Okami (PlayStation 2)

This is by far one of the best games ive ever played!!! The graphics are absolutly AMAZING the controls are FANTASTIC, and the story line is GREAT!!! I highly reccomend this game!!!

Okami is one of my favorite games of all time. You play Amaterasu, a goddess in the form of a wolf. The world has been destroyed by an evil monster, and your job is to restore life to the world and defeat the monster (and some other monsters who happen along later). You accomplish this by traveling around and unlocking puzzles with your celestial brush, which allows you to paint your way to a goal. You will fight enemies with a combination of upgradable weapons, power-ups, and celestial brush. Some of the brush strokes are tricky at first, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of them. There are numerous mini-games, too. In this respect, Okami has been likened to some of the Legend of Zelda games. The graphics are absolutely beautiful, and some of the effects are breathtaking. I enjoyed the music, for the most part. Many of the characters may seem annoying at first (especially since their voices are gibberish), but they grow on you. The gameplay is fun, though it can get repetitive (it gets a lot more fun once you unlock the fire brushstroke). Many enemy types are recycled, including the bosses. Power-ups are plentiful, so you will rarely die, yet when I played I still felt there was sufficient challenge and satisfaction from a battle well fought or a puzzle finally unlocked. Battles are pitched, so in many cases you can avoid them or seek them out as needed. There is a lot of land to traverse, but your character Amaterasu can run very fast at top speed (with flowers springing up in her wake), and there are numerous portals you can unlock to warp from place to place. I set the age at ten because it may be too difficult for younger players, and there is some very mild sexual innuendo and scatological humor. There is a lot of fighting, and a lot of enemies are sliced in two. Blood is minimal, usually limited to highly stylized cutscenes. If your children are used to bloodless cartoons and/or fairly young they may find it off putting. Despite the violence, I recommend this game as an alternative to the usual fare. In Okami the player will derive pleasure and satisfaction from restoring the world rather than destroying it. I felt good after playing Okami. If you are considering this game for younger kids, I recommend renting it and either playing it yourself, or watching another gamer play so you can see for yourself if it's appropriate for your children.

I loved this game. Funnest game ever.

was pretty good at first but then the combat started getting repetitive so i quit and sold it at gamestop and traded it for tales of abyss

Three words: I LOVE IT. I believe that Okami is the greatest adventure game ever. It has spectacular graphics and awesome, fantasy-related powers & controls!! I have actually cried too! (when Ammy had to board the Ark of Yamoto & leave Issun) because they are the greatest of friends! I am a pro at okami (I've beat it 3 times :) and i will never stop loving it! I also hope there's a number two where Issun and Amaterasu re-unite and have to go on an even GREATER adventure!

Sometimes, I go in my room and eat walnuts with peantu butter while watching video tapes of my potty training. Then I debate with my cat Romano if Jason Bates has too many freckles. See 'ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best game ever!

If you're a fan of the Japanese culture, you'll love this game! I know I did! Based on a real legend, this game lets you play as Omikami Amaterasu, a Japanese Goddess who uses a paintbrush as a weapon. The educational part is that you'll learn a bit about the Japanese culture. You'll laugh and cry at certain parts of this game. Okami is a must for every gamer!