mainly composed by Masami Ueda, is a masterpiece in itself and contributes significantly to the atmosphere and mood of the game. From epic orchestral pieces to delicate piano melodies, the music perfectly captures the essence of the game and leaves an indelible impression in the minds of players. The characters are equally lovingly crafted, with a depth and personality that make them more than just pixels on a screen. Every NPC encountered has a story to tell and contributes to the vibrant world of Nippon.
Okami is a triumphant masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of what a video game can be. With its captivating story, breathtaking graphics, unique gameplay, and unforgettable music, it sets a new standard for artistic excellence in the video game medium. Even after all these years, Okami remains a timeless classic that captures the hearts and imaginations of players worldwide. Those who have experienced this game will understand why it is considered one of the greatest games of all time and why it is regarded as a true work of art. For me, Okami is not just a video game; it is one of the most important videogames of all time, when it comes to making video games comprehensible to "outsiders" as an art form. This game is an experience that will be cherished forever in my heart.
⭐ Rating: 6/5
EDIT: corrected a mistake on my part regarding the lead music composer, thanks @rebarnd for making me notice
🏆 Completion: 100%
REVIEW:
Okami, a shining star in the sky of the gaming world, gleams with a grace and elegance that is unparalleled. Released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, this masterpiece has captured the hearts of players worldwide and rightfully secured its place as a timeless classic in the history of video games. With a captivating story, breathtaking visual presentation, and unique gameplay that pushes the boundaries of the medium, Okami is in my opinion undoubtedly one of the greatest games of all time and a triumph of the creative art form of video games.
The story of Okami unfolds in a world threatened by evil forces. As the sun goddess Amaterasu, embodied in the form of a majestic white wolf, players embark on an epic journey to free the land from darkness and save its inhabitants. The story is profound and rich in Japanese mythology and folklore, giving the game a fascinating cultural depth. From the very beginning, one is drawn into a world full of magic, secrets, and unforgettable characters that captivate until the end of the adventure.
What truly sets Okami apart from other games, however, is its visual presentation. Inspired by traditional Japanese ink wash paintings, Okami's graphics are a true feast for the eyes. Each screen is like a living painting, coming to life with vibrant colors, intricate details, and an unparalleled aesthetic. The world of Nippon is a kaleidoscope of beauty and imagination that mesmerizes players and immerses them in a magical reality. Even after all these years, Okami's graphics remain impressive and timeless, showing that art in video games can have a transformative power.
But Okami is not just a visual delight; it is also a masterpiece of gameplay. Players control Amaterasu through an semi-open world full of puzzles, battles, and adventures. With her divine brush, they can wield the power of nature by painting symbols to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and bring the world around them to life. This unique mechanic gives the game a refreshing originality and challenges players to use their creative skills to overcome obstacles and save the land. The controls are intuitive and fluid, making it easy even for beginners to immerse themselves in the world and feel like true heroes.
Yet what truly makes Okami unforgettable are the small details and intricacies that elevate the game to a true work of art. The music, mainly composed by Masami Ueda, is a masterpiece in itself and contributes significantly to the atmosphere and mood of the game. From epic orchestral pieces to delicate piano melodies, the music perfectly captures the essence of the game and leaves an indelible impression in the minds of players. The characters are equally lovingly crafted, with a depth and personality that make them more than just pixels on a screen. Every NPC encountered has a story to tell and contributes to the vibrant world of Nippon.
Okami is a triumphant masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of what a video game can be. With its captivating story, breathtaking graphics, unique gameplay, and unforgettable music, it sets a new standard for artistic excellence in the video game medium. Even after all these years, Okami remains a timeless classic that captures the hearts and imaginations of players worldwide. Those who have experienced this game will understand why it is considered one of the greatest games of all time and why it is regarded as a true work of art. For me, Okami is not just a video game; it is one of the most important videogames of all time, when it comes to making video games comprehensible to "outsiders" as an art form. This game is an experience that will be cherished forever in my heart.
