We've all heard about Okami's stunning graphics, unique gameplay, and epic story art, but I believe the finer features of the game are incredibly under-appreciated. Okami's Nippon has been fine-tuned to feel like a real world--one where things happen outside the main character's life, one where people are real people with personalities and lives, one that you want to explore from nose to tail. Okami has a focus on the environment which, combined with the unique and somewhat abstract graphics, shows the beauty of nature in a new light. Unlike the Zelda games Okami is so commonly compared to (and with good reason), as well as other saving-the-world stories, Okami seems to be more about saving the land itself, not just the people of the land, which brings an original and gratifying element into play. The gibberish voices of the characters may be annoying at times but adds to the sense that you're in another world in another time, where people don't actually speak English. Aided by brilliant animation and beautifully composed music, Okami is a masterpiece not to be missed. If there is any one game that could be considered 'art', this is it. Take off your goggles and dive in. You won't want to come out.… Expand

You simple must play this materspiece!

Words cannot describe how amazing this game is.

I only gave this game a 6 because it would be a fabulous game, with beautiful game play and gorgeous musical scores, etc: if, that is, it would let me play. Typical game: sit for 20 minutes through dialogue, 5 minutes of "play", then sit through repetitive dialogue again. Let me play! I love the game and everything about it but the fact that it's trying to lead me by the hand when I'd rather figure these things out myself. I don't need all this talk.… Expand

Very close to perfection!

I have played OKAMI for about 26 Hours so far & I don't think I'm done yet, which I am very happy about. You won't want it to end. An Absolute Marvel!

This game is beautiful, light and definitly lives up to the hype it got. Having been dissapointed lately with my video game purchases, i started playing this game and found it very hard to put it down. Astetics are very big for me with a video game and it DEFINITELY delivers on that front. The story is beautiful and overall its just a lovely game to enjoy. It is not for the "must kill and see blood" groups, but if you just want a beautiful game that wont take you hours to figure out, then pick this up.… Expand

Never did I think that a game of such aesthetic splendor could still bring life out of the gasping PS2 now that next-gen consoles are trying to grab every gamer's attention. A single screenshot was worth a thousand words, but the actual experience of the game is priceless.. The visuals were stunningly gorgeous and artistic, the concept of the story was utter genius, and the gameplay couldn't be more inventive. It just goes to show that a game doesn't always have to be edgy to be wanted.… Expand

Great game. This kind of game is just what the video game industry need to expand.

Everything about Okami is amazing. ...Except the gameplay, which is just pretty good. And too often moving forward in the game just means poking around randomly until something happens.

This game was excellent, it is a beautiful game and it was a unique concept, and kept me busy for a good long time. Though i found it kind of easy, i didnt mind because of the beautiful scenery and the many things that you can do. It was great. Wayyyy better than any zelda game i've played.

this game is great in concept and shows that graphics are not what games are all about

A refreshing breath into a increasingly stale selection of games for the PS2. While some of the more Japanese related undertones and meanings may be lost on the international audience, this story-rich and graphically impressive folktale mashup is proof that you don't need extreme violence and cutting edge graphics to create an utterly absorbing game. If you're looking for your plain old violent game with explosions and testosterone laden posturing, move on. However, if you're looking for a story rich and simply entertaining way to spend the next couple weekends, this game is for you.… Expand

This game is the best game I have played in years, very easy to get the hang of but progresses in difficulty as you upgrade and get more powers. The graphics are amazing, im not a big fan of anime(ish) graphics, but this game is beautiful, the gameplay is seamless, the music/sound effects are nice, except some of the "voices" can be annoying. Overall, this is a do not miss title for the ps2, go buy Okami... now. An instant classic.… Expand

Like Psychonauts, Okami represents the end of one era of gaming and the beginning of something new. I'm not sure what it is, but it's interesting (and, apparently, not contingent on next-gen hardware).

Simple, yet deeply compelling gameplay, and it is an absolute feast for the eyes. Whoever said that games are not art just might change their mind after seeing this beauty. 12 hours in, and I feel I've barely scratched the surface of this epic tale.

