P-Vock's Music Box: My Goddess
Hello and welcome to P-Vock's Music Box. My friends, this week I finished Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and I am so beyond happy about my experience. That entire game feels cathartic. A series that nearly died and needed a rigorous fan campaign to even be considered for a release outside of Japan (that actually would become more popular outside of Japan) has blossomed into one of the most unique and celebrated series in video games. As a longtime fan of these games, it feels cathartic to see it showered with the praise and sales success it so deserves. So, let's yell about yet another game that does not get the respect it deserves.
Look up any list of underrated video games, games that more people need to play, or even just games that deserve a sequel and you will likely come across the 2006 Capcom gem Okami. With a wonderful story and tons of memorable characters, some of the greatest visuals ever put into a game that burst with charm almost 2 decades later (Christ, I'm old), and an absolutely stellar soundtrack, Okami stands tall as one of those pieces of media that has a relatively small but extremely loud fanbase.
Let's dive into what may be the most known and celebrated piece of music from this astonishing adventure.
In Okami, you play as the sun goddess Amaterasu, who has been reincarnated as a beautiful wolf. When you run. flora blooms behind you with each step and after a while, you whoosh into a full sprint that feels so wonderful and free. This music captures the feeling of a morning jog building into an intense sprint perfectly (and has accompanied me on jogs many times in my life). It may not be the most intense theme, but holy hot hamburgers it sure does motivate me. A track that has hit many lists of best overworld themes in video games for good reason, Ryoshima Coast is a track I never get tired of. A piece that motivates me to keep going no matter what.
Speaking of motivation.
Holy shit, Okami's final boss fight is so damn good. The boss uses your unique abilities in fun ways, it challenges the player more than anything else along the journey and feels truly climactic, the people Ammy met along her journey are praying for her safety and it gradually unlocks her powers after they get sealed, and the music. The music is just so.
so.
POWERFUL.
Keeping that same buildup and drive that Ryoshima Coast did, The Sun Rises is a track that continues to raise the tension with an empathetic melody while maintaining a steady and rhythmic beat along with a mix of somber notes and high hits that perfectly capture the spirit of a tough challenge that you are prepared to take on.
Seriously, this music ALONE and the immediate impact it has makes this entire journey more than worth experiencing.
Okami is one of those games that nearly everyone who has experienced it will rave about to anyone and for good reason. Few games have as passionate a fanbase as Okami. There's a simple reason for that fact.
No game will ever be like Okami. Okami is a truly unique title that players just can't forget about, and while it may not be the most popular game of its era, it is certainly one of the most memorable.
Alright, that's it for me. "Please play Okami" is a sentence I have said many times, because I love this damn game, and the music is a huge reason why.
Thank you as always for checking out my nonsense. I'll catch you next time with another suggestion from my Music Box. Stay Brutal!
PS. Yeah, I gotta give you more. So, allow me to slow it down a bit with my favourite piece of music from Okami