⭐ Rating: 6/5
EDIT: corrected a mistake on my part regarding the lead music composer, thanks @rebarnd for making me notice
This review contains spoilers
In the midst of this frenzied week/weekend, where I've been just playing multiplayer party games and Ninjabread Man, I've been feeling a bit contemplative. I knew that gaming was going to feel a little downhill after how much fun I had with Ys VIII, but admittingly I didn't expect to sink to new depths after playing some of the actual worst games I've ever played in my life all in a few days... there's only so much my sanity can take. I've been trying to spread out my reviews for those party games to avoid alienating too many friends and not sounding too deprecatory (and I'll probably truncate or avoid talking about some experiences altogether, those shall not be named), but I've also come to realize that I need something to break up this feeling of negativity/satire in some of my recent reviews. So, I'll just take this time to longpost a little about one of the games I adore: Okami. Sure, maybe I 100%ed it 5 years ago and it's definitely out of the timeline of my time on Backloggd, but I'm feeling nostalgic tonight, so just bear with me and suspend your disbelief as best you can, I'll do my best to make it worth your while.
The year's 2017. I'm in a similar funk to how I feel currently, after burning through several metroidvanias that didn't feel anything like Ori and the Blind Forest (I'd get to Hollow Knight more thoroughly the next year) and getting burnt out on roguelikes/lites after playing hours upon hours of Binding of Isaac and Crypt of the Necrodancer. My friend decided to gift me Okami as a Christmas gift, and after hearing so much about its lore and gameplay, I decided to give it a shot in hopes for a breath of fresh air. Keep in mind that at this point in time, I had barely played a few hours of Ocarina of Time and messed around a little with Wind Waker, so I had very limited experience with the Zelda like action adventure genre games.
I suppose the part that really got to me was just how earnest Okami was at the end of the day. If I had to sum up the overall purpose of Okami, I would state that your goal is to restore beauty and color to everything around you. Sure, a lot of the tasks in Okami seem quite minute and perhaps silly in the overall scope of the game, much less our universe; you spend a good chunk of the game with seemingly menial tasks such as feeding animals, sprouting clovers, and sidequests like racing this guy on the beach because he feels like it. And that's the majority of the game; sure there's this bigger picture of slaying the big bad demon and eventually fighting a giant goldfish in a bowl, but the path to eventual success has many steps, and all of those steps in some way impart healing and kindness upon those in this land who have lost hope. And thanks to your actions restoring life throughout the land, they're able to make it through another day and wake up with a smile on their face to see the sun rise. It's this relentless optimism in the face of gloom and despair that really clashed vs my cynicism going into this game, and I couldn't be any happier that my doubts were dispelled.
And it all culminates in this final moment where in your darkest moment, you stumble for a second against an overwhelming foe that seems impregnable while your glancing blows do nothing more than display your powerlessness. And it's in this moment where the prayers of all of those you have touched in the land reach you, and suddenly, the theme of the Rising Sun plays as boss music. But it's not the goldfish's theme. It's your theme, and you're now this shining indefatigable source fighting for a brighter tomorrow so that hope will come back to all, and I'll never forget this glorious moment.
I will willingly admit that Okami has flaws; there are points in the game that are much slower paced due to more exposition and less combat/adventuring, especially the very beginning, and Issun's ingratiating personality can be rather off-putting at times to put it lightly, even though I warmed up to him eventually. And yet, I almost don't care, because Okami did something that very few, if any, video games had demonstrated to me at that time. It showed that even in the darkest moments of suffering and despair, there is hope and beauty to be found and grown at every corner, and it only takes a seed to bloom into something spectacular. So even though Okami had its ups and downs with the pace, I was glued to my odyssey of drawing miracles with this Celestial Brush and not necessarily celebrating my greatest achievements across the land; it brightened my day just to help these hapless NPCs and this forsaken land be restored to beyond its former glory. And that's something that I've chased and sought to find in other video games to this day, and very rarely, if ever, has it been as effective as it was in Okami.
So that's the summation of my journey. It wasn't necessarily about collecting the most trophies, or accruing the most glory, or even taking down the big bad and all his various minions. No, it was about playing as a barking dog god and her snarky bug sidekick and helping and understanding others in this sprawling videogame to help and better understand myself. Sure, I'm not going to forget drawing back constellations in the sky or dashing alongside the sea breeze of Ryoshima Coast to the beating war drums or fishing with ink furiously to farm marlins for big bucks or fighting this kimono man in a cave who taunts me in French and fights with a flute sword, that's all fun too. But at the end of the day, I feel as if the hero's journey is a metaphor to seek meaning, and that's exactly what Okami meant to me. I cannot stress how beautiful of a game Okami is; not just because of the cel-shaded graphics that still hold up to this day or the traditional Japanese inspired instrumental tracks or even the extensive and colorful lore and heritage embedded throughout the game, but especially because Okami was about the beauty of life itself, like the rising sun ascending from the darkness. And honestly, I've searched for quite some time now for a worthy successor, but maybe there doesn't need to be one. Okami's unique in how it tackles and executes this subject, and I'm okay with that. It may not be a perfect game on paper, but in my heart it will always be my favorite and most beloved gaming memory.