I hate to "gender" a video game, but this one does have a feminine feel to it. It's hard to explain, but I guess it's all relative to your personal gaming experiences. Having played more graphicly violent games has perhaps jaded my view on this offering where one-button attacks and bloodless battles seem pretty simplistic. When goals are achieved, the reward is blossoming flowers in meadows and re-flowing rivers and streams. This either a problem for you or it is not. There are no intense exchanges and no adrenaline-pumping sequences to speak of. The graphics themselves are stunning...the use of color is dazzling and the whole "feel" created by the style of art is quite possibly the closest thing to perfect I've ever seen. You might want to experience the game simply for the remarkable amount of talent and flawless execution in this offering. I found it a little "easy" overall and more of a puzzle type game for younger, less 'testosterone laden" gamers, but overall pretty good. Just expect a light, relatively easy, but visually perfect game.… Expand

Well, Sony finally has itself a Zelda game. Basically, take the visuals of Viewtiful Joe and combine them with the wolf sections of Twilight Princess, and you have Okami. The story is great, the graphics are stunning, the gameplay...is a little repetitive, other than the awesome brush techniques, but still...Okami is lengthy but well-paced, and deserves to be played. Way better than any other adventure game the PS2 has, and almost as good as a Zelda title. At $40, you're not going to be let down.… Expand

The best game on ps2 this year after FFXII. Most original game ever to exist on this console at least. Innovative, fluid and amazing to look at.

I passed this game 3 times and I still play it. Well that means that this game is good cause I have more than 1000 games.

Simply amazing action/adventure game with some of the most imaginative visuals, beautful music and relaxing, captivating gameplay you'll find on any system, bettering even Twilight Princess at its own game.

This game brought me back to the joys i felt in gaming when i was a child. They don't make them like this anymore.

For all you people that haven't gotten deep into this epic masterpiece and understand why people love it to death because it truly is a masterpiece of epic proportions, you have no right to criticize it because you never got far into the storyline. It pisses me off more than anything when people do that. Hail second-place game of the year 2006!!!

I've heard a lot of good things about this game and so I decided I'd give it a try. I played 6 hours of it and I really liked the unique graphics and the exploring. However, it was too easy since the little flea on my head would tell me exactly where to go and what to do. There was really nothing to it. The story was interesting, although I constantly lost my diegesis when the annoying character voice overs would talk. All in all, this is a fun kids' game. My little 10 year-old cousin loved it. He said it reminded him of exploring the lands in Final Fantasy XII and Zelda. If you like a game that actually requires you to think a little and practice finger movement and coordination (i.e. God of War, Resident Evil 4, Shadow of the Colossus, etc.) then this is NOT the game for you. Let your little cousins play this one. That is all.… Expand

The best game i've played. I stop playing Zelda Twilight Princess for this game (even if i'm fond of Zelda games).Okami is as good as (or even better than) Ocarina of Time (N64) or Wind Waker (GC) and far more creative than them. There are more things to do and very good gameplay ideas, a large and amazing universe with lots of secret things to discover, a long story (very rare in videos games now :( ), and graphics very uncommon but beautiful too and that allow developers to enable far more interaction with the universe (it changes of the good-looking game of our time where universe is static and u have just to go straight and hit all the time). I will never forget it. I want an Okami 2 !!! It should reach the pantheon of the best videos games ever created.… Expand

Although not extremely difficult, it is extremely satisfying. I read a review that compared this game to the "Zelda" series, which I have to agree with. The quality and depth is addictive and keeps me coming back for more. I don't finish every game I pick up, in fact, I'd say I get to the end of about 10% of them. This one I will be finishing! (I'm nearly there...)

