With the next-generation of consoles right around the corner, now is the time for reflection. A look back at the many games that have released over the years and left an impact in the world of gaming, but perhaps more importantly, those remakes and remasters that have breathed new life into classic games. 

As this generation ends a wealth of older titles are receiving a revival and a new chance to find an audience. From Destroy All Humans to Mafia: Definitive Edition, these games didn’t necessarily sell millions of copies such as The Last of Us Part II, but they made an impact on an audience, warranting the desire for a reimagining.

So, let’s look back over the top most notable remasters and remakes of all time!

10. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Admittedly on launch, The Master Chief Collection hit quite a few snags. The multiplayer was a mess and practically unplayable. It took the development team years to get it sorted, but boy, was it worth the wait.

The Master Chief Collection bundles every single one of the Master Chief’s adventures into one concise package. Perhaps one of the most wonderful things about the collection is how further adventures have been added over time.

Halo 3: ODST and Halo; Reach have both joined the fray. The game now works flawlessly, with players able to jump between the history of the Halo franchise with ease. It’s accessible, massive and a must have for fans of the series.

9. Okami

When Okami first came out, it was easy to dismiss the title as just another Zelda clone. To a certain extent it is, but Okami boasts such an impressive visual art style and unique setting that it’s hard not to fall in love with the world it’s built.

Drenched in Japanese folklore, Okami is an adventure filled with personality, character and a joyous experience to uncover as you mark your path in the world and are equipped with a magical celestial brush that acts as a means to explore the land even further.

The remaster gives players another chance, even better is the Nintendo Switch port which allows players to use the touch screen for the brush strokes. Magical.

8. Metroid: Samus Returns

The Metroid formula has been replicated hundreds of times since its incarnation. You can’t play many games without stumbling into the formula being utilised in some way or another. The term Metroidvania gets thrown around fairly often, but Metroid: Samus Returns is based on the genre's origins. 

Working as a remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus, the new incarnation reworks the popular franchise and encourages a new audience to see what the fuss is about. Sporting precise controls, intricate level design and dozens of secrets to uncover, it’s easy to see why the franchise is so popular and why so many titles used the concept for their own ideas.

7. The PS3’s Platforming Remasters

The PlayStation 2 was home to the ignition of many platforming giants. Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Sly Cooper. All made their mark and all were able to form incredible trilogies across the generation. Sadly, those who didn’t own the console missed out on some of the most incredible platformers of our time. 

Then the PS3 released and across its lifespan each mascot was granted a new opportunity to show the world just what fantastic little gems each one was.

Each trilogy was beautifully remastered with gorgeous HD visuals and came bundled with dozens of hours worth of content. It was a wonderful chance to relive adventures with old friends and bring an entirely new audience into the magnificent worlds that each game produced.

6. Shadow of the Colossus Remake

While the murky colour palette of the original served well at the time, with age it’s become a bit of an eye sore. Even with the PS3 remaster, the world was still missing that tiny bit of life to elevate its majesty.

In comes the PS4 remake of Shadow of the Colossus, which not only takes the pitch perfect gameplay of the original, but infuses a truly stunning graphics engine to provide the world the grandeur it deserves.

Taking down these goliaths with more elaborate animations and detailed physical structures is truly breath-taking. Despite being based off an older title, it manages to modernise it to today’s standards while truly capturing the spirit of the source material. A masterpiece.

5. Yakuza Franchise

Yakuza’s rise of popularity in the west over the past few years has been nothing short of remarkable. The niche franchise has garnered a huge fan base and as a result, the entire series is now playable on the PS4.

Not only that, but with each new installment ported over, many graphical upgrades and gameplay improvements have been made. Yakuza Kiwami 2 for example is a remake of the second game using the engine used in Yakuza 6.

Having the whole collection on one system is pretty neat and a fantastic way to experience Kiryu's story.

4. Black Mesa

While fans desperately claw to find any information regarding Half-Life 3, Black Mesa is a fan made remake of the original. Originating as a mod, it was quickly greenlit by Valve to receive the full remake treatment.

Black Mesa manages to modernise an already classic game with a brand new lick of paint and creating a more realised world. It’s easy to see why the Half-Life series is so well loved and how fans are desperate for a conclusion to the story when the original entry contains a fantastic story and addictive first-person gameplay.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The Zelda series is no stranger to getting remastered. Entries have been given a new lease of life multiple times on various systems, but nothing quite like how Link’s Awakening was crafted.

As a ground-up remake, Link’s Awakening is a gorgeous recreation of a beloved game. Perhaps one of the lesser known titles in the series, the Nintendo Switch reincarnation manages to bring a beautifully realised world to life through a toy-like aesthetic. It’s a new art style for the franchise and one that works.

The open ended nature of Link’s Awakening fits perfectly in today’s standards as players can experiment, explore and uncover the mysteries of the world organically.

2. Final Fantasy VII Remake

Hype around this game circulated for years. The development cycle was long, but ultimately worth it. Final Fantasy VII Remake did something pretty unique. Instead of remaking the whole game, the first part was essentially expanded and examined for a fully fledged experience.

This gave fans the chance to explore the world they’d grown to love over the years in a new light. Simply more than a mere graphical upgrade, the remake adds dozens of hours of new content and even significantly changes up the story. So now, when part two arrives, even those who are familiar with the narrative will be privy to a few wholesome surprises.

1. Resident Evil 2 Remake

I never got the opportunity to dive into the original Resident Evil series. As a horror fan I was doing myself a massive disservice and betraying the genre as a whole. Obviously when the remake hit shelves it was an experience that begged to be delved into and unsurprisingly enough, it became one of the best horror games of all time.

The change to a third person perspective pushed players closer to the horror and the updated graphics engine made Racoon City a truly desolate environment to chip away at. The remake served as a love letter to the original game, made by fans for the fans. Oh, and I still have nightmares about Mr. X to this day.

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Whether you feel the time for remakes and remakes is over or not, it's hard to deny the power and effort that entries have attempted. Any favourites we missed? Let us know in the comments below.

If you've been holding off on some of Capcom's recent games like Devil May Cry 5 or Resident Evil 2, I hope you've got some money to spend. Some of Capcom's biggest games are currently on sale on Steam. 

With the sale lasting until February 17, a whole slew of notable titles both new and old are more than 80% off. Some of the best deals are:

• Monster Hunter World for $19.79 ($29.99)
• Devil May Cry 5 for $19.79 ($59.99)
• Resident Evil 2 for $19.79 ($59.99)
• Street Fighter 5 for $8.00 ($19.99)
• Resident Evil 7 for $14.99 ($29.99)
• Dragon's Dogma for $8.99 ($29.99)
• Okami for $9.99 ($19.99)
• Ace Attorney Trilogy for $14.99 ($29.99)
• The Disney Afternoon Collection for $4.99 ($19.99)

There's a ton more where that came from, though. Check out the sale over on Steam, and do your best not to splurge too much.

Your Dog — Harvest Moon

You can’t find a video game dog more like a real dog outside of Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, and Stardew Valley.

He or she has a lovely little dog house outside for those cool mornings and lazy evenings, and there’s always a place ready to snuggle down for the night inside your house. All that’s really needed to make them happy in life is a smile and a good head pat, though snacks are most welcome of course.

You’ll frequently see your four-legged friend wandering about the farm, casting an eye over the crops and keeping the other animals in line, occasionally wandering over to make sure you’re okay.

It’s getting your dog that really makes the farm first seem like home, too. Before that, you’re a newcomer to a strange place, with a massive farm to look after and a big, empty house to exist in. Add a dog, and just like in real life, you’ve got an instant home, a bright spark of life that makes the future seem good after all.

Unlike your other animals, you technically don’t have to feed your dog either, so pointing to your canine caretaking abilities in Harvest Moon et al probably isn’t the best way to convince someone you can care for a real dog.

Still, in those early days when times are tough, resources are scarce, and crops are slow to grow, it’s a great comfort knowing your dog is perfectly happy eating air.

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It's not really an exaggeration to say none of these games would be quite the same without their fabulous canines.

No matter what your favorite video game dog is and why you love it so much, though, make sure to take some time today and every day to give your real dog some snuggles, snacks, and playtime.

