Okami is my 3rd favorite game of all time, so I was excited to play it's only sequel, but while it's definitely not a bad game, it just doesn't really live up to it's predecessor.
I think they should have waited until the 3ds to make this game, I do think the ds is a perfect fit for okami with the touch screen, but this game is a bit too ambitious for what the hardware allows. The controls can be a bit sluggish, which becomes much worse when the game tries to do more intense things for boss battles, and the game straight up can run slowly sometimes, this is most noticeable in sei'an city.
Now, it's not a bad game, a lot of what made okami so good to begin with is still here. It's gorgeous artstyle, fun exploration, and enjoyable zelda-like adventuring is still here, just in a different form due to the hardware.
If you are looking for zelda-likes on the ds, or are just a fan of okami, it's worth a shot, but don't expect it to be as good.

I could not bring myself to finish this game. It's just a worse version of its predecessor in every way. The partner mechanic is fun for a while, but I personally found that it made the game drag. The concept for this game isn't bad, but the execution definitely is. Despite my scathing word, though, it's not the worst thing I've ever played. I just already have a bias against it because of my adoration of the original. Worth giving a shot if you played the first, but don't force yourself to finish it if it doesn't click.

This game really wants to be Okami. It tries its absolute best. But because of that, it ends up feeling like a shallow imitation for the most part. By attempting to just be Okami, it ends up feeling extremely uncreative in its setting, ripping most of its areas out of Okami with little to no actual creativity at play. That said, the game shines most in its dungeons, and particularly the partner mechanic. But it gets dragged down by just how hard it wants to be Okami. Its combat system is nowhere near as fun, the bosses are more of a chore to get through instead of really fun and fantastical encounters like the first game had, and the story has good moments, but it keeps trying to be "Okami, but again" which really bothers me. A game that could have been great, but suffers from keeping itself so attached to what came before. I really hope we get a proper sequel one day, because this just ain't it.

Pork Chop, Mutt, Pooch, Squiddy, Dude, Boy, and every other name but Chibiterasu does our poor little hero have to be called throughout his journey. You play as Amaterasu’s son in this true sequel to the hit classic Okami for PS2. There was a lot of speculation that the game would be dumbed down or just feature mini-games, but we get a full-fledged 20-hour adventure on par to the first game. You wander around the world of Nippon (Japan) trying to stop an evil spirit named Akuro from bringing the world into darkness. Along the way you meet 5 children that become your partners and help you learn new brush techniques.

The game feels like it suits the DS better than the PS2 thanks to the touchscreen. The game is also almost exactly like Okami in a way so we get a console experience on a handheld and that’s rare for the DS. This also becomes a major problem because it is too similar to Okami to become truly unique which is what prevents it from a higher score (or Editor’s Choice). The combat is similar to Okami in that you are trapped in a giant circle and you fight that way. Instead of adding new things to the combat or reinventing it you fight just like Okami. Using your weapon and brush technique you whack away, but each enemy needs a strategy because they have elemental powers, or some are immune unless stunned. The enemies are unique, but the combat lacks any change and vets will feel the combat isn’t as fun the second time around and you will avoid it as much as possible. Boss fights are really epic and each uses the brush techniques in a unique way just like Okami did. These are some of the best parts of the game.



Puzzles were a big thing in Okami using the Celestial Brush, but this time around they feel easy and lack any real challenge. Guiding your partner across a gap to fetch something isn’t very hard. Even just using a brush technique to open a door or find a way out isn’t exactly challenging either, but they feel Zelda like so fans of that series will like this. Even though each dungeon offers new brush techniques and new elemental powers, they are used in the same mundane way throughout the whole game, but they are easy so you don’t have to expect frustration.

Outside of combat and solving puzzles the exploring of the world is a little mundane as well. Finding secrets was big in Okami, but it just feels tiresome here because there is no big pay off for finding all secrets or even finding any that are used as cash at shops or just items. I wanted to find a super powerful weapon, maybe a hidden brush technique, but instead we just get normal stuff. I really wish there was more to the whole game than just finding your way to the next dungeon, but there are side quests for people who are into that. You don’t get anything but praise which levels you up which in turn gives you more life and ink pots. Everything that you did in Okami can give you praise here, but nothing new added yet again.


Besides this, the controls are tight with the shoulder buttons acting as the brush ability which brings a snapshot of the top screen to the bottom. Brush strokes feel natural using the touch screen, but sometimes, if the camera is off the stroke, won’t register or will do a different one which left me frustrated a few times. Using the D-pad to control Chibi is a bit rough because it is so small (using the 3DS circle pad is a lifesaver), but overall the controls work well. I did find the map completely useless because it is either too big or too small and there’s no way to zoom around on it. I also found myself completely lost on where to go due to a lack of some sort of quest log or journal.

The best part about Okamiden is the unique art style that Okami brought to gamers, and despite the DS’s ancient hardware, it sucks every bit of power to pull this off. This results in some serious slow down quite often, but the game looks great. My last complaint would be that the game is long-winded towards the end and isn’t suited for portable play. Save points are spread too far apart and it feels like a console game even on this. 20 hours is also a bit long for a handheld, but in turn, we get a wonderfully crafted story with a lot of detail and characters you really care for.


Okamiden does a lot right by bringing the unique experience of Okami to the DS with console quality style, but in turn doesn’t do enough things that are new to make it as amazing, or as unique, as the original was. Everybody who owns a DS should play this game because it is one of the best on the little system. Even with ancient hardware Okamiden shows us exactly what this system was built for.

Okami is a game I never expected would get a sequel. I know I'm saying this 13 years after this game's release, but my point still stands. Okamiden however is an interesting title, and there's a lot of what I can really say about it.
Okamiden could be best described as "Okami Lite". It's a much smaller version of Okami, with the same mechanics and world, but shrunk down to fit into a DS. And I think it does it quite well! It's commendable how well this game tries to replicate the original Okami's art style. Combat is very akin to how it was in the original Okami, though it's definitely a lot more simplified.
The dungeons and puzzles are really fresh, and I enjoyed going through them! I'm a sucker for good dungeons, and Okamiden's dungeons are well executed. The mechanics tied to partners is really fun, and I love how each partner has unique mechanics. The brush mechanics are transferred to the touch screen, and work pretty well. Sometimes it doesn't seem to work properly, but I'd say it works about 95% of the time.
I described Okamiden as "Okami Lite" earlier, and while I said that with praise earlier, it's also Okamiden's greatest flaw. For a lot of the game, Okamiden feels like a repeat of the original game. It's as if the game is afraid of stepping out of Okami's shadow. You'll go to the same areas, in the same order, with the same motivation. Sure the dungeons and bosses are unique, but the way to get there isn't. The most notable moment was of course, when you had to fight Orochi twice again.
But I say that to reiterate that when Okamiden steps out of Okami's shadow, it shines! There's so much heart and care put into this game. The dungeons, and puzzles as previously mentioned are well crafted. The characters and story though are really well written, and I honestly really loved the game's ending.
Okamiden definitely has issues, but I can't help but love it. It's super cute, and it has some absolutely fun dungeons. While it struggles to get out of Okami's shadow, it's really good when it does. For what it is, it's a really nice game.