Okami is resolutely Japanese, delivering a gentle message of spirituality and a love for nature. As you battle the dreaded eight-headed dragon Orochi and the agents of darkness that have engulfed Japan, you'll encounter a brilliant, time-twisting tale that unravels Amaterasu's mysterious history and observe the landscape being restored from a ravaged wasteland into lush, verdant plains. While many of the themes of Okami are serious, it's also lighthearted, thanks mostly to your constant companion Issun, a pea-sized "wandering artist" who's there to provide comic relief when it's most needed. While it's not perfect – some of the puzzles are too obvious and for the most of the game the boss battles aren't particularly challenging, especially if you keep a good supply of items – Okami remains compelling throughout the literally dozens and dozens of hours that it takes to complete the adventure. Throughout the course of the game, you're constantly encountering new gameplay, new abilities, and new environments, which helps keep this game fresh past the point where most similar titles start to go stale. The brush techniques add a level of gameplay that is stunning at times, as you feverishly switch back and forth between arduous platforming, brush techniques, and conventional attacks. Most important though, is the level of artistry and detail that is shown throughout every minute of the game. The core mission of any game is to create a world that players want to get lost in, and Okami delivers on this in every way – with the gameplay, with the graphics, and with the story. I sincerely hope this game gets the audience it deserves.
Okami is the story of God in wolf's clothing – which is to say the God is in the form of a wolf. You play as said God, Amaterasu, on a quest to rid evil from the land while working to gain all of your celestial powers ba... Read Full Review
Playing the role of a sun god is pretty fun, but when you have to go on a journey to save the world from evil, revive nature, and restore the people's lost faith, it is definitely epic in a grand scale. Okami takes you t... Read Full Review