Okami HD

About

Okami HD is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by CAPCOM Co., Ltd. and was released on December 12, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Okami HD" is a critically acclaimed action-adventure game featuring a sumi-e ink art style. Players control Amaterasu, a sun goddess in the form of a white wolf, on a mission to defeat the eight-headed demon Orochi and restore the world of Nippon. The game offers the choice between modern widescreen format and the original 4:3 ratio, and includes interactive loading game screens from the initial release.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,556 reviews

story1.5k positive mentions

grinding104 negative mentions

The game features a unique and beautiful art style that resembles traditional Japanese watercolor paintings, making it visually stunning.
The story is engaging and filled with rich Japanese mythology, with memorable characters and emotional moments that resonate with players.
The gameplay mechanics, particularly the Celestial Brush, offer innovative ways to interact with the environment and combat, providing a fresh experience.

The game suffers from pacing issues, with long, unskippable cutscenes and excessive dialogue that can interrupt gameplay flow.
Combat can feel repetitive and easy, lacking the challenge that some players may expect from an action-adventure game.
The PC port is locked at 30 FPS and has some technical issues, such as motion blur and camera control problems, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
2,912 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The story of *Okami* is widely praised for its rich narrative rooted in Japanese mythology, featuring a compelling journey of the sun goddess Amaterasu as she battles evil and restores the land. Players appreciate the blend of humor and emotional depth, with memorable characters and engaging side quests that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention the pacing issues and lengthy dialogue, which can detract from the gameplay for those seeking a more action-oriented experience. Overall, the game's storytelling, art style, and music create a captivating and immersive adventure.
- “The story is engaging and heartfelt.”
- “The story is incredible with a really great blend of original content combined with Japanese folklore/mythology which gives a really in-depth, full-rounded story and keeps you interested in what's going to happen next.”
- “The story manages to balance quirky humor and funny characters with dark, unsettling tones and genuinely sad moments; all this without compromising each other.”
- “I kept skipping through the story to get to gameplay, and then the gameplay wasn't very interesting.”
- “The story is fine except for Issun who takes every moment to repeat the dialogue you just heard.”
- “It has a serious story with comedic moments, though, as others have mentioned, it also feels like the developers mixed three different stories into one game and there isn’t much cohesion between them.”
graphics
2,312 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The graphics of *Okami* are widely praised for their unique and timeless art style, heavily inspired by traditional Japanese sumi-e painting. While the cel-shaded watercolor visuals effectively mask some of the game's age, they can appear rough at higher resolutions, revealing the limitations of its original design. Overall, the game's artistic direction is celebrated as a standout feature, enhancing the immersive experience and making it accessible on various hardware without the need for cutting-edge specifications.
- “Visuals are fantastic and the game has aged very well in terms of visuals and game feel.”
- “The definitive proof that unique art direction and creative visuals will always trump graphical fidelity and photo-realism.”
- “The art style is a true work of art, resembling a living watercolor painting that brings the game world to life.”
- “But the game's graphical datedness is apparent as while its cel-shaded watercolor art style hides some of the rough spots, greater fine detail just looks rough which becomes more apparent when played in higher resolutions like 1440p or 4k.”
- “Since this version comes with no graphical or quality of life improvements, and actually has problems the original did not have... go emulate it instead.”
- “The only 'but' is having to play it at 30 fps as it is capped... but with these kind of graphics is not a problem to play.”
gameplay
1,838 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay of *Okami* is characterized by its unique celestial brush mechanic, which allows players to interact with the environment and solve puzzles through drawing, reminiscent of classic Zelda titles. While the game offers a rich narrative and stunning visuals, many players find the combat repetitive and the pacing hindered by excessive cutscenes and dialogue, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall engagement and challenge. Despite these criticisms, the innovative mechanics and artistic presentation make it a memorable experience for fans of action-adventure games.
- “The gameplay leans heavily into exploration and combat, and to complement both of these features is the fantastic celestial brush - a series of techniques that can shape the world and control the elements.”
- “With the celestial brush mechanic, you can draw on your screen to impact your surroundings, not just in combat; you can spawn bombs, spawn fire, thunder, make dead trees alive again, and more!”
- “The gameplay offers a mixture of exploration, combat, puzzles, and mini-games, all of which incorporate the celestial brush mechanic for a fun and creative experience.”
- “For its gameplay, it can be tedious and boring at times, but I think the overall gameplay is an adequate experience if you enjoy the visual novel aspect of it.”
- “My main takeaway from Okami is that the gameplay is subpar, concealed by a very attractive visual.”
- “I really wanted to like this game because the visuals are stunning regardless of the filter slapped on top but after 2 hours of playing hoping to see the game shine gameplay-wise it failed to do so; gameplay feels repetitive and mind-numbingly easy (mash attack button until enemy becomes weak enough then execute a finisher, rinse and repeat), dialogue boxes are long and slow, annoying sidekick who talks 10 dialogue boxes every time something happens which ultimately is truly a shame because the story had captivated my interest.”