This game is definitely a marvel, but by no stretch of the imagination is it perfect. The "humor" in the game is always crude, which I found to be repugnant. The garbled voices often pushed me to the brink of insanity. And the vast majority of the game is mind-numbingly easy. However, despite its shortcomings, the game is an absolute joy to play. The breath-taking graphics, beautiful soundtrack, and polished gameplay are alone enough to merit a purchase. One of the games biggest strengths is, in my opinion, it's magical undertones. It all seems so merrily surreal that I just couldn't leave the television harboring ill sentiments. All in all, a truly wonderful game.… Expand

Okami has been a game I have been all hot and flustered for since I first saw some stills on gamespot.com quite some time ago. Then the trailers and game play teasers started showing up, finally OPM had a demo a while back. I don't know how many of you have a good feeling about a game but then play a demo - that times out after ten minutes! - and the demo just clinches it. You get that itch - like some kind of junkie - then spend the weeks...months until release sniffing out any information on any site. Finally, the game is released! Huzzah! Are the reviewers correct in their assessments? Is this game going to crumble under the weight of its own hype? Hell, do I even want to play it now that I know all about the game - let alone spend fifty bucks? With Okami the answer is a resounding yes. If you have been following the game and the reviews don't bother reading what's coming up just scroll down a bit until you see ranting about the CW network. Still reading? Okay then. The story behind Okami is fairly standard mythology: Great evil defeated by swordsman and magical wolf, etc., etc. Grateful villagers build statues of swordsman and wolf. All is well. Great evil returns a century later. Swordsman is MIA and wolf statue comes to life. Time to right all wrongs, defeat the great evil...again. Or as the press release from Capcom stated: "In Okami, the legendary monster Orochi has come back to life and turned the world into a veritable wasteland. Players must assume the role of a wolf, an embodiment of the sun god Amaterasu, which is capable of wielding unimaginable power. The state of the world lies in gamer's hands as they must fight ominous beings and reclaim the earth from a curse that plagues it. It is crucial to help Amaterasu make the world a place where all living creatures can dwell once again. [Capcom]" It's actually a bit more complicated than that and fortunately I have a fairly okay knowledge of Japanese mythology - thanks wikipedia and Japanese movies! - but all in all it's understandable. What makes me happy is the way the story is told - straight up mythology. No mumbo-jumbo, no mana, no baloney that you have to just accept because otherwise you'd end up with a nervous tic. So story = double plus good...though in a few spots it gets a bit talky. Now down to brass tacks - this game is stunning. Really genuinely stunning and not just in a Shadow of the Colossus sort of way. Where Shadow was a bleak, washed-out, barren landscape Okami is a riot of color, even when venturing in cursed areas. The landscape is gorgeous, at times it's difficult not to just stop and look around. In fact it's almost a shame to just race through this world that's been lifted from ukiyo-e (Japanese paintings - you'd know them if you saw them). The characters are extremely well-designed and personable. Mr. Orange is the Mayor of Kikumi village and his dance number amused me greatly. The enemies are drawn from Japanese mythology - literally. I like the monkey musicians. All right, enough with the gushing about how pretty the game is. How does it play? Effortlessly. The controls are simple enough to pick up and play. Getting the full effect of the controls is another issue entirely. Ameratsu's magical weapon is a paintbrush. Hold R1 to bring up a parchment and make different "brushstrokes" with the left analog. Different brushstrokes will have different effects on the landscape and/or enemies. It's really pretty neat once you get the hang of it. The nice thing about holding R1 is that the transition is smooth - the same can be said for bringing up the map with L2. Combat is pretty darn easy truth be told. You'd be fine with button mashing and also fine with a bit of finesse. I have the most fun just running around and exploring in any game. Okami has plenty of that but it never turns to drudgery. As Ameratsu runs she eventually is sprinting hell-bent for leather and this makes travelling long distances much, much easier. There's plenty to do in this game and I look forward to doing it all. When all is said and done I think that Okami might be one of the best games for the PS2 - possibly in my top ten favorites. If you're the kind of gamer who is tired of all the damn sequels and series and just plain crappy formulaic games and needs something new and actually fun to play without too much kawaii then please pick up Okami. This is one of those games where if enough people buy it then maybe just maybe game developers will start importing more games or - gasp - North American designers will start taking more risks. If games are really going to mature in this next generation then they can't be all flash...but that's a rant for another time.… Expand

Love, love, love this game. Definitely a masterpiece.