Oh, and if we had to make a list of honorable mentions, it would be: 

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• General Pepper (Star Fox)
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• Dog (Dragon Quest: Origins)
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• Hewie (Haunting Ground)
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• Poppy (Samurai Shodown)
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• Caesar (Wargroove)
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• Vigilance (Skyrim)
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• Chop (Grand Theft Auto V)
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• Riley (Call of Duty: Ghosts)
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Let us know which good doggos you would add by sounding off in the comments below! 

Amaterasu — Okami

Most dogs in video games are your friends, your sidekicks, or your pets. But in Okami, you are the dog — or, more accurately, you are the white lupine representation of the sun goddess Amaterasu on the mortal plane.

Okami is all about Amaterasu and her truly epic journey to preserve creation in the face of Orochi’s impending onslaught of darkness. It’s drawn straight from Japanese legends, though naturally, with some changes and embellishments for game purposes.

Being an almost all-powerful goddess, Ammy, as her villagers call her, is able to change the world around her using a mechanic that makes the game shine as a unique experience almost as much as it is a unique game. You’ll use Ammy’s powers to solve puzzles, bring objects into creation, interact with and change the environment, and take on foes throughout the gorgeous watercolor world.

Amaterasu’s story might be beautiful, but it isn’t always a happy one. She’s tested to the end of her abilities and faces defeat and despair more than once. At her weakest point, though, when all seems lost, she transforms into her true self and suppresses Orochi’s darkness for all time, before ascending to the Celestial Plain.

Now, most dogs aren’t going to have lives quite that active, and hopefully, yours won’t have a face-off against the lord of darkness. But Amaterasu’s actions still embody the essence of being a dog — putting everything on the line for the ones that need them most and trying their hardest to make sure they don’t let anyone down.

Bill Grey — Star Fox

Bill Grey is the quintessential guard dog. Data for Bill existed in the scrapped Star Fox 2 game for the SNES, but he didn’t make a proper debut until Star Fox 64. He’s one of Fox McCloud’s oldest friends, with the two having grown up and attended pilot school together.

In 64, Bill takes charge of Corneria’s defensive squadrons, aptly called the Husky and Bulldog squads because duh. He also makes an appearance in the often-overlooked Star Fox Command, also on a defensive mission with Falco, and then he returns yet again to defend Katina once more in the ill-fated Star Fox Zero.

No matter what he does, Bill is always looking to protect the things that mean the most to him.

He might not be as visible in the series as General Pepper, but he’s certainly got something Pepper doesn’t. Where the General barks orders and maintains a definite distance from the rest of the squad, Bill is right there in the space-trenches alongside everyone else, sharing their burdens as one of the team.

Unfortunately, Bill still manages to be the one left out of the big picture. He gets no special ending in Command and doesn’t have as much chance for character development as a certain frog, falcon, and donkey.

While we hope, one day, Bill gets some more attention, maybe even part of a full-blown adventure like Star Fox Adventures, he serves as a good reminder to give credit where it's due to all the goodest watchdogs in our lives.

Dogmeat — Fallout

What’s the one thing you need if you’re struggling for survival in a post-apocalyptic world that's reeling from the effects of nuclear disaster? Food, radiation protection, and survival gear are all wrong answers because a dog is what you need.

Fortunately for our Fallout hero, a dog is what they get in the form of Dogmeat.

Dogmeat’s appearance isn’t uniform across the Fallout games. He’s sometimes a large black dog, a wolf-like dog, or a German Shepherd, but the basic gist remains the same across the series.

At some point during your travels, you get the chance to find and recruit Dogmeat by helping him out and taking an interest in his wellbeing.

Typically, his owner died sometime in the past, or he just didn’t have one. Though initially spending his days guarding his territory and terrorizing anyone who comes near, he eventually takes up with you and joins your journey for survival as a party member.

Unlike other party members (and JRPG dogs), Dogmeat can’t equip gear or use weapons that you couldn’t normally fit on a dog, but he still holds his own in combat with no trouble, so long as you make sure to look after him.

In return, Dogmeat looks after you, alerting you to the presence of enemies, helping you find items, dealing huge amounts of damage in combat, and generally just being your best friend, especially in Fallout 4.

The world might be dark and deadly in Fallout, but Dogmeat is a good reminder that a loving dog by your side makes every day just a bit easier.

Koromaru — Persona 3

Koromaru is the Persona 3 version of the famous Greyfriars Bobby in Scotland. Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known throughout the city of Edinburgh during the late 1800s; after his owner died from tuberculosis, Bobby remained in the cemetery for 14 years, faithfully waiting to see his master again.

Koromaru once lived at a shrine on Iwatodai Island with his owner; Shadows killed his owner, but Koromaru stayed at the shrine nonetheless, waiting faithfully, until the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S.) comes along and adopts him.

Unlike Bobby, though, Koromaru isn’t real. That key difference means his strength of heart lets him summon a Persona — Cerberus, of course — to take the fight to the Shadows.

He’s one of the only party members with a natural defense against dark magic, has high speed, and lands critical hits often, which lets you get that sweet, sweet “One More” extra attack. Like Repede, Koromaru wields a knife in his mouth.

But more importantly, he wears an unbelievably adorable pair of tiny wings and a T-shirt.

His floofy cuteness actually plays an important role in the story as well. Koromaru keeps Shinji Aramaki from being the stereotypical gruff character with no depth, as he’s the only one Shinji opens up to and acts like a normal human around.

That’s a very important point to note later on, before the very bad thing happens ,and you learn more about Shinji, Akihiko, and Ken’s intertwined past.

He also helps you raise Social Link points with others by taking him for a walk at night. Truly, no one can resist Koro-chan’s charms.

Sandy — Dragon Quest XI

Sandy doesn’t get much screen time in Dragon Quest XI, but what she does get makes her a top-notch canine companion.

The first thing you have to do in the game is climb Cobblestone Tor for a ritual that proves you and your childhood friend Gemma have grown up. The problem with this particular tradition is that the Tor is crawling with monsters. Gemma, grown up though she may be, is no fighter. That leaves Hero to fend off the creatures alone.

He’s not entirely alone, though. Good ol’ Sandy comes to the rescue and joins the party, with some powerful attacks to help see you safely through your trials.

Doing a regular mode run, that might not seem like much of a big deal. This is the first dungeon, after all, a time for extended tutorials and enemies no tougher than pudding.

Take on a Draconian Quest, and it’s a different matter entirely. Without Sandy, these early-game monsters would kick your rear right off the Tor with no effort at all.

Sandy doesn’t play a direct role in the plot, but she’s still important. Hero grows up with Sandy, and like all good dogs, she’s part of everything in daily life — until that fateful day when their world changes.

Thinking about Sandy and Cobblestone like that makes the first gut-punch hurt that much worse and sets a distinctly different tone for Hero’s adventures from that point on.

Zeit — Trails from Zero, Trails of Azure

You’d be hard pressed to find a dog or wolf that’s more of a contradiction than Zeit is in The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and Trails of Azure.

He’s at once massively important to the plot, themes, and backstory, but simultaneously doesn’t have a big role to play in the plot thanks to an exception in a certain contract he has. (Yes, a wolf has a contract. It’s a thing.)

Zeit is a legendary divine wolf who watches over the land known as Crossbell. After one of the mafia groups from Crossbell City starts wreaking havoc in the countryside, the divine wolves get blamed until the Special Support Section of the Crossbell Police steps in to put things right.

Despite being huge, divine, and legendary, he acts like a normal dog from then on, protecting the SSS headquarters, and generally letting the city’s kids do whatever they want with him.

Outside some indirect combat support, it initially seems like that’s what Zeit’s role is — big, loveable pooch.

As Azure gears up for its final chapter, though, that notion changes in a very big way as you learn about Zeit’s past and his connection with Crossbell. Among other things, you can take control of Zeit as a playable party member, and you quickly find out he can basically end the world with a swipe of his paw.

Yet whether you’re worthy or not, and despite his own circumstances, he chooses to be your friend and help you when times get tough.

It’s a subtle underscoring of the games’ “true bonds” theme — and pretty much what dogs do in our lives every day.

Repede — Tales of Vesperia

Games in the Tales of franchise typically have some sort of animal sidekick. While Mieu in Tales of the Abyss is one of the better ones thanks to being a barometer measuring Luke fon Fabre’s character development, Mieu isn’t a dog.