If you made it this far in the review, then thank you for entertaining my reminiscences and ramblings at 1:02 AM, and thanks for sticking along with me all this way. I might write more old reviews of some classics I've played along the way just to brighten up the corners when I'm in a bit of a rut (and I promise there won't be too much more shitposting/negativity in my future reviews, trying my best to improve each day!), and this definitely felt cathartic putting it all into text. So yeah, go play Okami. It's one hell of an experience.
The year's 2017. I'm in a similar funk to how I feel currently, after burning through several metroidvanias that didn't feel anything like Ori and the Blind Forest (I'd get to Hollow Knight more thoroughly the next year) and getting burnt out on roguelikes/lites after playing hours upon hours of Binding of Isaac and Crypt of the Necrodancer. My friend decided to gift me Okami as a Christmas gift, and after hearing so much about its lore and gameplay, I decided to give it a shot in hopes for a breath of fresh air. Keep in mind that at this point in time, I had barely played a few hours of Ocarina of Time and messed around a little with Wind Waker, so I had very limited experience with the Zelda like action adventure genre games.
I suppose the part that really got to me was just how earnest Okami was at the end of the day. If I had to sum up the overall purpose of Okami, I would state that your goal is to restore beauty and color to everything around you. Sure, a lot of the tasks in Okami seem quite minute and perhaps silly in the overall scope of the game, much less our universe; you spend a good chunk of the game with seemingly menial tasks such as feeding animals, sprouting clovers, and sidequests like racing this guy on the beach because he feels like it. And that's the majority of the game; sure there's this bigger picture of slaying the big bad demon and eventually fighting a giant goldfish in a bowl, but the path to eventual success has many steps, and all of those steps in some way impart healing and kindness upon those in this land who have lost hope. And thanks to your actions restoring life throughout the land, they're able to make it through another day and wake up with a smile on their face to see the sun rise. It's this relentless optimism in the face of gloom and despair that really clashed vs my cynicism going into this game, and I couldn't be any happier that my doubts were dispelled.
And it all culminates in this final moment where in your darkest moment, you stumble for a second against an overwhelming foe that seems impregnable while your glancing blows do nothing more than display your powerlessness. And it's in this moment where the prayers of all of those you have touched in the land reach you, and suddenly, the theme of the Rising Sun plays as boss music. But it's not the goldfish's theme. It's your theme, and you're now this shining indefatigable source fighting for a brighter tomorrow so that hope will come back to all, and I'll never forget this glorious moment.
I will willingly admit that Okami has flaws; there are points in the game that are much slower paced due to more exposition and less combat/adventuring, especially the very beginning, and Issun's ingratiating personality can be rather off-putting at times to put it lightly, even though I warmed up to him eventually. And yet, I almost don't care, because Okami did something that very few, if any, video games had demonstrated to me at that time. It showed that even in the darkest moments of suffering and despair, there is hope and beauty to be found and grown at every corner, and it only takes a seed to bloom into something spectacular. So even though Okami had its ups and downs with the pace, I was glued to my odyssey of drawing miracles with this Celestial Brush and not necessarily celebrating my greatest achievements across the land; it brightened my day just to help these hapless NPCs and this forsaken land be restored to beyond its former glory. And that's something that I've chased and sought to find in other video games to this day, and very rarely, if ever, has it been as effective as it was in Okami.
So that's the summation of my journey. It wasn't necessarily about collecting the most trophies, or accruing the most glory, or even taking down the big bad and all his various minions. No, it was about playing as a barking dog god and her snarky bug sidekick and helping and understanding others in this sprawling videogame to help and better understand myself. Sure, I'm not going to forget drawing back constellations in the sky or dashing alongside the sea breeze of Ryoshima Coast to the beating war drums or fishing with ink furiously to farm marlins for big bucks or fighting this kimono man in a cave who taunts me in French and fights with a flute sword, that's all fun too. But at the end of the day, I feel as if the hero's journey is a metaphor to seek meaning, and that's exactly what Okami meant to me. I cannot stress how beautiful of a game Okami is; not just because of the cel-shaded graphics that still hold up to this day or the traditional Japanese inspired instrumental tracks or even the extensive and colorful lore and heritage embedded throughout the game, but especially because Okami was about the beauty of life itself, like the rising sun ascending from the darkness. And honestly, I've searched for quite some time now for a worthy successor, but maybe there doesn't need to be one. Okami's unique in how it tackles and executes this subject, and I'm okay with that. It may not be a perfect game on paper, but in my heart it will always be my favorite and most beloved gaming memory.
