Okami HD

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,086 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Okami HD Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,086 reviews
story997 positive mentions
grinding69 negative mentions
  • story1,951 mentions

    The story of *Okami* is a rich tapestry woven from Japanese mythology, featuring the sun goddess Amaterasu in her quest to restore the land from darkness. Players encounter a variety of charming characters and engaging side quests that enhance the narrative, which is both whimsical and poignant, often evoking deep emotions. While the pacing can be slow and dialogue lengthy, the overall storytelling is celebrated for its depth, humor, and artistic presentation, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.

    • “The story is a fantastic japanese mythological epic where you amaterasu has to battle the evil orochi that has poisoned the land.”
    • “The story manages to balance quirky humor and funny characters with dark, unsettling tones and genuinely sad moments; all this without compromising each other.”
    • “The story is long and well told, and the world building is fantastic, and gives a Skyrim-ish feel in that sense.”
    • “The story is captivating, not only because of the interesting plot, but because of the diverse and complex characters that move it along while developing with the plot too.”
    • “The story is all over the place, some things stop being important and some other come out of the blue, (you don't know who is the big bad until the last 30 minutes of the game).”
  • graphics1,572 mentions

    The graphics of *Okami* are widely praised for their stunning, cel-shaded art style that draws inspiration from traditional Japanese sumi-e painting, creating a timeless aesthetic that has aged remarkably well since its original release. While some players note that the game's visuals can appear dated in higher resolutions, the unique art direction effectively conceals these imperfections, allowing the game to maintain its charm and beauty. Overall, the combination of vibrant colors, intricate designs, and a captivating soundtrack contributes to an immersive experience that resonates with players, making it a standout title in the action-adventure genre.

    • “With beautiful cel-shaded graphics, the first reaction I had when I started playing it was awe.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, especially for the year that it was released.”
    • “The definitive proof that unique art direction and creative visuals will always trump graphical fidelity and photo-realism.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are locked at 30 fps, which is disappointing, but the cel-shaded wood block filters and art style help to make this look just fine.”
    • “The graphics are unique, but they don't catch my eye very well.”
  • gameplay1,212 mentions

    The gameplay of *Okami* is characterized by its unique celestial brush mechanic, allowing players to interact with the environment and engage in combat through drawing techniques. While the game offers a blend of exploration, puzzles, and combat reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, many players find the combat to be simplistic and repetitive, with some frustrations stemming from camera controls and lengthy cutscenes that interrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, despite some dated mechanics and pacing issues, the innovative gameplay and stunning art style create a memorable experience that resonates with 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.”
    • “The celestial brush mechanic is a very fun mechanic for interacting with the world and enemies, working with mouse controls even when using a controller as the main input.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is subpar, concealed by a very attractive visual.”
    • “The gameplay 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.”
    • “The brush mechanic is unique and fairly intuitive, especially considering that this is a PS2 game at its core.”
  • music905 mentions

    The music in *Okami* is widely praised for its stunning composition, drawing heavily from traditional Japanese influences and instruments, which enhances the game's immersive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the game's standout features, often describing it as beautiful, enchanting, and emotionally resonant, perfectly complementing the art style and narrative. Despite some disappointment over the absence of the original ending song "Reset" in newer versions, the overall consensus is that the music remains a defining and memorable aspect of the game.

    • “The tracks are inspired by traditional Japanese music and use traditional Japanese instruments, adding a lot to the atmosphere of the game, and making it even better.”
    • “The music is beautiful, gameplay is fun and engaging—with bonus anti-frustration mechanics, story is top tier, characters are lively...10/10.”
    • “The music is incredible, the scenery is breathtaking, the characters are lovable and it's a nice adventure in a mythological history of Japan.”
    • “My only gripe is that the original PS2 credit song is not used in this version, which is a real shame.”
    • “The only real disappointment here was that the end credits song is not the beautiful classic 'reset' by Ayaka Hirahara from the original release.”
    • “I wish something clear and easy would exist to patch the game to get the original ending song ('reset'), the remake ending song is just nothing in comparison, it does not give the same feels at all.”
  • humor247 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of charming, quirky, and sometimes crude elements, with many players appreciating the light-hearted banter and comedic character interactions. While some jokes and character quirks may lose their novelty over time or not age well, the overall comedic tone is often described as delightful and engaging, contributing to the game's whimsical atmosphere. However, there are instances of humor that may not resonate with all players, particularly those that lean towards outdated or inappropriate themes.

    • “The story is both beautiful and hilarious.”
    • “It's both an epic, heartfelt adventure and also one of the most hilarious games of the PS2 era with a lot of incredible visual gags throughout.”
    • “The characters are quirky, funny, and well written.”
    • “That is not funny.”
  • emotional184 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Okami" is widely praised for its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy and laughter to deep sadness and nostalgia. Players frequently mention the game's heartfelt storytelling, charming characters, and stunning visuals, which together create a rich, immersive experience that often leads to tears, especially during poignant moments and the emotional ending. Overall, the game is celebrated as a beautiful, wholesome adventure that resonates deeply with players, making it a memorable and impactful journey.