Repede from Tales of Vesperia is a dog — and one with impeccable style and presence. He carries a pipe in his mouth and swaps it out for weapons during combat, both of which make for a pretty hard act to beat.

Repede doesn’t necessarily have much story significance in Vesperia, other than being a reminder of how difficult protagonist Yuri Lowell’s past has been. Beyond plot necessity, though, he's a genuine friend to the isolated Yuri, with all the loyalty and affection we'd expect from the best dogs — and all that in spite of what Yuri did in the past to Repede's father.

Repede's also a true beast in combat.

He’s one of the first party members you get, and also one of the rare examples of using a “pet” as a full-time party member — outside Breath of Fire III, at least.

While he might not be much of a magic user, Repede is speedy and strong, with powerful technical Artes attacks and the ability to strike and retreat with haste. Add his theft ability on top of that, and he’s a character you’ll want to regularly keep on the field. 

Repede is exactly what all good dogs are: invaluable and adorable.

Angelo — Final Fantasy VIII

Angelo is the very definition of loyal. She’s Rinoa’s dog in Final Fantasy VIII and takes things a big step further than Interceptor. For one, she’s always by Rinoa’s side. Always. Whether it’s at school, in battle, or even after that spoilery thing happens and Rinoa is incapacitated for a while, Angelo is there, offering her support.

Rinoa’s comment about learning so much from Angelo isn’t just cute dog talk either. Unlike Interceptor, Angelo plays a more defined role in combat.

For one thing, she’s Rinoa’s Limit Break, which is obviously the series’ best Limit Break. Rinoa and Angelo start with four basic attacks, but she/you have to read dog magazines to learn new abilities as an improved dog trainer.

Depending on circumstances, Angelo can even help heal an ailing party member or perform a hard-hitting attack at just the right moment to turn the tide.

She gets a biscuit for her troubles during battle, which is sweet. But the endgame is what serves as a perfect metaphor for how our relationships with our dogs usually go.

After staying by Rinoa at all times, saving the party’s skin on countless occasions, and generally just being perfect, what does Angelo get? More biscuits? Head pats?

No. She gets left behind while Rinoa has a moment with Squall.

Whatever.

Rush — Mega Man

Rush is Mega Man’s loyal robo-dog friend in the Mega Man series and spinoffs, starting with Mega Man 3 and staying by the Blue Bomber’s side ever since.

It’s not just one Rush, either. The robo-doggo takes on a wide variety of different forms as the situation calls for it.

The most familiar one is probably spring-mode Rush, aka Rush Coil, where he transforms into a giant springboard and propels Mega Man to greater heights. It’s a lifesaver in certain situations and absolutely necessary if you’re playing spelunker and want to get everything a stage has to offer.

But Rush’s trick repertoire doesn’t end there, and it’s arguable that as the mainline Mega Man games started to lose their luster, Rush himself started getting even better.

Over the course of his long career, he’s mastered the art of turning into the Rush Marine submarine, carrying Mega Man through space as Rush Space, flying through the air as jet-powered Rush, and doing all the things you’d expect from a robotic dog with near-endless capabilities.

Rush’s loyalty is a bit different from most dogs, though. It’s hard to say he had a choice in the matter of staying by Mega Man’s side, when his creator, Dr Light, programmed him to be (Mega) man’s best friend.

But he goes above and beyond to fulfill his duties nonetheless, like the good boy he undoubtedly would be — y’know, if he could make his own choices.

Interceptor — Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI boasts one of the biggest casts of playable characters in the series, and though Interceptor the dog is just a sidekick to one of those characters, he plays an interesting role in and out of combat.

Interceptor’s master is Shadow, the Ninja. Like all Ninjas in Final Fantasy, Shadow is actually pretty fragile, despite his relative strength. Even though he’s a master of stealth, enemies tend to target him rather often during combat.

Fortunately, Interceptor randomly jumps in and, well, intercepts the attack; he blocks like shields do, only more often. He also randomly attacks an enemy for Shadow, though it’s more adorable than effective in most cases.

Outside of combat, though,  is where Interceptor gets really interesting, and it’s possible to completely miss how his story unfolds. At a certain spot before the game’s halfway point, the party meets Relm, a precocious young artist with a strange affinity for Interceptor, a dog who usually just tolerates Shadow and can’t stand other people. Relm lives with her grandfather and never knew her parents.

You can probably put two and two together from that information. But whether you see it play out in the game depends on a choice you make.

If you’re heartless and leave the Floating Continent without Shadow, his story ends (because he dies, spoiler alert). If not, and you make sure to speak to him at specific points, you learn about his previous relationships and roles in life.

And it’s all because of Interceptor, bringing people together like a good boy.

Isabelle — Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Being an animal-centric game, Animal Crossing: New Leaf naturally has lots of lovely doggos to choose from; if you want to be technical, Tom Nook is even a dog, thanks to the whole Tanooki = racoon-dog thing.

Isabelle stands a cut above the rest for a few reasons, though. Apart from having a distinct personality separate from the rest of the villagers, she always says nice things and doesn’t try to get money from you. That last one alone is worthy of a top ranking.

But it’s Isabelle’s unfailing positivity and optimism that really make her so loveable and charming. Isabelle is almost always happy — and happy to help.

She helps you settle into your new village and pick a spot for your house, always organizes special events and attends big public works unveilings, and even shoulders your mayoral duties for years on end when you forget your village exists.

Of course, that cheerfulness makes seeing Isabelle so capably beat the stuffing out of Pikachu in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate just a bit disconcerting, but it just helps underscore how amazing she really is.

Whether she’s keeping an entire village running or sweeping up the competition, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more amazing dog than Isabelle.

Whether it's International Dog Day or just a regular afternoon of playing games with your pooch, the most pressing question we have any time a new game is revealed — or when a new trailer is shown — that also includes a dog is, "But can you pet the doggo?"

It's a testament not just to how much we all love dogs, but to how often they show up in our favorite video games. Some, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, are pretty much there just for show, keeping the world alive and digging up stuff for you if you feed them.

These dogs are great and all, but they don't always play a substantial role; some of them can't even be pet, no matter how fluffy and oodgie-woodgie they look.

Others play a much bigger part in a game or entire series, though, and some are even the backbone of entire plots.

In honor of International Dog Day 2019, we're taking a look at those dogs playing a starring role in the world of video games.

Whether they're helping you out on the farm, hurling you to new heights, or swatting your enemies away like so much annoying dust, these dogs are versatile, loving, loyal, and everything that makes dogs wonderful in real life.

In a recent interview with the Japanese gaming magazine Dengeki PlayStation, renowned action game designer Hideki Kamiya voiced his genuine interest in once again working on series from his time at Capcom with Clover Studios. He specifically voiced his interest in creating a "true sequel" to Okami as well as remakes of both the original Viewtiful Joe and Devil May Cry. 

During his interview with Dengeki PlayStation, Kamiya stated:

I want to work on a Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe remake, or a true sequel for Okami. A cooperation with Dante (from Devil May Cry) and Bayonetta might also be fun. Dear Capcom, if it’s okay with someone like me, I will help anytime. Best regards. Everyone, bow down your heads together with me! 

When referring to a "true sequel" to Okami, Kamiya is likely referring to the second game in the series, Okamiden, which was a DS title developed by Capcom without his or Clover Studios' involvement. The Devil May Cry series has also gone without his involvement since the original on the PlayStation 2, and has been lying dormant for some time now.

Both Okami and Viewtiful Joe are franchises that received critical acclaim upon release, with both still discussed quite favorably today. 

Nothing is set in stone yet, as this statement was merely an open invitation to Capcom rather than an official statement of any of these new games being green-lit. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for further news on this topic as it develops!

In a Tweet posted to the official PlayStation account earlier today, Sony has confirmed that the critically acclaimed action-adventure game Okami HD will bet getting released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC at the end of this year.

The PS4 version of the game will be available for in both digital and physical editions, while the Xbox One version will only be available digitally. The Windows version will probably be available on Steam, but there is no further information on this at the time of writing.

Right now, we have no confirmation on whether there will be any new features in this game compared that weren't included in the original and the PS3 HD versions. It's also unclear whether the DualShock 4 touch pad will be usable in-game at all.