If you made it this far in the review, then thank you for entertaining my reminiscences and ramblings at 1:02 AM, and thanks for sticking along with me all this way. I might write more old reviews of some classics I've played along the way just to brighten up the corners when I'm in a bit of a rut (and I promise there won't be too much more shitposting/negativity in my future reviews, trying my best to improve each day!), and this definitely felt cathartic putting it all into text. So yeah, go play Okami. It's one hell of an experience.
my first contact with okami was my dad bringing home an illegal copy of the PS2 version, little did he know it was completely in Japanese
and I finished this game, somehow
and I finished this game, somehow
at a glance i used to think people who never shut up about this game and comparisons to Zelda were annoying clowns who needed to branch out more. it really wasn't off the mark, though. everything right down to it being a bloated ass mess tracks with 3D Zelda games for better or worse.
trying to place where i'm at with my feelings on this game in terms of a rating or even talking about it is proving to be difficult. my sessions with the game would swing wildly from being miserable to some of the most enjoyment i had with a game this year.
looking back on it i definitely think when separating the game into three acts as many do, 2 was vastly superior to 1 which again was vastly superior to 3. the wheels really came off in the last act due to a variety of factors. stuff like the snow/ice making navigation a chore, the rancid (more than anywhere else in the game even) side content, and the absolute tedium of the boss rush thrown in near the end as if the game hadn't already overstayed its welcome did a lot of damage.
not seeing this as the masterpiece that many do but i'm glad to have experienced it. the highs were high and the lows didn't make it feel like it wasn't worth suffering through (at least most of the time). i never want to play it again though.
trying to place where i'm at with my feelings on this game in terms of a rating or even talking about it is proving to be difficult. my sessions with the game would swing wildly from being miserable to some of the most enjoyment i had with a game this year.
looking back on it i definitely think when separating the game into three acts as many do, 2 was vastly superior to 1 which again was vastly superior to 3. the wheels really came off in the last act due to a variety of factors. stuff like the snow/ice making navigation a chore, the rancid (more than anywhere else in the game even) side content, and the absolute tedium of the boss rush thrown in near the end as if the game hadn't already overstayed its welcome did a lot of damage.
not seeing this as the masterpiece that many do but i'm glad to have experienced it. the highs were high and the lows didn't make it feel like it wasn't worth suffering through (at least most of the time). i never want to play it again though.
Capcom makes better Zelda games than Miyamoto.
Okami, the poser's Zelda
Fantastic game. Okami has some of the most aesthetically pleasing visuals, great music and a damn good story. Characters are well-written and often a blast. I saw someone here calling it "the poser's Zelda," but I think it's better than a lot of Zelda games, and I'm saying that despite Zelda being my favourite series. It's that good.
Despite having some issues with the combat and some of the writing, it’s packed with clever puzzles, things to do and explore and honestly I dare say it holds up as a better 3D Zelda than some actual 3D Zeldas, definitely the one that came out that same year. It’s art style is beautiful, unique, even among other cel-shaded games, and honestly ingenious for how it disguises those rough edges in the PS2 graphics as flaws in the brush strokes.
Also, the part where you have to draw up a mask to sneak into Orochi’s lair, it’s a longstanding tradition for me to draw Homer Simpson’s face on it.
Also, the part where you have to draw up a mask to sneak into Orochi’s lair, it’s a longstanding tradition for me to draw Homer Simpson’s face on it.
I decided to give Okami a try after I hit a drought with Wii releases back in 2008 (IGN watermark on the cover FTW) and after all the small but vocal acclaim that the game received when it was released late in the PS2's life cycle.
Okami became one of my favorite games of all time thanks to its presentation, art direction, storyline, and unique gameplay. Zelda influences in the form of the overall adventure and dungeon/temple design can be found in the layout of the game and that's perfectly fine since I'm a big fan of the Zelda series. In many ways, Okami actually improved over the 3D Zelda formula by providing more seamless integration between overworld exploration, dungeons, and missions.
