Claiming that Okami is a masterpiece is a no-brainer. That doesn't mean that this game is perfect. There are some flaws that can't be easily ignored.(I will talk about some of these flaws later).Despite these flaws this game managed to captivate me and has enchanted me completely. Even now when I already have finished this game for a quite a time now I keep thinking about it. "Okami" is pure magic. When I heard this game being reviewed on a show I simply could not imagine what made this game so special. Yes,it looked beautiful,but I wasn't so keen on using the brush (drawing for me is a childhood trauma). Until I had the opportunity to experience it for myself. (You really feel like a god once you have mastered several celestial brush techniques.) It only took me playing some minutes for I realized that I was hooked. The cell shaded visuals provide a look for the game that hasn't been done too often and can be considered original. Combine this aspect with the fantastic game play and a wonderful and moving story then you simply know that you can't go wrong. But the game doesn't stop there. "Okami" has one amazing soundtrack that just completes this game. In fact it is so essential that without it the magic wouldn't be the same. Now i have read many reviews on this game saying that this game is easy. And for an experienced gamer it will be. But believe me when I tell you that there are times that this game can be challenging. As a lot of other action RPG's "Okami" has some mini-games that are optional and ones that are compulsory. Personally I think that mini-games can be fun as long as they are optional. The minute you have to play a game in order to advance is something I can't appreciate. Example is one digging game that you simply have to do otherwise you can't continue. The fact that there is no other way to achieve your goal is a flaw in my book. This particular digging game demands that you have mastered the brush techniques previous learned in the game. While the game is very forgiving usually when using the brush, in this digging game it isn't. (Once you think you figured how to do a certain technique it still can fail to work. I believe this is a glitch of some sort and since it is random it can't be prevented. But with a lot of practice and patience it is possible to complete it.) The lack of control over camera in some sequences is another flaw that I have to mention especially when it comes to the ones that are timed and the ones that concern platforming. These flaws however can be considered very minor since the overall experience is truly grand and majestic. "Okami" is without a doubt one of the best and most beautiful video games ever made. A masterpiece!!!
5 Reviews
Clover Stuidos' last bow is near-perfection!
BlackJack_B26 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Every once in a while we get a video game that redefines the genre. A game that is fresh, innovative, exciting and lets us all know that Japan still has what it takes to create those special games.
Okami was a joy to play. 40 hours of unique and unbelievable story-telling, characters, vistas and gameplay equaled one spectacular game.
I felt so attached to both Issun and Amaterasu throughout the game. You cared about both the wolf and its sprite as they forged on their adventure. Issun was a character that you enjoyed. You never knew what colourful comment he was going to say next. His role in the game to Amaterasu as guide, friend and confidant helps the game and the story move.
Cel-shaded graphics are a favorite of mine and these were the best ones yet. The vistas are gorgeous and there is so much detail. Rivers, towns, dungeons, forests; they are all beautiful and the game is alive. The Emotion Engine lives up to its name here. This was the first RPG in which I felt I was in a vibrant world. The enemies and bosses were incredible. Orochi especially was a show-stopper.
Of course, the innovative brush techniques added a lot to the game. You are always looking for an opportunity to use them on anything. It certainly beats the age-old fighting engines of RPGs past.
There were plenty of memorable characters in this game. You had the drunkard Susano, the prophet Waka, the busty Rao and the wacky Mr. and Mrs. Cutter. All these characters were carefully crafted by Clover. You cared about them and you didn't see them as just NPCs. The dialog was excellent, too. Issun takes the honors, of course. He is honest in his observations. He certainly thought the Cutter's home smelled awful! I also loved the running joke where some characters think Ammy is a dog or mutt instead of a wolf.
The music is outstanding. This is real Japanese music. No J-Pop or 80's heavy metal here. I liked how the music would only play in the day, too.