music
1,384 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in *Okami* is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's blend of traditional Japanese instruments and orchestral elements, creating a unique and immersive experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game. However, some fans express disappointment over the absence of the original ending song, "Reset," in newer versions, which they feel detracts from the overall musical experience.
- “Great strengths of the game are the music and art direction, both of which give the game an unmistakable identity even 18 years later.”
- “The music is beautiful and haunting, the characters are full of life and memorable, and the story is astounding.”
- “The soundtrack is a blend of traditional Japanese influences with this part-orchestral, part-ethereal mix of sound that sounds godly, epic, and cozy all at once – just how the game wants to appear.”
- “By the 3rd arc, I was sort of done with the same song and dance of going to a village with trouble, helping it, then waltzing through the open area segment outside the village to get to the next objective.”
- “My only gripe is that the original PS2 credit song is not used in this version, which is a real shame.”
- “I turn on the game and it's completely silent, no menu selection noises or music whatsoever.”
humor
366 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and quirkiness, featuring a mix of light-hearted, silly moments and clever writing that often elicits genuine laughter. While many characters, particularly the protagonist Amaterasu and her sidekick Issun, are noted for their comedic appeal, some humor may feel dated or crude, which could detract from the experience for certain players. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with emotional depth, making it an engaging and entertaining adventure.
- “The art style is unique, the characters are hilarious, and the music is phenomenal!”
- “The writing is hilarious and the art style is timeless.”
- “The combat is fast-paced, the art style is gorgeous, the humor is great and the story is engaging.”
- “That is not funny.”
- “That is not funny.”
emotional
280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Okami" is widely praised, with players expressing deep connections to its heartwarming story, charming characters, and stunning visuals. Many reviewers noted that the game evokes a range of feelings, from joy and nostalgia to sadness, often leading to tears during pivotal moments, especially at the conclusion. The blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling, alongside the game's unique art style and music, creates a memorable and touching experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “Joy, dread, sadness, anticipation, relief, suspense, all these emotional moments are one of the key aspects of this game.”
- “The history and characters, alongside the art style make together a game that's completely charming and emotional, you'll laugh and you'll cry.”
- “It's the only game I've ever played that made me cry - nothing else has managed to touch my heart like this game has.”
- “I cried.”
- “I cried.”
- “I cried.”
grinding
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
9%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages where backtracking and item collection become overwhelming. While some appreciate the lack of endless grinding typical in newer games, others feel that the combat and exploration mechanics do not reward the effort put into grinding, leading to a sense of futility. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate the visual novel elements, but it often suffers from pacing issues and excessive cutscenes that detract from the gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Please, God, no more! I've been grinding for 12 hours.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game ends up really grindy in the final third, but the worst part is the camera; it is really frustrating to get the camera control in tight spaces or against boss enemies.”
- “You will spend it doing tedious and mind-meltingly boring tasks that make the game feel more like an interactive comic than something with actual gameplay - and that comic tells a story that sucks with characters you will hate and amateurish ugly art.”
- “In the time I've played with it, I can't think of a single positive thing to say about this game; it just felt like tedious busy work most of the time.”
optimization
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
60%
18%
The optimization of Okami's PC port has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it runs smoothly at a capped 30fps, reminiscent of its original console versions. However, some users have reported performance issues, including stuttering and lag on higher settings, suggesting that the port could have benefited from better optimization for PC. Overall, while it performs adequately on lower-end systems, the lack of significant improvements and some technical limitations have left players divided on its optimization quality.
- “This port is amazingly optimized.”
- “The game runs smoothly, and I've beaten the Wii and PS2 versions alike countless times.”
- “As for the performance, Okami runs at 30fps without any drops, which is pretty good for a game that was originally made for the PS2 and came out in 2006.”
- “Don't bother if you actually want to have acceptable performance.”
- “The optimization is terrible (lag at medium display settings on a fairly good computer), it leaves fullscreen when you tab out (if it lets you) and then doesn't let you reenter fullscreen unless you quit to the main menu, and fails to recognize controllers about a quarter of the time.”
- “The bad: Capcom was a little bit lazy with PC optimization.”
atmosphere
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
26%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art style, immersive sound design, and enchanting music, which together create a unique and captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of Japanese culture and folklore, making it feel both fresh and nostalgic. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, memorable characters, and a compelling narrative contributes to an atmosphere that many consider one of the most influential in video game history.