Graphically, this game will stand the test of time thanks to its cel-shaded roots and beautiful use of colors and effects that help with the immersion in this historical Japan setting. In many ways, this is a "feel good" game that allows the player to restore corrupted areas back to their original beauty in the form of blossoming colorful nature. Combat was good but not a major standout but I think I did that to myself since I stuck out with a style I felt comfortable with throughout the game but in reality, you have multiple beads that provide different types of combat and attacks. Use of the celestial brush is fun and clever for both combat and puzzle solving and the Wii version of this game was literally the perfect way to experience this unique feature of the game (not even sure how the other version make it work to be honest, the wiimote is just perfect for this application). Soundtrack is fantastic and very appropriate for this game.
The storyline is also very interesting and intriguing, citing Japanese folklore. The bond between Amaterasu and Issun (your traveling companion) has a rocky start but the connection between the two grows and culminates in a fantastic way along with the relationships you forged with other characters along your journey.
Simply put, Okami is a masterpiece and I'm just really glad I decided to give this game a shot back when the Wii version came out.
Okami became one of my favorite games of all time thanks to its presentation, art direction, storyline, and unique gameplay. Zelda influences in the form of the overall adventure and dungeon/temple design can be found in the layout of the game and that's perfectly fine since I'm a big fan of the Zelda series. In many ways, Okami actually improved over the 3D Zelda formula by providing more seamless integration between overworld exploration, dungeons, and missions.
Graphically, this game will stand the test of time thanks to its cel-shaded roots and beautiful use of colors and effects that help with the immersion in this historical Japan setting. In many ways, this is a "feel good" game that allows the player to restore corrupted areas back to their original beauty in the form of blossoming colorful nature. Combat was good but not a major standout but I think I did that to myself since I stuck out with a style I felt comfortable with throughout the game but in reality, you have multiple beads that provide different types of combat and attacks. Use of the celestial brush is fun and clever for both combat and puzzle solving and the Wii version of this game was literally the perfect way to experience this unique feature of the game (not even sure how the other version make it work to be honest, the wiimote is just perfect for this application). Soundtrack is fantastic and very appropriate for this game.
The storyline is also very interesting and intriguing, citing Japanese folklore. The bond between Amaterasu and Issun (your traveling companion) has a rocky start but the connection between the two grows and culminates in a fantastic way along with the relationships you forged with other characters along your journey.
Simply put, Okami is a masterpiece and I'm just really glad I decided to give this game a shot back when the Wii version came out.
“Well… We’ve been through a lot together. […] But for you, it’s just the start of an even greater adventure.”
For sure, this journey was a memorable one.
Okami is the quintessential old school adventure videogame: a large world made of multiple interconnected maps, subsequently opened to the players by precedingly unlocking new unique abilities. The different scenarios also offer a wide variety of side activities, quests and collectible, without choking the game full of time-consuming nothingness or making the players deviate much from the main quest: moreover, even the apparently most trivial side mission ultimately brings the player to unlock a new weapon, helpful accessories or ability upgrades, so there will never be a minute of gameplay lost just to achieve an empty 100% competition rate.
Certainly, there is not a tight world building behind every encounter, or interesting written stories for all the characters, like for example in the Witcher and Souls series, yet what Clover studio achieved by blending the Zelda formula with Japanese folklore resulted in a most unique product, even amid the vast catalogue of niche games for the Playstation2. No surprises Okami achieved a strong cult status among past generations of video gamers, other than receiving various porting and remaster.
The story itself sets the game as a niche product right from the beginning, as it explores themes and events reimagined from Shinto mythology, and as such it has many details and references that may be understood uniquely by a Japanese audience, or well versed in this particular cultural background. The whole premise of Okami reinvents the legend of the slaying of Yamata-no-Orochi, an 8-headed and 8-tailed dragon serpent, by the hand of the gods Susanoo and Amaterasu, with slightly differences such as Amaterasu, while still being the Sun goddess, as well as the players’ character, is represented as a mute wolf (Okami is a word play that while being written as ‘great god’ could be read as ‘wolf god’).
Other characters coming from different myths are Issun, Okami’s Navi although arguably more talkative and amusingly obnoxious, who serves as a narrator and as Amaterasu only mean to communicate with the world, aside from barking and headbutting; Urashima Tarou, Otohime and the Dragon Palace on the bottom of the sea, the shapeshifting fox spirit with nine tails, Fusehime and her eight dog warriors, Kaguyahime from the tale of the bamboo cutter, as well as actual historical figures such as Himiko, a real queen from the early days of Japan. The vast assortment of characters gives a pantheistic feeling to Okami’s otherwise primarily light-hearted and goofy plot, making the players immerse in a scenario akin to an Olympus, where the deities intertwine with each other to serve the purpose of a greater story.