There's also lots of hidden stuff. You can try to find all the Stray Beads, feed all the animals, find all the treasures, catch all the fishes, etc. You can also look for hidden treasures with your new powers.
The game isn't perfect. There's no voice acting; everybody sounds like a character from Animal Crossing. Still, as an AC fan it didn't bother me. I liked it. The camera gave me occasional problems at times. There is some slowdown when the action gets hectic. The load screens appeared a little too often, although they serve a purpose. The game is also easy. I didn't die once. You'll eventually have so many bones and golden peaches along with a killer weapon that you'll win all your battles through attrition.
When it's all said and done, Okami is a masterpiece of a game. These are the kinds of games that the PS3 will have in its future and I can't wait to see what the power of the console will offer. In a day of the same-old same-old, Clover Studios and CapCom offer up a game that blows away anything Nintendo did with Zelda. Cancel your Halo 3 pre-orders and get this game and see for yourself what a real video game should be like. See a game that offers a beautiful, interactive world. Play a game that offers good clean fun and a unique battle engine and when it's all said and done, a game that actually will get you into studying Japanese culture. This is as good as PS2 gaming gets!
Okami was a joy to play. 40 hours of unique and unbelievable story-telling, characters, vistas and gameplay equaled one spectacular game.
I felt so attached to both Issun and Amaterasu throughout the game. You cared about both the wolf and its sprite as they forged on their adventure. Issun was a character that you enjoyed. You never knew what colourful comment he was going to say next. His role in the game to Amaterasu as guide, friend and confidant helps the game and the story move.
Cel-shaded graphics are a favorite of mine and these were the best ones yet. The vistas are gorgeous and there is so much detail. Rivers, towns, dungeons, forests; they are all beautiful and the game is alive. The Emotion Engine lives up to its name here. This was the first RPG in which I felt I was in a vibrant world. The enemies and bosses were incredible. Orochi especially was a show-stopper.
Of course, the innovative brush techniques added a lot to the game. You are always looking for an opportunity to use them on anything. It certainly beats the age-old fighting engines of RPGs past.
There were plenty of memorable characters in this game. You had the drunkard Susano, the prophet Waka, the busty Rao and the wacky Mr. and Mrs. Cutter. All these characters were carefully crafted by Clover. You cared about them and you didn't see them as just NPCs. The dialog was excellent, too. Issun takes the honors, of course. He is honest in his observations. He certainly thought the Cutter's home smelled awful! I also loved the running joke where some characters think Ammy is a dog or mutt instead of a wolf.
The music is outstanding. This is real Japanese music. No J-Pop or 80's heavy metal here. I liked how the music would only play in the day, too.
There's also lots of hidden stuff. You can try to find all the Stray Beads, feed all the animals, find all the treasures, catch all the fishes, etc. You can also look for hidden treasures with your new powers.
The game isn't perfect. There's no voice acting; everybody sounds like a character from Animal Crossing. Still, as an AC fan it didn't bother me. I liked it. The camera gave me occasional problems at times. There is some slowdown when the action gets hectic. The load screens appeared a little too often, although they serve a purpose. The game is also easy. I didn't die once. You'll eventually have so many bones and golden peaches along with a killer weapon that you'll win all your battles through attrition.
When it's all said and done, Okami is a masterpiece of a game. These are the kinds of games that the PS3 will have in its future and I can't wait to see what the power of the console will offer. In a day of the same-old same-old, Clover Studios and CapCom offer up a game that blows away anything Nintendo did with Zelda. Cancel your Halo 3 pre-orders and get this game and see for yourself what a real video game should be like. See a game that offers a beautiful, interactive world. Play a game that offers good clean fun and a unique battle engine and when it's all said and done, a game that actually will get you into studying Japanese culture. This is as good as PS2 gaming gets!