When Okami was first re-released for PS3, achievements were added to the base game. While those original achievements will probably still be obtainable, new achievements might be added for the new release -- but we'll have to wait for official confirmation from Sony before any of these details can be set in stone. 

This HD remaster of Okami for current-gen consoles and PC is set to release at the end of this year on December 12. 

The odds of a major title landing on the little handheld in 2017 is slim, but that doesn’t mean that the Vita should be ignored.

There are so many games with collections, like God of War, and Ratchet and Clank that can have plenty of games to arrange into a budget-minded package made to rekindle the same magic that they did when they first came out. The Vita can do so much more, but for now, I’d be happy with the idea of taking some of these potential collections with me on my next flight or road trip on a portable system that doesn’t get enough credit for how awesome it is.

The Yū-Nama collection

I find it strange that Nintendo is the first brand that people think of whenever the topic of weird games come up, especially when Sony has been open to the idea of a game about surviving in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo as a Pomeranian.

The What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord? series (part of the The Yū-Nama series) is a prime example, as they focused on the premise role-reversing the traditional fantasy setup where players take the action of a villain who is trying to defend the safety of his lair from the onslaught of adventure heroes who line up in droves to challenge your domain. The strategical nuance is reminiscent of a tower-defense style of game, only you’re given way more liberty in you arsenal to defend the Demon Lord from the defeat of a noble champion with charming tools and traps made to specifically counter distinctive hero-types and powers.

The games never really got a fair break, as they were release late in the PSP’s life cycle with some potential legal conflicts over their original names that they projected to release with, and a rushed port of the third entry hastily dropped on the PlayStation Network with little to no fanfare. Hell, don’t even get me started on the silent treatment the upcoming VR spinoff of the series is getting.

The initial two "Badman" games and No Heroes Allowed, with some of the Yu-Nama puzzle mobile games sprinkled in what could be the niche RPG equivalent of Super Mario All Stars that we never knew that we wanted, yet still deserve to have, and there’s no better system to accommodate the wacky collection that the PlayStation Vita.

The Parasite Eve Collection

It’s strange that the world we live is one where we’re being treated to RPGs that are starting to get a sequel count in the double digits (Persona is HALF-way there!) and yet there are plenty of other properties that only have a handful of titles to their name.

The Parasite Eve series is such a franchise, and while it hasn’t exactly been ignored  by Square, the publisher has done a crap-job at reviving the series by shoveling the originals over to PSOne Classics on the PlayStation Network as a shallow attempt to generate excitement for the release of the third entry at the time, The 3^rd Birthday.

The science-fiction horror story of Aya Brea is one that deserves to be told again with an upscaled production effort that would fit right at home on the PS Vita. The mechanics of the game’s combat mechanics and stage design are ideal for a “pick up ‘n play anytime” setup that can be alternated between each other like epic chapters to a grand story. Complete the arrangement with additional content, and some behind-the-scenes access to the development of the three titles, and you’ve got a prospect that’s already exciting in concept alone!

It’s a surprise that Square hasn’t already released a collection like this after continued support of the platform with releases like Dragon Quest Builders and World of Final Fantasy, a Parasite Eve collection could be just the thing to push owners to charge the sleek Sony handheld once again.

The Ape Escape Collection

I don’t know if you guys heard, but 3D platformers are back in style -- like, gamers are straight HOT for these free-roaming scavenger hunt experiences right now. In all the excitement for this nostalgic renaissance though, one particular gem seems to be glossed over by the fact that it wasn’t on the Nintendo 64; Japan Studio’s Ape Escape had you scrambling through dozens of worlds to nab the eponymous simians themselves in a weird, but enjoyable series of collectathon games.

When Ape Escape: On the Loose was first release at the PSP’s launch, critics found the revival to be too ambitious, as it suffered from the limitations that it had with the PlayStation Portable’s button layout and single-stick control, which doomed any possibility for the underrated sequels to get another revision themselves on the new handheld system. The Vita is the new opportunity that franchise needs to return from obscurity; I mean do you guys remember what the last Ape Escape game was that released? Ape Escape Move…a party game focused around the troubled motion-control peripheral, it didn’t even get a physical release in the states.

All Sony needs to do is to get Vita remaster of Ape Escape: On the Loose, and Ape Escape 2-3 from the PlayStation 2 onto one loaded cartridge, and they’ll be able to cash in on the platformer fever with a series that rightfully deserves the prestige that the genre is currently enjoying from the public.

The Clover Collection

Before they were known for their games about sexy, violent Witches, or pulpy action, pen-and-ink brawlers, Platinum went by another name, one that wasn’t simply just another rose, but a Clover instead.

The original Capcom-owned studio helped usher in modern day classics that’re still cherished to this day; classics like Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and God Hand were titles that truly embodied the creative spirit that the team went on to brand themselves with. As acclaimed as the lineup of software is however, they’re admittedly still niche games that are arguably considered to be sleeper-hits than runaway ones, making them all the more ripe for re-releases on an interface that they’re already familiar with.

It’s no secret that the Vita’s touch control options aren’t the most popular among its features, but the potential they hold for the unique dynamics of the Clover trio is something shouldn’t be ignored. Think back to the Wii port of Okami; the transition it made to motion-controls was subtle enough to be fresh without overpowering the purity of the gameplay, it was a move that influenced many to consider the Wii version of the game to be the definitive one.

Speculation aside though, these experiences are one that rightfully deserve another release on hardware that can do them justice, and I can’t think of a better way to do it then to include them all in a budget assortment.

The Patapon Collection

The one issue that the Vita inherited from the PSP was its lack of exclusive properties that made carrying one around worth the investment. Not to say that Sony’s pocket systems never had any killer apps of their own, and a prime example of that was Japan Studio’s Patapon, a rhythm-based real-time strategy game that had you time your beats for some beat-downs.

Timing different combinations to the tune of a jungle drum, players would guide a growing tribe of savages to victory as they would challenge rival tribes for land and posterity in order to regain the honor they once had for their Patapon heritage. Patapon became popular enough to spawn two more sequels with its surprisingly deep and quirky gameplay, and it wasn’t long before the trilogy was considered to be a cult-classic among PlayStation fans, and voyeurs alike.

Strangely enough, two of the three games never saw a Vita port, which was a shame considering how brilliant the touch-screen interface could be for a reimagined control scheme. Then there’s the upcoming remaster of the collection that’s slated to release for the PS4 later this year; a Vita version of that collection with a Cross-Save feature for its console counterpart would make all the sense in the world for Sony to follow through with -- like, an absolute no-brainer even.

Not since the original Wii, has there been a platform that was so “undead” like the PlayStation Vita; a system that was in this weird purgatory where it was considered a critical success among the masses, and yet was still regarded as a commercial failure. Still, we can only hope that the handheld can host a couple more game collections that could use the portable treatment, poetically giving them, and the Vita, a second chance at a new life.

Here are some properties that could use the travel package treatment, considering the potential choice-cuts that’re available for a bundled release.

As a fan of adventure games, I'm always looking for things with addictive gameplay, memorable characters, and epic stories with twists and turns that make me sad when the adventure ends. I've been a Legend of Zelda fan for at least a decade, and I had heard about Okami being similar. During a recent visit to my local GameStop I picked up the Wii version. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

Celestial Brush

One of Okami's most notable features is the Celestial Brush. Your screen becomes a canvas, and your drawing comes to life in the game's world. Or at least that's how it's advertised. The brush in the Wii version can be temperamental at times and refuse to do anything. For example, at the beginning of the game you have to fix a broken statue by drawing the missing sword. Took me longer than it should have, it was horrible. I later mastered the brush, but there are still times when it gives me trouble.

There are thirteen different brush techniques that you unlock throughout the course of the game. The one I just described is Rejuvenation, also used on broken bridges and anything broken or missing. Bloom brings a wilted tree back to life. Power Slash is a useful battle technique. Cherry Bomb blows up cracked walls so you can pass through. Catwalk allows you to climb walls. There are many others.