- “The feel and atmosphere of this game is astounding, the artwork is astonishing and its soundtrack beautiful.”
- “The music, mainly composed by Masami Ueda, is a masterpiece in itself and contributes significantly to the atmosphere and mood of the game.”
- “Absolutely everything about this game is enchanting, especially the Japanese atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay can at times get a little bogged down in fetch quests and backtracking, but the beauty of the environments and soundtrack creates a truly one of a kind atmosphere, when combined with solid storytelling, makes for an extremely special game.”
- “I don't think it detracted from the game or atmosphere that much, but I'd prefer if that stuff wasn't there as it didn't really fit in with the rest of the game's narrative.”
- “I think, somehow back then no one truly realized, but from today's perspective, the quality of atmosphere in this game has to be one of the most influential in video game history.”
replayability
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the engaging story, numerous side quests, and the option for new game+ modes that enhance the experience. While some mention that lengthy dialogues can make subsequent playthroughs feel tedious, the abundance of collectibles, achievements, and different playstyles keeps players coming back for more. Despite a few criticisms, the consensus is that the game offers a rich and enjoyable experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “This game lives on forever as my favorite game that is just enjoyably replayable.”
- “It's a classic, it's replayable, there's always something new to discover, there's always another achievement to get.”
- “Great story, insane amount of engaging side quests, pretty damn good NG+ content as well for replayability.”
- “Because of the lengthy dialogues, it directly leads to one of the cons - replayability. It exists but it's very tedious. After you finish the game, you can start over from the beginning on the same save file and all of your weapons, coins, and inventory items pass on to the new start; however, you also get all of the tutorials again.”
- “Replay value is pretty low.”
- “Acknowledgement that single-story games have little replay value, and attempts to fix that.”
stability
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, frequent freezes, and unskippable cutscenes that hinder gameplay. While some users have noted that it runs well on lower settings and on platforms like the Steam Deck, others have found it nearly unplayable due to graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, the experience varies widely depending on the system and settings used, leading to frustration for some players.
- “I played this game back in 2006 for the PS2, then later for the Wii, and later the HD version on the PS3 (which was in 2012). I had purchased this game on Steam when it first got ported to PC but finally decided to try playing it again when I learned it was compatible on my Steam Deck, and it felt like the perfect offline game to get some hours in (it runs great, by the way).”
- “Despite being capped at 30fps, the game still looks and runs great.”
- “I currently have an Intel i3 and I use low graphics, and it runs great!”
- “Buggy mess that freezes all the time, horridly made mini-games, unskippable cutscenes.”
- “The game freezes and crashes after the introduction, and because said introduction is 6 minutes long, completely unskippable, and full of 'press x to continue' moments, I could only retry a few times with different settings before my patience wore out and I refunded the game.”
- “Buggy to the point of being unplayable.”
character development
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
7%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting the depth and intricacy of individual characters and their stories, which are woven seamlessly into the gameplay. The unique and vibrant character designs complement the engaging narrative, showcasing a blend of traditional folklore and modern storytelling. Overall, the game excels in creating memorable characters that enhance the immersive experience.
- “Overall, Okami's world building and character development are surprisingly strong for a standalone action/adventure game.”
- “At the risk of repeating what every other review has said before, Okami is a beautiful game: its art style stands the test of time, its soundtrack is mesmerizing, with individual pieces written for unique moments in the game, its character development is incredible, and its story is an epic tale of a god roaming the land of mortals.”
- “You meet a lot of interesting characters and villains in a wide variety of locations, many of which have their own mini story going on that is resolved as part of their area of the game; these include decent character development for most of them as well.”
- “You meet a lot of interesting characters and villains, in a wide variety of locations, many of which have their own mini story going on that is resolved as part of their area of the game. These include decent character development for most of them as well.”
- “Overall, Okami's world-building and character development are surprisingly strong for a standalone action/adventure game.”
- “The original game had an amazing soundtrack, a great sumi-e style graphic style, and a charming and witty plot filled with traditional Japanese folklore, humor, and detailed natural-feeling character development.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some praising its lack of microtransactions and straightforward plug-and-play model, while others criticize the developer, Capcom, for perceived cash grab tactics that detract from the game's overall quality and functionality. Users express disappointment that despite the game's potential, it suffers from poor advertising and execution.
- “This game is the embodiment of all the good games from before, no microtransactions, plug and play.”
- “What a bloody shame that Capcom thought it was worth making another cash grab off this title, but didn't care to make a genuine attempt at making it actually function properly.”