Two E3’s ago (my 1st) I played Okami and walked away astounded. Just astounded. I mean seriously. I couldn’t talk about anything else. At this past E3 I saw a more refined product, but thankfully they kept the same mechanics and gameplay.

Of course with the Wii around I couldn’t help but wish the game was on the Wii, since using a celestial brush seemed like such a natural use of the Wiimote.
Alas, it’s not to be (at least not yet). But this game site atop my list for most-wanted game, where it’s been now for over a year. I hope and pray that Capcom can ease my suffering and release the game soon. (Rumors say September)

I know you’ve probably read all you can handle about this game, and may even be getting tired of all the attention and hype. Try not to blame those who’ve played the game. Call it a combination of a great game and just plain being excited that a company is trying something different.

I knew I’d be hooked when I first started running around and saw the new plant life created in my wake. When I jumped, upon landing there was an explosion of new life. In that instant I knew what my character was and what my motivation for playing as that character were. To restore life and fix the world around me(Quite a noble pursuit). It just felt good.
The game is like Shadow of the Colossus in the sense that you feel what’s going on with these characters, you don’t really need to be told. It’s wonderful non-verbal storytelling at it’s finest.

From an IGN preview:

While many games today are designed around slaughtering your foes and cutting their remains into tiny bits, Okami is the reverse of this; it’s about rebuilding the world around you, making what was once beautiful but ravaged a peaceful place again. While there’s plenty of combat here, you restore the land’s wonder not by fighting but by painting. Giving life back to trees, restoring shattered statues and rebuilding the very fabric of existence is done with a few quick strokes of a very powerful brush. The game is certainly a breath of fresh air in the days of murder simulators (not that we don’t love them too).

Gamevideos.com has tried to satiate my thirst, but all they’ve done is steel my resolve. I NEED THIS GAME.
Drool with me over these Okami videos. (after the jump)

I can’t wait.
Pre-order Okami from Amazon.com