Combat

Battles take place in closed in areas, there is no hiding behind trees or boulders or sniping from a distance like in Zelda games. You can use items like exorcism slips to do some easy damage to your enemies, vengeance slips to temporarily be immune to attacks, and of course there's healing items. There are three different types of weapons: reflectors, rosaries, and glaves. You start out with a reflector, very basic weapon. When you get a rosary you get the ability to hit your enemies from a distance, still being in the enclosed arena though. Glaves pack a punch but are slow and can't do ranged attack. You have two weapon slots and yes, it does matter which slot a weapon is in, a reflector in the second slot becomes a shield for example. Various brush techniques can also be used in battle and they're even required for some enemies.

Characters

Okami has a great cast of characters, here are some of them.

Amaterasu: The heroine of the story, a sun goddess who takes the form of a white wolf with red markings. She's not at her full power and must gain back her abilities one by one.

Issun: A member of the tiny poncle race, he travels with Amaterasu who he has affectionately nicknamed "Ammy" in an effort to master the Celestial Brush techniques.

Susano: He's descended from the legendary warrior Nagi, but he's lazy and frequently in over his head. The villagers expect great things from him, but can he live up to his heritage?

Kushi: A beautiful and talented sake brewer. Her sakes are so good that people come from the city to try them. She is brave and independent despite her delicate appearance.

Waka: A mysterious figure with the gift of prophecy. He's often crossing paths with Amaterasu and Issun, calling Amaterasu "Ma Cherie" and annoying Issun. His prophecies are on the mark, but he rarely does anything to help.

Orochi: An eight headed snake demon. He was defeated a century ago by Nagi, but he's back and with a vengeance. He is but one obstacle that Amaterasu must overcome.

Story

The story starts off simply, with little character development and anything notable in general. But once you get past the first half of the game, it kicks it into overdrive. I found myself cheering for Susano and Kushi and wanting them to just get it on already, they made such a cute couple. (Need proof? Look at the image included with this section.) The story had a few twists that I didn't expect. Some plot elements are optional. You can do a sidequest to find out more about Waka for example. And Issun's wisecracks? Totally worth hearing. Don't skip dialogue.

Also worth noting is the many nods to Japanese mythology. The game's manual explains the references and they are done in a clever, unique way.

Visuals

The graphics are meant to resemble ancient Japanese woodcuts. They work well with the game's theme, but they can be confusing at times. For example, I wasted time in the village pond because the bottom of the waterfall looked like the thing that appears at the edge of an area leading to another. I thought I'd found a secret area. Another thing that I found odd: when you hit the ground after jumping, no matter what you're landing on, leaves scatter from under Amaterasu's paws. These are minor nitpicks though. The visuals have a kind of beauty to them.

Sound

The music, as expected, has an Asian flair. There are plenty of soothing tracks that make you picture cherry blossoms floating in the breeze, but Okami isn't without its epic tracks and tracks that sing of impeding doom, or tracks that sing of hope in the face of evil. My personal favorites are Battle With Orochi II, Kushi's Ride, and the ever popular The Sun Rises.

Conclusion

I give Okami a nine out of ten. Don't let the wonky brush controls scare you away. There are also versions on the playstation 2 and 3 if you're not willing to get used to the motion controls. If you love Legend of Zelda, you will love Okami!

Image Credits

artofokami.com
pixelperfectgaming.com
okami.wikia.com
cubed3.com
snowyhuskywolf.deviantart.com
gamesradar.com

If you're like me, you love music, and you love video games -- so naturally, there are times where you find yourself listening to video game soundtracks.

Summer is the best time to do so: the next big games are months away from release, and the weather is as good as it gets. So why not line up some great video game music for all of your summer activities?

Here are 5 video game soundtracks that will make the hero or heroine in every gamer feel just a little more awesome.

1.  Okami

Quick confession: Okami is my favorite game of all time, and in my opinion, the soundtrack is one of its strongest features. It covers every emotion imaginable, from the infectious joy of "Issun's Theme" to epic boss themes, and everything in between. 

Anyone looking for fantastic music will find plenty of songs to love, particularly if you like more traditional Japanese music. For instance, with July 4th looming on the horizon, the jubilant "Kamiki Festival" above is a perfect song to fit the festivities.

Unfortunately, the Okami soundtrack is the only one on this list that you won't find anywhere on iTunes. However, it can be found easily on YouTube, or you can buy it on CD from Japan. The full soundtrack stretches across 5 CDs, which should give some idea just how much music is featured in the game.

2.  Super Meat Boy

The soundtrack for the original PC release of the platformer Super Meat Boy (the PS4 release included a new one, sadly) is an excellent blend of old and new video game music styles. The result is extremely catchy, perfect for inspiration during workouts in the gym or trips to the great outdoors. "Forest Funk," above, is a particularly good choice. I also recommend "Can O' Salt" and "Fast Track to Browntown," two themes from World 3, in particular.

3.  Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

This is probably one of the more well-known and popular video game soundtracks of the last five years or so. Those of you who like alternative or metal music will find plenty to love here, even if you aren't a fan of Raiden, Revengeance or the Metal Gear series. This loud, energetic soundtrack perfectly matches the game's frenetic action. In addition, the lyrics often describe the major theme of the moment--which is a nice touch.

"Rules of Nature," above, is probably the game's most famous song. It frames the battle between Raiden and Metal Gear RAY as an example of "survival of the fittest" in action. Another good example is "Dark Skies," which describes "a brave new world rising" and warns that "times have changed." If you're looking for music to inspire and drive you forward, look no further.

4.  Halo: Reach

Like the other Halo games, Halo: Reach has an incredible orchestral soundtrack. However, the music here is more somber and grim than in previous games, reflecting the inevitable fall of the planet. Even so, like the soundtrack for Revengeance above, this is perfect motivational music. "Tip of the Spear," above, is probably my personal favorite. Foreboding yet determined, this epic track makes any daily chore considerably more heroic than it would be otherwise.

5.  Mass Effect

Last, but not least, there's the Mass Effect soundtrack. Of the three games in the series, the first has the most "futuristic" sound. The next two games in the series, particularly Mass Effect 3, relied more on a traditional orchestral soundtrack. Here, however, the music is more electronic, leading to that "futuristic" vibe. One of this soundtrack's greatest strengths, like with the soundtrack of Okami, is probably its range of emotion.

There are tracks better suited for easy listening, like the iconic "Vigil," and also more intense ones like "Battle At Eden Prime." But in my opinion, the best song in the game plays during the end credits. "M4, Pt. 2" by Faunts is a perfect choice at this point in the series, as the lyrics wonder about the future in store for both Shepard and the player: "I have wondered about you / Where will you be / When this is through?" The music here makes for great background noise while out on the town, or just for daydreaming while looking at the summer night sky.

Was your favorite video game soundtrack left of the list? Do you disagree entirely with any of these choices? Leave your favorites in the comments!

[Image source]

That's our top picks! As the PlayStation 4's PS2 library grows, we hope it will include most, if not all, of these classic titles. With the PlayStation 2 library being so massive, you may be able to forgive Sony for taking so long.

Did we leave out your favorite PS2 game? Let us know in the comments below!

8. Okami

Our last game is Clover Studio's final hurrah for Capcom. In what's perhaps the PS2's stylized title, Okami blends cel-shaded graphics with Japanese mythology, producing a stunning world that still awes today. Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess who takes the form of a wolf, must utilize her Celestial Brush to rejuvenate the world and take on the forces of Orochi.

Okami was rereleased in HD for PS3, but has yet to be ported for PS4. Another HD update could go a long way in rendering this beautiful title even more gorgeous. Also while we're at it, why don't we let Kamiya make Okami 2?

7. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3

This unexpected sleeper hit took the JRPG world by storm in 2008. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (or just Persona 3 for short) revolves around unlocking the secrets of the Dark Hour, a time period that begins before one day ends and another begins. To prevent its shadows from feasting on human minds, local high-schoolers (including the silent protagonist named by the player) must summon Personas, or manifestations of their spirits, to combat them.  Since this is high school, you can also expect some platonic/romantic hijinks.

There has yet to be any HD updates of Persona 3 or its sequel, Persona 4. Perhaps Atlus would be kind enough to bundle the Persona 3 FES, which was something of a director's cut.

6. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

The mind-bending story of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty may have been too much for someone, but everyone loves Snake Eater. The journey of Naked Snake (who's not really naked) as he sneaks through the jungles and mountains of the Soviet Union is perhaps the PS2's most dynamic, as he forages for food, utilizes camouflage, fights an elderly sniper who's on death's door, and encounters betrayal after betrayal. It also has crotch-grabbing.

Snake Eater was featured on the PS3's Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, and we'd love to see them again on PS4. I mean, who still doesn't tear up after that ending?

5. Katamari Damacy

From the whimsical mind of Keita Takahashi comes PS2's quirkiest game. After the King of all Cosmos destroys the night stars in a drunken frenzy, the Prince is tasked with rolling a katamari, a sticky ball that glues everyone and everything onto its surface. He uses this katamari to roll up the planet Earth, much to the dismay of humans, cows and thunder gods alike while Japanese pop songs play in the background. Meanwhile, a Japanese boy watches this unfold on the news, having absolutely nothing to do with the story until the hilarious twist ending.

Katamari Damacy and its sequel, We Love Katamari, are perhaps the secret masterpieces of PlayStation 2, yet have never been upgraded to HD. Namco, could you please look inside your inner katamari and introduce the Que Sera Sera song to a new generation? We want to wad them up into our lives, you see.

4. Tales of the Abyss

Tales of Symphonia may be the Western Tales favorite, but this PS2 classic shouldn't be overlooked. Tales of the Abyss' meaty story is perhaps the series' grimmest, forcing the bratty Luke fon Fabre to engage in a genuinely heartfelt coming-of-age arc. The fact that it builds upon the addictive combo-based battle system ain't half-bad, either.

We'd love to see an HD remaster for PS4, as the game can be difficult to find and hardly matches the graphical prowess of other games on this list. Let's not get ahead of ourselves however, Namco's Symphonia remasters for PS3 and PC were more than a little sloppy. Then there's the matter of how Namco's struggled to transition the series into HD (not to mention their stagnant mediocrity, but that's another topic). We'll keep our fingers crossed for a proper HD port, but you may want to grab the 3DS version if the PS2 used copies are too expensive for you.

3. Dynasty Warriors 2

Warriors games--or Musou, depending on your preferred terminology--are still going strong, so why not reintroduce the one that started it all? Dynasty Warriors 2 wasn't just a PS2 launch title; it forged a new series (perhaps even genre?) featuring 3D crowd combat, hack n' slash combat and capturing bases. Don't be fooled by the "2" numbering: the original Dynasty Warriors was a simple one-on-one fighter.

Dynasty Warriors 2 was released on PS3's PSN back in 2012...but only in Japan. Perhaps that renders a Western rerelease all the more unlikely, but that it launched a popular franchise (which inspired spin-offs based off Zelda, Gundam, Dragon Quest and One Piece) means it deserves an HD uplifting.

2. Kingdom Hearts

Square-Enix's bizarre JRPG crossover with Disney has enchanted millions of hearts around the globe, as the anticipation for Kingdom Hearts 3 has been circulating for a decade now. But as amusing as the peppy sugar rush of Kingdom Hearts 2 is, there's just something special about the original title. Before the series dived into a convoluted mess of clones, data worlds and confusing name titles, it was simply a soul-searching journey of anime children interacting with the likes of Donald Duck, Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. And Cloud Strife.

Like Devil May Cry, the Kingdom Hearts series received an ample HD uplift on PS3, albeit split into two separate collections: the 1.5 and 2.5 ReMIXes. Director Tetsuya Nomura has repeatedly teased their arrival on PS4, but there's no explicit confirmation. For now, we'll just have to settle for winter's Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (seriously, who comes up with these names?)

1. Devil May Cry

The game that launched director Hideki Kamiya into action-game stardom. What started out as a Resident Evil title grew into one of the most innovative, influential games of the sixth generation; with its stylish action and brutal difficulty. Be it the appeal of pulling off combos or its unique spin on Dante's Inferno (not the least of which is the main character himself, a bad boy who alternates between dual pistols and swords), it kept players coming back for more.

While all three Devil May Cry games on PS2 received an HD collection on PS3, the PS4 is, sadly, not backwards compatible. We'd love to see the original return alongside 3: Dante's Awakening for PS4, although perhaps Devil May Cry 2 is better left forgotten.

Let's step back for a moment and look over the list of downloadable PlayStation 2 games on PlayStation 4. As Sony only just got around to the service last December, it's not a terrible line-up, but we're missing quite a number of classics on the service. Let's be real though, even if the service took too long, updating PS2 games into HD, adding trophy support and including Remote Play isn't as simple as flicking a switch. We may as well deal with waiting, although Japan has yet to receive a single PS2 game on the service.

In the meantime, we can't help but wonder: what are the PS2 games that should be next in line? For this list, I've selected 8 classics that deserve the HD treatment.

Developer team Ready at Dawn plans to show a new game next week -- on that will be distributed by Gamestop's freshly created publishing arm, GameTrust. This will be GameTrust's second game published -- following Song of the Deep on July 12th, which was created by Insomniac Games (also responsible for Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank, and the recent Xbox One exclusive Sunset Overdrive.)

Known for their recent PS4 exclusive game The Order: 1886, Ready at Dawn appears capable of creating stunningly realistic and beautiful visual environments to maximize the graphics potential of the PlayStation 4.

Previously, Ready at Dawn also worked hard to produce a solid port of Clover Studio's Okami for the Wii, going so far as to recreate lost assets from the original PlayStation 2 game.

What are your predictions for Ready at Dawn's new game? What aspects do you think the team should improve on? Or perhaps they should work on a new genre? Leave your thoughts below in the comments!

Also, check out The Order: 1886 as one of the most beautiful games of 2015 here on GameSkinny!

[Images retrieved from Dualshockers]

Earth Day is an annual, worldwide celebration of Mother Earth, protecting the environment, and reflecting on ways to keep the planet healthy. In honor of Earth Day, check out this list of Indie video games that focus on connecting with nature and highlighting the beauty of our planet. 

Dustforce 

This platform game produced by Hitbox Team is a lot of fun to play. Take on the role of an acrobatic janitor and rid the world of dust and debris. This game is deceptively difficult and will require watching your own replays or looking at YouTube videos to get through some tough spots. That being said, gameplay mechanics are flawless, and you can string together some pretty impressive--not to mention beautiful--combos. Dustforce also has multiplayer modes and level editors. Oh, and the original soundtrack is absolutely amazing. 

Microcosmum: Survival of Cells 

Let's take things down to a microscopic level. In Microcosmum, take on the role of a microorganism fighting to survive in a cell eat cell world. Eat, grow strong, conquer enemy cells, and thrive. All things considered, gameplay is similar to Agar.io, but much, much prettier. The game is very relaxing with atmospheric music to accompany your journey to create the strongest microorganism and take out your opponents.    

flOw

flOw started as a game to accompany designer Jenova Chen's master's thesis and was reworked into PS3 game by the development studio thatgamecompany. Float through a surreal biosphere as an aquatic organism and evolve as you explore the abyss. I absolutely love watching my microorganism grow as I chase down smaller aquatic life forms. You can play solo or chomp on your friends in multiplayer mode. It's a great game to wind down with after a particularly stressful day. This game is only available on PlayStation consoles, though you can get a taste on the developer website.

Okami

Although this isn't technically an Indie game, I'm going to sneak it on the list because it is a wonderful ode to the environment (and a classic). The premise of this game is rooted in Japanese Shinto beliefs and folklore that focus on respect for nature and reverence for divinities thought to manifest in multiple forms of nature. In this game, play as goddess of the sun turned wolf, Amaterasu, as she launches on a journey to help people and restore the world to its natural beauty. The game is animated using classic Japanese ink wash painting, and the score is influenced by classical Japanese work. This game is a gem, and worth replaying if you have it in your collection. 

Stardew Valley

No Earth Day list would be complete without a solid farming game. Hailed as the newest fix for Harvest Moon fans, Stardew Valley is a fantastic game centered around turning overgrown fields into a thriving, industrious farm. The fun doesn't stop there-- you can go fishing, make donations of artifacts and minerals to the local museum, raise animals, fall in love, and get married. Stardew Valley has a lot of heart and has received rave reviews. You won't regret checking it out. If you need tips, tricks and guides, we have everything you need right here. This game is only available on PCs. 