What immediately strikes about Okami is certainly its visuals, the peculiar art design with broad black outlines and a soft colour palette that heavily borrows from various Japanese traditional art, such as ukiyo-e, sumi-e (ink painting) and even calligraphy on some degree. The end result is a less rough and more glistening rural world immerse in nature, with sparkling of true beauty but with the simple recognizable designs of a children story book. The gameplay also fits with the artwork of the videogame: Amaterasu can use her tail, the Celestial Brush, to enter a sort of otherworldly dimension from where she can utilize different strokes to unleash various effects on the game world: these effects range from manipulating the elements to fix broken or missing artefacts, slow time, evoke explosives and cut through most objects.
The Celestial Brush also heavily plays in the combat system, as aside from Amaterasu’s quick fighting style mix of Divine Instruments (beads whips, greatswords and mirrors) the brush techniques can also be implemented with various effects on the enemies to facilitate crowd controls or hit weak points. Despite the fast-paced combat, the use of the Celestial Brush also serves as a pace breaker, stopping the frenetic action and putting the players in a dimension of stillness from where strategies can be elaborated and executed with ease and calm.
The last impressive factor about Okami is its soundtrack: over five hours (if one were to listen to it from start to end) of classical Japanese music inspirations that range from soothing and atmospheric pieces played with relaxing woodwind instruments, to more rhythmic, frenetic and bombastic percussions fighting themes. The ambience is probably the most sublime aspect of this game, since the first opening of the main menu the players are hit with the slow tempo of traditional flutes and almost immaterial and echoing drumming, that immediately stages the Eastern opera that Okami sets out to be; a relaxing fantasy journey in a fairy tale land.
For sure, this journey was a memorable one.
Okami is the quintessential old school adventure videogame: a large world made of multiple interconnected maps, subsequently opened to the players by precedingly unlocking new unique abilities. The different scenarios also offer a wide variety of side activities, quests and collectible, without choking the game full of time-consuming nothingness or making the players deviate much from the main quest: moreover, even the apparently most trivial side mission ultimately brings the player to unlock a new weapon, helpful accessories or ability upgrades, so there will never be a minute of gameplay lost just to achieve an empty 100% competition rate.
Certainly, there is not a tight world building behind every encounter, or interesting written stories for all the characters, like for example in the Witcher and Souls series, yet what Clover studio achieved by blending the Zelda formula with Japanese folklore resulted in a most unique product, even amid the vast catalogue of niche games for the Playstation2. No surprises Okami achieved a strong cult status among past generations of video gamers, other than receiving various porting and remaster.
The story itself sets the game as a niche product right from the beginning, as it explores themes and events reimagined from Shinto mythology, and as such it has many details and references that may be understood uniquely by a Japanese audience, or well versed in this particular cultural background. The whole premise of Okami reinvents the legend of the slaying of Yamata-no-Orochi, an 8-headed and 8-tailed dragon serpent, by the hand of the gods Susanoo and Amaterasu, with slightly differences such as Amaterasu, while still being the Sun goddess, as well as the players’ character, is represented as a mute wolf (Okami is a word play that while being written as ‘great god’ could be read as ‘wolf god’).
Other characters coming from different myths are Issun, Okami’s Navi although arguably more talkative and amusingly obnoxious, who serves as a narrator and as Amaterasu only mean to communicate with the world, aside from barking and headbutting; Urashima Tarou, Otohime and the Dragon Palace on the bottom of the sea, the shapeshifting fox spirit with nine tails, Fusehime and her eight dog warriors, Kaguyahime from the tale of the bamboo cutter, as well as actual historical figures such as Himiko, a real queen from the early days of Japan. The vast assortment of characters gives a pantheistic feeling to Okami’s otherwise primarily light-hearted and goofy plot, making the players immerse in a scenario akin to an Olympus, where the deities intertwine with each other to serve the purpose of a greater story.
What immediately strikes about Okami is certainly its visuals, the peculiar art design with broad black outlines and a soft colour palette that heavily borrows from various Japanese traditional art, such as ukiyo-e, sumi-e (ink painting) and even calligraphy on some degree. The end result is a less rough and more glistening rural world immerse in nature, with sparkling of true beauty but with the simple recognizable designs of a children story book. The gameplay also fits with the artwork of the videogame: Amaterasu can use her tail, the Celestial Brush, to enter a sort of otherworldly dimension from where she can utilize different strokes to unleash various effects on the game world: these effects range from manipulating the elements to fix broken or missing artefacts, slow time, evoke explosives and cut through most objects.