    • “Joy, dread, sadness, anticipation, relief, suspense, all these emotional moments are one of the key aspects of this game.”
    • “I am not exaggerating when I say this game has made me cry on multiple occasions, especially the ending.”
    • “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.”
    • “I cried.”
    • “The game failed to evoke any real emotions.”
    • “I felt completely disconnected from the characters.”
  • grinding77 mentions

    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 can feel like busy work. While some appreciate the lack of excessive grinding compared to newer titles, others criticize the slow pacing, lengthy dialogues, and frustrating mechanics that contribute to a sense of monotony. Overall, players suggest that while the game has engaging elements, the grinding can detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like an interactive comic than a dynamic gameplay experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Please, God, no more! I've been grinding for 12 hours.”
    • “Pretty much everything else besides the combat is 10/10, but because the combat is bad, exploring, grinding, gathering items, and leveling up feels pretty pointless because it just makes the combat even easier than it already is.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization70 mentions

    The optimization of Okami's port has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it runs smoothly at a locked 30fps, reminiscent of its original console performance. However, some users have reported significant performance issues, including stuttering and lag, particularly on higher settings, and criticized the implementation of DRM that may further hinder performance. Overall, while the game is visually appealing and performs adequately on lower-end systems, it lacks the optimizations expected from a modern PC release.

    • “Okami is a port of a PS2 game and is capped at 30fps (for good reasons); the game runs smoothly and beautifully, and I didn't even notice this 'limitation'.”
    • “This port is amazingly optimized.”
    • “I was able to play at medium, at 1080p, at a locked 30fps, on a graphics card that's significantly less powerful than the minimum requirements (GT 730m).”
    • “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.”
    • “Little to no optimization done for PC.”
  • atmosphere68 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ethereal quality, enhanced by a masterfully executed art style and a soundtrack inspired by traditional Japanese music. Reviewers highlight the immersive world, vibrant character designs, and the seamless integration of music and visuals, creating a unique and enchanting experience that captivates players. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, whimsical, and deeply engaging, making it a standout feature that resonates with fans.

    • “The tracks are inspired by traditional Japanese music and use traditional Japanese instruments, adding a lot to the atmosphere of the game and making it even better.”
    • “The atmosphere brought me into the times I lost myself in Ocarina of Time. It's very well made, the story is interesting, gameplay is good; it's just the perfect little adventure to go on.”
    • “The music, scenery, and atmosphere are all so beautiful, not to mention the gameplay is incredibly fun.”
    • “I replayed it about 5 times now and the world with its zany atmosphere never ceases to dissuade me.”
    • “While it doesn't look that detailed graphics-wise, the art design has a very eye-pleasing watercolor-paintbrush look and the lack of detail is by no means detrimental to the 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.”
  • replayability45 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the rich story, engaging side quests, and the ability to collect achievements and items. While some mention that lengthy dialogues and certain mechanics can make replaying tedious, the presence of New Game+ options and various playstyles keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable. Despite a few criticisms, the consensus is that the game offers significant replay value, making it a favorite among players.

    • “Very replayable for those who get bored easily; the aesthetics are immaculate, especially with the HD graphics. The dialogue is both comedic and can send you into tears.”
    • “Great story, an insane amount of engaging side quests, and pretty good New Game Plus content for replayability.”
    • “There's always something new to discover, and there's always another achievement to get, making it a classic and highly replayable.”
    • “It wasn’t so bad the first time I went through it, but it lowers replayability for sure.”
    • “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 carry over, however, you also get all of the tutorials again.”
    • “Replay value is pretty low.”
  • stability37 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs, frequent freezes, and graphical glitches that can render it unplayable, particularly after the lengthy introduction. While some players have experienced smooth performance on lower settings or with specific configurations, others have encountered persistent issues, especially related to controller input and compatibility with certain hardware. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable number of players expressing frustration over its technical shortcomings.

    • “Runs great on PC.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Despite being capped at 30fps, the game still looks and runs great.”
    • “Buggy mess that freezes all the time, horridly made mini-games, unskippable cutscenes.”
    • “Now the game freezes within the first couple seconds again, rendering the game non-playable.”
    • “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.”
  • character development34 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and meaningful progression, with many characters experiencing significant growth throughout the story. The unique and vibrant character designs complement their personalities, enhancing the overall narrative experience. While some characters may be perceived as annoying, their development ultimately contributes to a richer storytelling experience, making the game a standout in its genre.

    • “It's one of the best games to get a grasp of great story and character development, and will challenge you to think outside the box.”
    • “They all have their own unique personalities and designs that perfectly complement them, and many of them actually go through meaningful character development over the course of the game.”
    • “Due to the cel-shaded and painting-esque art style, vibrant and expressive animations, moving soundtrack, and exquisitely interesting character design, the game is an audiovisual masterpiece that holds up in those areas a full twelve years after initial release.”
    • “The only downside to the game's story is that characters such as Issun or Susano can be a bit annoying, but I feel like the story allows them to actually have character development in a way that makes you feel less annoyed at their existence.”
    • “- the character designs, nothing sets them apart, I actually have a hard time telling who is who, apart from one character.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions and downloadable content, reflecting a time when games prioritized player experience over profit. Reviewers lament the shift towards cash grabs and exploitative practices in the industry, highlighting the game's integrity as a refreshing contrast to modern trends. Overall, the game is celebrated for its genuine design and focus on gameplay rather than monetization strategies.

    • “This game is the embodiment of all the good games from before, no microtransactions, plug and play.”
    • “Soothing and fun, and untouched by the evils of abusive DLC, microtransactions, embedded spyware from underhanded publishers and gratuitously disturbing content just for the sake of being edgy.”
    • “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.”
    • “This gem comes from a time when video games were video games and not gambling simulators or filled with microtransactions.”
    • “Truly a passionate game from the time when game devs actually cared about the product and not its monetization!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

42hMedian play time
37hAverage play time
20-51hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

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