The gameplay is excellent, but my opinion of it is dramitacally lower than BEFORE I purchased it. The minute I started up the game I was presented with utter disappointement at the horrible imatation of dialogue that was given to the opening narrative. It was such an annoying sound I was actaully cringing. My friend comes out of the living room laughing at me "so this is the game you were raving about? You should ask for your money back." It was so annoying my wife yelled at me from across the house "I don't know what your doing with the TV but stop it!" Finally, I had to put the darn thing on mute just to with stand the horrible voice (which cannot be skipped by the way). Fortunately, when I finally got to actual gameplay, Okami lived up to my expectations. And while the rest of the characters still use the imitation of speech for their dialogue, it is no where near as bad as what was used in the opening story. Perhaps I should give this game a higher rating, perhaps not. It's been a long time since a game actually gave me a headache.… Expand

A Masterpiece! Designers on all consoles should take note of all the beauty, art, gameplay innovation and visual flair that are together on this game. This puts to shame many of the "Next-Gen" X360 library. Pure poetry in motion.

This game lives up to all its hype and then some. It's a shame it had to come out so late in the PS2's lifecycle.

This is probably the best game ever made. To me it is the best anyway. The artwork is absoloutely stunning and the story never gets boring. You can play it over and over again and you will never get bored. Yes, I know the combat may be a little too easy but still is extremely fun and exciting. The Japanese music is beautiful and I recommend this to everybody. It's a shame that these sort of games are never very popular, but just because it doesn't have pop music and blood, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy it. It's truly amazing.… Expand

This game is a true masterpiece that everyone should experience.

The best, most creative and ingenious game I have ever played! I have played a lot of games and none reach Okami's standards.

Beautiful and fun! Celestial brush is a great feature, but it breaks at times. Too bad Clover Studios is gone...

I have never felt the need to rate a game before, but this review is for you: yes, you, the curious gamer who hasn't played this game yet. I want you to buy this game and let the studios know that gamers want something more. Because that is what Okami delivers. Okami is a true breath of fresh air. A visually beautiful study in Japanese mythology with a gameplay hook that will draw you into the world and keep you fixed from start to finish. So much to discover, so many seemingly pointless details that bring the world to life. Why all the fish? Why the snowball game? Why feed the animals? I urge you to play it and find out. If you buy one more game for your PS2 before waving goodbye to the last generation, make it this one.… Expand

Simply the best game I have ever played, and I have played a lot. The whole game plays out like one of those magical moments the Zelda series doles out so sparingly, one magic whirlwind of blissful happiness. Speaking of Zelda, the comparisons are inaccurate. This game goes far and above anything the Zelda series has ever done, sustaining the illusion of a magical fantasy world where wolves converse with sparrows and there's a verdant world specially made for you to delve into. I have never seen this amout of exploration; around every corner there's a ledge with a litltle reward, or a treasure chest buried underground, or an old man in need of help. All of these things are inconsequential to the story, but absolutely can't fail to put a massive grin on your face, and sustain the concept of Okami's world as a real one, with living beings and a troubled past. The gamer is never made to feel shortchanged, and I have never seen a game so intent on pleasing the player; even the loading screens have minigames! The art direction is obviously the best ever, I don't need to go into that. The story is also great, full of tender scenes and quirky humour (seriously, Issun's blatant womanising is something to behold.) For anyone having doubts, I could never get into the 3D Zeldas, and I loved this immediately. Magical.… Expand