The Celestial Brush also heavily plays in the combat system, as aside from Amaterasu’s quick fighting style mix of Divine Instruments (beads whips, greatswords and mirrors) the brush techniques can also be implemented with various effects on the enemies to facilitate crowd controls or hit weak points. Despite the fast-paced combat, the use of the Celestial Brush also serves as a pace breaker, stopping the frenetic action and putting the players in a dimension of stillness from where strategies can be elaborated and executed with ease and calm.
The last impressive factor about Okami is its soundtrack: over five hours (if one were to listen to it from start to end) of classical Japanese music inspirations that range from soothing and atmospheric pieces played with relaxing woodwind instruments, to more rhythmic, frenetic and bombastic percussions fighting themes. The ambience is probably the most sublime aspect of this game, since the first opening of the main menu the players are hit with the slow tempo of traditional flutes and almost immaterial and echoing drumming, that immediately stages the Eastern opera that Okami sets out to be; a relaxing fantasy journey in a fairy tale land.
Have you ever seen "The tale of the Princess Kaguya" by Isao Takahata? It's a 2013 animated movie that adapts a classic Japanese tale, to create a movie that is not only graphically and musically masterful, but is able to tell a story that will liegitimally make you cry on multiple occasions.
Why am I comparing this animated movie to Okami, a Capcom game and directed by Bayonetta-creator Hideki Kamiya? Seems like and odd comparison at first.
Well, it's because, while these two pieces of art don't share the same messages and scope, they do share the same "soul".
Okami is an amazing experience, from start to finish.
It's a pleasure for both eyes and ears, with an artstyle and a direction that imakes it compete with the modern technological juggernauts of the videogame industry.
It has a lot of respect for the myths it draws inspiration from, but also twisted it to create a world that feels unique, enduring and incredible to live.
It has a lot of action, customization and exploration, similar to a lot of classic titles like Zelda, but it also includes a lot of messages regarding trust, growth and respect for nature.
I may sound cheesy, but the story of this game made me cry multiple times. The perfect blend of character interactions, music, graphic and expressed emotions led to the creation of one of the best moments that I ever experienced in a videogame.
It doesn't lack flaws. THe beginning of the game can feel slow, espeically on second playthroughs. And the fact that it was designed with the Wii Motion Controls in mind can lead to a bit of jankyness in some sections. But other than that... I find it fantastic.
Play Okami. In my opinion, one of the best games ever created, and my second favorite videogame of all time.
Why am I comparing this animated movie to Okami, a Capcom game and directed by Bayonetta-creator Hideki Kamiya? Seems like and odd comparison at first.
Well, it's because, while these two pieces of art don't share the same messages and scope, they do share the same "soul".
Okami is an amazing experience, from start to finish.
It's a pleasure for both eyes and ears, with an artstyle and a direction that imakes it compete with the modern technological juggernauts of the videogame industry.
It has a lot of respect for the myths it draws inspiration from, but also twisted it to create a world that feels unique, enduring and incredible to live.
It has a lot of action, customization and exploration, similar to a lot of classic titles like Zelda, but it also includes a lot of messages regarding trust, growth and respect for nature.
I may sound cheesy, but the story of this game made me cry multiple times. The perfect blend of character interactions, music, graphic and expressed emotions led to the creation of one of the best moments that I ever experienced in a videogame.
It doesn't lack flaws. THe beginning of the game can feel slow, espeically on second playthroughs. And the fact that it was designed with the Wii Motion Controls in mind can lead to a bit of jankyness in some sections. But other than that... I find it fantastic.
Play Okami. In my opinion, one of the best games ever created, and my second favorite videogame of all time.
The best "Zelda" game ever made - a controversial statement to be sure, but one I believe in earnest to be true. And while that may sound like I'm throwing shade, there isn't much shame in that... as there aren't many games in general that come close to this masterpiece.
Okami is a game of visual splendor - filled with gorgeous colors and inspiring, beautiful music. It will transport you to one of the most fascinating and unique worlds in all of gaming. Overflowing with Japanese mythology and culture, once you reach the end of the game, and the credits are rolling, you'll feel as if you underwent a religious experience.
And you better strap yourself in too, because this is one epic adventure, boasting a runtime of close to 50 hours! For a non-RPG, I was shocked more than once when the game kept going, even when I thought it was starting to wrap up... I never wanted this incredible journey to end!
If someone argues that video games cannot be art (which has always been a ridiculous argument), point them to this game and its wonderful presentation and storyline.