Cloud 

Needless to say, thatgamecompany is focused on innovative games that carry meaning. In Cloud, your dreams of flying become a reality. Play as a bed-ridden child who daydreams of flying in clear blue skies. While you're up there, make shapes out of clouds and use rain to cleanse the world. This game is free to download and available, here.   

Shelter

What better way to appreciate nature than becoming a part of it? In the game Shelter, play as a mother badger protecting her cubs from the natural perils of nature. From finding food, to protecting your babies from being snatched by birds of prey, to threat of forest fires, this short survival game will test your animal instincts. The game has a paper collage feel that provides a cute layer to conceal a very dangerous world. Badgers not your thing? In Shelter 2, you can play as a mama lynx protecting her cubs.

Deer Man

Though some call this game an interactive story (isn't that what all games are at their core?), Deer Man is a compelling tale about a man's deep love for wildlife. I won't spoil the ending, but the twist will make you stop and think. The piano-based soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful and is a perfect companion to the black and white theme. It's definitely worth checking out. 

The Plan

The Plan is a short, and free to play, game where you play as a fly. That's right. You get to experience some of the trials and tribulations of one of the most commonly swatted insects. As stated on the developer's site, "A fly ascends to the skies, pondering the pointlessness of its brief existence." At first, the buzzing of the fly may be a bit annoying, but if you stick with it and see the game through to the end, it turns out to be a beautiful and dark tale. Developed as a side project by Killbrite Studio, The Plan is free and will take you less than 10 minutes to complete. 

Flower

Hands down, this is one of my favorites. Also produced by thatgamecompany, Flower invites you to explore the surrounding environment as a strong gust of wind. Interact with flowers and collect petals to adorn your breeze as you navigate the scenery. The game is so damn pretty, and so damn relaxing. It's easy to while away an hour or two with this ode to nature. This game is only available on PlayStation consoles.

Is there a game we missed on this list? Add your favorite in the comments section below! 

If you consider yourself a "hardcore" gamer, there's a good chance that you have extensive backlog of games that you want to play, but most likely never will. Also known as the Pile of Shame.

I have one of these dreaded backlogs myself; it's full of fantastic games that I'll probably never finish. Here are the top 5 games in my backlog that I am dying to play, but probably never will. 

Okami

I have wanted to play Okami since it was a PS2 exclusive. For some reason when I was younger, I never purchased the game and forgot about it. Luckily, it ended up coming out again on the PS3, and this time I swore that I wouldn't miss out. I purchased the game from the PSN Store when it went up during a flash sale, and I've had it downloaded on my PS3 since then. I have never once booted the game up, and I often forget that I even own it. Sadly, I doubt that I'll ever get the chance to go back and play the game I've heard so much about.

Persona 4 Golden

When I bought my PSVita a few years back, Persona 4 Golden was a Day One purchase. I had heard so many good things about the game and was ecstatic to get my hands on it. I played the game for roughly 10-12 hours and greatly enjoyed my time with it. For some reason, though, I just stopped playing it and never went back. I absolutely loved everything about the game - from the characters, to the combat, and even the story. Despite this, I still haven't made an attempt to go back and pick the game up again in almost a year. I'm hoping that I can finish the game before Persona 5 releases, but right now, it's looking doubtful. 

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

I didn't know much about Ni No Kuni until it had already been out for a while. For me, this was one of those games where word of mouth really sold me on the idea. After so many friends suggesting that I buy the game, I decided to go out and purchase it. Just like Okami though, it has done nothing but sit on my shelf since then.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

I've always been a big fan of the Kingdom Hearts games and when KH 3D came out, I purchased it on Day One. That was 3 years ago. I have only put the game in my 3DS maybe once or twice the entire time that I've owned it. For some reason, I just never felt like I was in the right mood to play. Luckily, the game will be getting re-released in the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 collection on PS4, so maybe I will finish it after all.  

Bloodborne

I have never been a person who has played the Dark Souls games. However, when Bloodborne came out, I decided that I would give the game a shot. I still have yet to do that. Currently, I think that it's still wrapped in the original cellophane that I purchased it in. I want to get into this series of games so badly, but I don't know if I have the time commitment to do so. Maybe one day I will finally get the chance. 

These are my five games, but what are yours? What games do you have sitting in your backlog that you may never play? Let me know in the comments!

When doing work, studying for exams, and writing proposals or essays, it can be hard to find motivation or inspiration. Video game soundtracks offer music that can help, since they usually don’t have lyrics that can distract you. The five following soundtracks feature songs that can help you focus, give you peace of mind and, most importantly, psych you up to get your work done.

Journey 

Austion Wintory

Journey’s soundtrack is a whirlwind of emotions, some scary and others enchanting, from start to finish. The chilling use of string instruments to their fullest potential is an awe-inspiring experience. My favorite track of the album is "The Road of Trials". It has this source of energy and movement that makes my mind race, and it naturally reminds me of the fun and gorgeous sand-surfing section of Journey.

Ori and the Blind Forest

Gareth Coker

Like Journey, Ori is an indie game that features beautiful visuals and an equally enchanting soundtrack. Ori has its own style of music that mixes vocals with a variety of percussion and stringed instruments. Usually I’m distracted when a song has a singer or lyrics, but Ori’s soundtrack has some gorgeous singing that seems to get me focused or inspires me to keep on working. As for a favorite song from the album, it would be a close call - but I would go with “Ori, Lost in the Storm”. There is just something bewitching about it that I can’t quite put my finger on.

Okami

Masami Ueda, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Rei Kondoh, Akari Groves

I recently finished playing Okami HD on my PS3. Its dungeons, the characters, the beautifully unique visual technique, and (of course) the music were nothing short of spectacular. The music in Okami was inspired by classical Japanese works, which only adds to the unique style of the game. The plethora of music that make up Okami’s soundtrack covers a large spectrum of emotions, from fear to wonder. One of my favorite tracks is "Kushi’s Ride". It surrounds me with a sense of urgency and power.

Persona 3 and 4

Shouji Meguro and Atsushi Kitajoh (Persona 4)

The Persona series is one of a kind; it combines serious deep messages with wacky characters, amazing battles, and the unique experience of Social Links. And its music is pretty amazing, too! I tried and failed to decide if Persona 3 or 4 had a better soundtrack. Both of them have songs that add a special ambience to simple mundane activities like studying for exams and the more fantastical aspects of Persona like dungeon crawling. My favorite track for Persona 3 has to be “The Battle for Everyone’s Souls” while Persona 4 features an awesome battle theme: "I’ll Face Myself-Battle-" However my current top Persona track would be the theme used in Persona 5’s trailer - it has this epic beat that just kicks my ass into gear.

Distant Worlds: Music From FINAL FANTASY

Nobuo Uematsu

So this could be seen as cheating, but Nobuo Uematsu himself creates all these arrangements for Distant Worlds. It would be so difficult to select just one of the countless Final Fantasy games to suggest, so I found a compromise. Distant Worlds has the best of the best, the tunes that are the top-tier tracks from a variety of Final Fantasy games. The orchestra versions feel like they are giving the classic songs new life, but keeping to the original formula at the same time. At the moment, I believe there are three volumes, each featuring songs from the original Final Fantasy to its fourteenth installment. I couldn’t decide which one was my favorite so I checked to see which song I had played most on my iPod. That song was “Terra’s Theme” from Final Fantasy VI. It is a fantastic song to just walk to, and it has an invigorating beat to it.

Hopefully now you have some tracks in mind to help you slog through the essays, papers, and presentations of the future.

Did I miss any favorite soundtracks? Are there other video games whose musical scores get your adrenaline pumping? Leave a comment and add to the list!

Everyone loves furry companions, especially in video games. What better to connect more with your game than to add a canine friend that you can pet vicariously through your main character? Or dogs that help kick butt at your side? Become the dog yourself?

Dogs and wolves alike, canines are in video games as loyal, useful, and powerful additions to your adventures. These are a few that gamers tend to think of the most today.

Rush (Mega Man)

Mega Man's robotic dog Rush transforms into useful contraptions, flies, heals, and ultimately can fuse with Mega Man to create Super Mega Man. Why wouldn't a robo-hero need a robo-dog like this?