By and away the greatest game I have ever played. Incredible, beautiful graphical style, perfect gameplay, and amazing, amazing, story and characters. I've never cried during any movie or game or any such medium until this one. Some complain about the low level of difficulty. While enemies are easy, it really doesn't detract from how fun the battles are; there is more to achieve from winning than merely surviving. What's more, not much else in the game could be classified as "easy". Another complaint is the sound of the character's voices. I will admit, it was an unusual choice, but now I love them. A refusal to accept the change is probably more the actual reason for the complaint. Finally, some (a few some, at that) regard most of plot as unnecessary. While the intro movie of the game may indicate plot resolution at an earlier point, it would be unfair to restrict a game merely to its intro. Furthermore, if it had been restricted, the plot, I would argue, would then have a problem; (spoiler) defeating Orochi and jut ending the game there would have been somewhat pointless; what's to stop him from rising again? No, the game needed to go further and wholly resolve the whole thing. Ah, and the humor is great too. I have no idea what that complaint is about.… Expand

Okami, one of the games in my top 10. The graphics are so f***ing beautiful, almost everybody that has played this game cannot help but fall in love with the main character Amateratsu, THE most EPIC storyline since final fantasy 8 and gta san andreas, and just when you think it's the end, your journey is far from over (this happens twice). This game is one of the most respected cult hits among video gaming, surpassing classic cult hits such as ICO and shadow of the colossus, earning countless awards and winning 2nd place over-all game of the year 2006 (behind oblivion), a true classical masterpiece!!!… Expand

Yes, it is an innovative game that is very nice to look at. But as mentioned by many reviews...I simply can't get over the generic, babbling voices. It ruins a lot of the game as conversations happen very frequently throughout the game. The other 2 things I will ding the game for is it's difficulty level and it's repetitiveness. Given the fact that I am probably far away from completing this game (and I probably never will), I have a question for all people that are playing this game. Did you ever manage to die? The opponents, with the exception of the one big boss I met so far, are very easy to beat even without using any of the items, such as health replenishers or attack blockers, that you can buy / find throughout the game. The difficulty level so far is almost insulting to me as a mature gamer. Now quickly my last point, new opponents are introduced too infrequent. Once you figure out how to beat a specific guy it is not fun anymore, just doubling up on enemies in the mini battles doesn't make it more challenging either. The challenge soon becomes trying to avoid the "green flying carpets" that represent battles. Final verdict: I get that the brush innovation and the storyline are the important parts of this game. However that makes it only a slightly above average if you add the negative points I mention above into the mix. Not sure if I get the hype around this game.… Expand

[***Spoilers***] Concept, graphics, and overall length of gameplay are incredible. Where the game falls short, as posted by the netjak reviewer, is the strange plot twist not even halfway through the game where you think you have beaten the game, but no, you are nowhere close. The problem is, at no other point of the game do you get this feeling of accomplishment by ganing new brush techniques and by finding and conquering new lands. Pacing is very much off and makes the latter parts of the game very repetitive and frankly, pointless.… Expand

I've played the game for 60 hours and I'm still not done collecting everything. It's an awesome experience. Great graphics, sounds, gameplay, etc.

It is an amazing game!

Simple beauty and a masterpiece. Fun, innovative, involving, and engaging...why did you have to close Clover Studios? A perfect memento mori for the terrific studio.

I really love the graphics for this game and it's main character is the best!

Amazing game! Tons of playing hours. Very recommended.

An unnappreciated, practically flawless masterpiece.

A beautifully crafted, unique gaming experience. Easily the best looking cell-shaded game out there too, playing it feels like you should have a PS3 or 360 pad within your fingertips. It's just so exciting to play over and over.

Simply the single greatest game out there. Such a shame no-one seems to have noticed it, despite all the (spot-on) reviews.