There are so many incredible games on the PlayStation 2...but it is hard for me not to put Okami in the #1 spot on that list. If this was your favorite game of all time, you would have no argument from me. It is that special.
Okami is a game of visual splendor - filled with gorgeous colors and inspiring, beautiful music. It will transport you to one of the most fascinating and unique worlds in all of gaming. Overflowing with Japanese mythology and culture, once you reach the end of the game, and the credits are rolling, you'll feel as if you underwent a religious experience.
And you better strap yourself in too, because this is one epic adventure, boasting a runtime of close to 50 hours! For a non-RPG, I was shocked more than once when the game kept going, even when I thought it was starting to wrap up... I never wanted this incredible journey to end!
If someone argues that video games cannot be art (which has always been a ridiculous argument), point them to this game and its wonderful presentation and storyline.
There are so many incredible games on the PlayStation 2...but it is hard for me not to put Okami in the #1 spot on that list. If this was your favorite game of all time, you would have no argument from me. It is that special.
One of the most beautiful games out there
This is the best 3D Zelda game
Playing this has been... fascinating. As most people will tell you, it's worth checking out for the art direction alone, and overall I had a good time with it, but wow is there ever room for improvement. In so many ways Okami is the inverse of Twilight Princess. You control a wolf for the entire game, whereas Wolf Link felt like an afterthought. Dungeons which are the highlight of Twilight Princess feel as though they barely exist here. Conversely the overworld, which is probably the worst part of Twilight Princess is done much better in Okami.
The choice of source material makes for a unique experience and the characters are full of personality which is a plus, but it's a shame that most of the dialogue in the game goes to its worst character. Issun is nearly as bad as Fi in Skyward Sword when it comes to incessant pace-breaking chatter, and the text speed in any scene that doesn't let you skip dialogue absolutely does not help. The game has a horrible habit of injecting tiny and unnecessary cutscenes with outrageous frequency, and most of it is accompanied with some inane comment from Issun. His personality also does him no favors. Issun's constant lechery toward nearly every female NPC in the game doesn't just get old, it was born old. I have no doubt that some of my distaste for the character's single "joke" comes from playing the game as an American in 2020 where such bullshit stopped being endearing many years ago. Other recurring characters are solid, with a few surprisingly effective emotional scenes created with them here and there despite very little screen time.
Combat is serviceable, but nothing noteworthy. The fact that it is always confined to a special arena is somewhat disappointing, as is the difficulty. Exploration rewards the player with piles and piles of consumable items to restore health, do more damage, etc, but they feel completely unnecessary. It's unfortunate when the rewards that any game gives you don't actually feel rewarding. For the vast majority of the game I had bountiful piles of money and nothing worthwhile to spend it on since my stores of consumables were already overflowing and I didn't see myself using them any time soon.
I enjoyed my visit well enough, but I don't expect to be back.
The choice of source material makes for a unique experience and the characters are full of personality which is a plus, but it's a shame that most of the dialogue in the game goes to its worst character. Issun is nearly as bad as Fi in Skyward Sword when it comes to incessant pace-breaking chatter, and the text speed in any scene that doesn't let you skip dialogue absolutely does not help. The game has a horrible habit of injecting tiny and unnecessary cutscenes with outrageous frequency, and most of it is accompanied with some inane comment from Issun. His personality also does him no favors. Issun's constant lechery toward nearly every female NPC in the game doesn't just get old, it was born old. I have no doubt that some of my distaste for the character's single "joke" comes from playing the game as an American in 2020 where such bullshit stopped being endearing many years ago. Other recurring characters are solid, with a few surprisingly effective emotional scenes created with them here and there despite very little screen time.
Combat is serviceable, but nothing noteworthy. The fact that it is always confined to a special arena is somewhat disappointing, as is the difficulty. Exploration rewards the player with piles and piles of consumable items to restore health, do more damage, etc, but they feel completely unnecessary. It's unfortunate when the rewards that any game gives you don't actually feel rewarding. For the vast majority of the game I had bountiful piles of money and nothing worthwhile to spend it on since my stores of consumables were already overflowing and I didn't see myself using them any time soon.
I enjoyed my visit well enough, but I don't expect to be back.
na minha opinião okami é excelente! trilha sonora e gráficos são lindos, tem uma ótima jogabilidade e a história é bem interessante e construída. minha ressalva fica na repetitividade em alguns momentos do jogo, mas ai é quase impossível não ter momentos assim