A beautiful, beautiful video game
peterzolli22 December 2006
Okami is a video game in which you play as Amaterasu, a god from Japanese mythology. Amaterasu's mission is to restore Nippon's ecology by defeating demons, as well as to restore the faith of the Japanese (Nipponese?) people. In this aim, she is assisted by Issun, a tiny painter with a big ego, who provides comic relief from the game's rather philosophical concerns. While I don't know much about Japanese mythology, apparently all of the characters and many of the plot-elements are taken from this source.
Okami features a stunning and unique art style based on Japanese charcoal drawing. The main game-play innovation is the use of the Celestial Brush, a tool which allows you to "paint" features into the game (slash through obstacles, restore broken bridges, grow trees and flowers, and many more) which you can then interact with.
Okami's story is well-written, full of surprises, and at times genuinely moving. I actually cried (a little, anyway) at the ending, which I can not say about any other video game.
The question has been asked, "Are video games Art?" I think the simple answer to that question is "yes, they can't help but be," but the more important question is, "Can video games be GOOD Art?" I think Okami, along with a very small handful of other games, answers that question in the affirmative. At a time when films and music are often as artistically debased as most video games are, Okami has a powerful and positive story to tell, and tells it beautifully.
Okami features a stunning and unique art style based on Japanese charcoal drawing. The main game-play innovation is the use of the Celestial Brush, a tool which allows you to "paint" features into the game (slash through obstacles, restore broken bridges, grow trees and flowers, and many more) which you can then interact with.
Okami's story is well-written, full of surprises, and at times genuinely moving. I actually cried (a little, anyway) at the ending, which I can not say about any other video game.
The question has been asked, "Are video games Art?" I think the simple answer to that question is "yes, they can't help but be," but the more important question is, "Can video games be GOOD Art?" I think Okami, along with a very small handful of other games, answers that question in the affirmative. At a time when films and music are often as artistically debased as most video games are, Okami has a powerful and positive story to tell, and tells it beautifully.
One Of The Most Beautiful Video games Ever made!
SamiCybertron28 April 2007
Okami is the story about a wolf of Amaterasu (a god in Japanese mythology) who is on a magnificent quest to rid the world of the evil forces of Orochi (Another god in Japanese mythology). Along with the help of the wisecracking, fun loving Issun, both of them go all over Japan uncovering many different events that happen in the game.
This game is just simply unbelievable, Its got such a wonderful story and so many wonderful characters you'll meet in the game. You'll laugh, cry, even become angry at what this game has to offer, but trust me. I loved this game to bits and I played it all the way through and it did aggravate me abit, but just go with it.
Highly Recommended!!!
This game is just simply unbelievable, Its got such a wonderful story and so many wonderful characters you'll meet in the game. You'll laugh, cry, even become angry at what this game has to offer, but trust me. I loved this game to bits and I played it all the way through and it did aggravate me abit, but just go with it.
Highly Recommended!!!
Revolutionary and compelling!
LordDynamo24 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I have played lots of video games, but none have changed more than Okami! To me, it is genius of Capcom to turn away from the usual computer graphics that we see everywhere and turn to a mix of cel-shading and classic Japanese art. If that isn't original, then what is? To put it brief, I have LOVED Okami since I first started playing it. The game is designed to perfection: the story, the length of gameplay, the characters, the soundtrack, etc. The story tells of Amaterasu, the wolf incarnation of the sun goddess, who must embark on an epic quest to purge the land of Nippon (Japanese for "Japan") from evil, with the help of the Celestial Brush and a little sprite called Issun. Yes, it sounds simple, but that impression will be proved wrong as the advances. There is much more depth in the overall plot than you'd think. As for the lifespan, if you are looking for a game that gives you HOURS of entertainment then this is for you! Okami offers you more than 30 hours of gameplay, and even when when you have finished, you'll be wanting more (as for the ending, it made me cry. You get that very rarely in video games). There are so many things to praise about Okami that I won't put them here, so to make it brief: Okami is without a doubt a fantastic game (it is undoubtedly my favourite) and I highly recommend it! Congratulations to Capcom!
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