This game is amazing. It is a wonderful adventure/platformer game which brings something fresh to the genre. There are lots of interesting platforming puzzles, the fighting is fun, and the visual style of the game is amazing. There is a good bit of humor (though sometimes it wears a bit thin if repeated too often) and the whole game feels very coherent. Unlike many games, every time you pick it up and play it for an hour it feels like you got something done, and the game is long enough to be well worth the money (I'd say about 100 hours of gameplay). Nothing gets too repetitive, none of the minigames are annoying, and overall the game does a great job of progressing the story. Okami's greatest weakness is its general ease - the game is too easy by a good margin, and while condusive to continuing on the story, Oorochi is a major letdown of a boss and many of the enemies are pretty much trivial. Overall I give this game extremely high marks, but the ease drives it down to a 9 from a 10.… Expand

The game has an amazing atmosphere, a well-executed mechanic, a charming art style, and manages to last much longer than you expect it to. If I could forget one game entirely so that I could play it over again with the same experience as the first time, this would be that game.

Where do i begin? This game is FANTASTIC i cannot find a better game for ps2 (The Ratchet and clank seiries come close) i only just finished the game and im on the second way through now. First of all the graphics, amazing i love the Paint-style to it and the animation is brilliant too Controls: easy to use fun and creative gameplay: Major part of the game (For me) and best gameplay i've had since Half-life 1 Storyline: a little confusing if you dont play through the game all the way through in one go but overall really good (I like how they take stories from actual japanise legends) Only thing i can say is that some of the puzzles are impossible without help or walkthroughs and that most of the bosses aren't challenging enough but still the game is great and i would LOVE to see a okami 2.… Expand

Flawlessly executed and stylisticly realized. This game pleases beyond all that was expected.

Perfect! absolutely stunning in it's presentation. this game oozes with style and flawless playability. some say it's too easy, but i disagree. this game is all about beauty, originality, and fantastic story telling. there are ton's of mini-games and side-quests to more than satisfy any level of gamer. seriously, if you have not already, buy this game!

Simply the best game for the PS2. It has so many twists and turns, hidden secrets, and side quests that sucks up your life. Whenever I play a new game its never quite the same experience as Okami The only comparison I can make is with the Zelda series, but it surpasses it in some ways. The integration of brush techniques and character building are unique. The whole experience is absorbing and intriguing. It never gets boring and every environment is fresh and beautiful. I just wish there was a sequal… Expand

The 'REAL' fantastic game i've ever played! Its gorgeous art, soulful music and thrilling gameplay magnetize you into the most beautiful world of games you've ever seen. This game will make your life's most beautiful moment ever!

For me, the best game ever. It's beautiful: just like a living painting; entertaining: the adventure is rich and many characters are to remember (i loved tiny Issun and his taste for busty ladies^^); and offers an original gameplay. Get it if you don't own this masterpiece yet!

VERY good game. Haven't been this pleasantly surprised by a game in a while. Also one of the more recent games that kept me playing late in the night with that feeling of telling myself "just one more checkpoint". Very good art design and innovative new ideas for fighting. Great characters and one of the funniest games I have ever played. Also great how much game there is and how they make you think it is over but then add more story. Great value. Few problems are is it confusing where to go or what to do, and the game does not explain some of this that well. This leads to a lot of wandering around. A walkthrough for these parts are a must. Also need more checkpoints in case you don't want to have to play 1 hr+ every sit-down. Also could get a little talkative, without much action at some parts. There are also many problems with how precise brush is. I would make a slash but it would not be recognized for any good reason and this can be VERY frustrating. This was probably biggest and most annoying flaw in the game, the brush imprecision. All in all a great game.… Expand

Easily one of the best looking titles on the PS2 ever, Okami is as beautifully artistic as it is innovative. Pros: An astounding amount of depth within the gameplay and storyline; stunning graphics; solid controls; epic soundtrack; funny characters; the Celestial Brush is easy to use. Cons: Easy combat leads to repetitive button mashing; some occasional camera issues.

To give you an idea of how good I think Okami is, I compare every single game I review to this game and GTA. Your review must be at least 150 characters long.

Unlike any other game out there, it is truly unique and a work of art. It's an amazing game for anyone. Ignore any negative reviews you ever see about this game, they're always just impatient children who don't want to read dialogue (give me a break!). Okami is the best!

A near perfect game great story breakthrough gameplay and just plain fun my only complaint is that theres no voice acting just a mumbling sound a must buy!!