Dogmeat (Fallout series)

Dogmeat is the affectionate companion of Fallout. He warns of raiders, collects supplies, and fights alongside you in the Wastelands. Dogmeat is one of the most loved video game dogs, earning an instant ovation upon appearance at the Fallout 4 announcement at E3 2015.

Dog (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

If you decide to befriend one of the many Skyrim dogs, they will follow you into battle. Some even have special attributes like tracking enemies and summoning thugs. Even the Dragonborn needs a furry friend.

K.K. Slider (Animal Crossing series)

See K.K. Slider perform Saturday nights in your town. He serves no other purpose than to collect each game's songs and forces you to re-watch the credits, but we all love him anyway. He is a necessary NPC to any Animal Crossing game.

Your dog (Fable 2 & 3)

The video game dog you can name yourself, making them that much more loveable. They find buried items, level up skills, and find enemies. Their good/evil alignment also changes their breed in Fable II, and you can pick the breed in Fable III. They really are the dog that you make your own.

Wolf-Link (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

There's no better companion than you! Talk to animals, use stronger senses, and travel through small spaces. Put the sword away, and rip apart enemies with your teeth. Give the Hero of Time a thirst for blood.

Repede (Tales of Vesperia)

Repede is the dog that might as well be a human character. He limits his circle of trust, carries around mementos of his former owner, and wields a blade and other "people" weapons. In his downtime, he refuses to be pet and smokes a pipe. As you do.

Amaterasu (Okami)

You say dog lead in a video game, everyone looks to Okami. Fight enemies and solve puzzles, all while looking like you just came off the calligraphy paper of a traditional Japanese artist. No better canine to play than one that is fierce and powerful but looks gorgeous while doing it.

Dog (Half-Life 2)

First, there was the dog. Then, the robot dog. Now, the giant robot dog. He's quirky, happy, and has a Zero Point Energy device fused into one of his hands so that he can pick up and hurl heavy objects across the yard. Whose turn is it to fetch, again?

D.D. (Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain)

With the big release of Phantom Pain this week, everyone's canine hype is all over D.D. here. Big Boss got himself the cutest hobbling, chirping stuffed animal that turns into a fierce, eye-patched war dog. He'll sniff out enemies and items, distract, and attack on command like a true Diamond Dog.

These are but a few of the possible canine friends or hero[in]es you can find in video games. Did your favorite make the list? If not, be sure to share them in the comments.

This year's been good for games. Really good. We've had Witcher 3, Batman: Arkham Knight, Mortal Kombat X, and as of yesterday Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain - and it's not ending there. These last few months of 2015 promises even more titles that are sure to keep you broke if you aren't already. 

What could make these good times we're living in better? If the following games got sequels, or even reboots, because they're some of the best forgotten gems from the past.

Resistance

Anyone who says they weren't terrified of these things are liars

[Minor spoilers ahead]

This was a first-person shooter developed by Insomniac Games exclusively for the PlayStation 3. 

Resistance: Fall of Man was a launch title for the console - and in my opinion, the best title of the whole series. The game takes place in an alternate timeline, showing what it would be like if we got dragged into a world war against an alien race dubbed the 'Chimera' that infected humans virally and mutated them into monsters. 

It follows the story of Sgt. Nathan Hale, part of the U.S. task force sent to retrieve a secret weapon, which they planned to use against the growing forces of the Chimera. 

However, he and his fellow soldiers are ambushed by a Chimeran attack and infected. But for some reason, Hale awakens carrying the alien's characteristics, while also retaining his humanity. From then on out, it is up to him to find out what is happening to him and how to stop the growing plague that is the Chimera. 

This game featured some very creative weapons for a first-person shooter. Of course that's to be expected, due to Insomniac Game's track record with Ratchet and Clank. But it is also due in part to the timeline in which this game takes place.

For those who haven't played this game, imagine World War II weapons mixed with alien technology.

The Bullseye

A really cool feature was that the weapons themselves added unique playstyles. For example, the 'Bullseye' was the primary auto rifle for the Chimeras. It fired supercharged energy bolts at a rapid rate, yet it also had a secondary mode where it fired a 'tag', which stuck to your target. Once the target has been acquired, any and all further rounds would find their mark, even if it's behind cover. 

Or even the Auger! A weapon that shoots through solid objects and offers vision of enemies. Oh, and it drops a shield as well.

The next two installments; Resistance 2 and Resistance 3, were good, but did not quite capture the same atmosphere the original had. They took away the horror elements of the game and transformed it into a rather run-of-the-mill sci-fi shooter. Great games they were, no mistake about that, but they didn't quite live up to the original.

But even then these games were commercial successes, which says a lot.

Resistance 3 follows Joseph Capelli in a post-apocalyptic setting

The end of Resistance 3 implied that humanity had finally won, but it left behind plenty of plotholes. The ending felt rushed and incomplete - that's plenty of reasons for a Resistance 4. However, Sony owns the IP, so it's in their hands to make the call.

But looking at the success this series generated, it wouldn't be smart of Sony to put this series aside. Plenty of fans are still hoping for a sequel. With the new technology the PlayStation 4 offers and the uniqueness Resistance offers with its weaponry, it sounds like a match made in heaven. 

So please Sony, consider letting this series making a come-back!

Burnout 

A.k.a: the ridiculously fun racing game developed by Criterion Games. 

In an era where racing games are trying harder and harder to emulate real life street racing, this game does the complete opposite. It mixes high-speed racing, destruction, and complete mayhem. 

Each and every installment in this franchise was crazier than the last. It was a total gorefest. Only instead of blood and gore, you had metal and car parts. The kind of adrenaline rush this game offers is not something that can be easily found elsewhere. 

The last installment, Burnout Paradise, went open world, and was probably the best out of them all. The game was gorgeous, the crashes were satisfying, and the races gave you a sense of speed that never failed to get the adrenaline pumping. 

In Burnout you don't feel like you're driving a car. You feel like you're driving a weapon.

Given the high praise for Burnout Paradise, a sequel or something along that line did not seem unlikely. But Criterion Games reportedly steered away from the racing genre back in 2013, breaking a lot of Burnout fan's hearts. 

HOWEVER.

Alex Ward, a former Burnout developler has been teasing something on Twitter that's re-igniting our hopes for a new Burnout game - or something similar. 

We can only hope. 

Okami 

This is a pretty old title, but no less deserving of a sequel. 

Okami follows the story of Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess who embarks on a quest to save her land from darkness by taking on the form of a white wolf. She's armed with her own unique tool: the Celestial Brush.

The game was developed by Clover Studios, which is now Platinum Games.

This game received critical acclaim from reviewers, and for good reason.The game was a mix of action, puzzle and platforming, but nothing made it shine like the Celestial Brush and the game's gorgeous art style.

With the Celestial Brush, players could draw on the screen by pausing the game and bringing up a canvas. For example, drawing a loop can create winds, swiping it up or down can break obstacles, drawing in missing pieces of a bridge can fix it, and a whole bunch of other stuff. 

The art style...need I say anything here? The game does a fantastic job of capturing a sort of animated Japanese ink-illustration quality that's just beautiful to look at. 

It's also worth noting the boss battles were among some of the most unique ones you'll ever find in a game

Due to the game's poor sales initially, it made a sequel unlikely. But it eventually did get a sort-of sequel: Ōkamiden. But it was for the Nintendo DS, so it's not quite the 'true sequel' we all hoped for. 

Despite the passing years, people haven't stopped asking for a true sequel for Okami...and Platinum Games is aware of it. 

If we're going purely by sales to determine whether this game gets a sequel or not, it's bad news for us. While Okami received critical acclaim, it's one of those 'niche' games that just doesn't bring in the mainstream crowd. 

But we hipsters can keep hoping for one, can't we? 

Bonus: Half-Life 3 

Because Half Life. 

This is obligitory to any list of 'games that need sequels'. So I'll just leave this here.

Are there any games that you wish to see sequels to that I've missed? Let me know in the comments!

Silent Hill 2 - Mira

While she is technically not a canonical character, Mira deserves a special mention since she is both a Shiba Inu and an evil mastermind.  

Mira has appeared only in joke endings.  Her debut was in the 'Dog Ending' of Silent Hill 2.  (It is unlocked with the Dog Key, found in a dog house beside Jacks Inn).  She also appears in the 'UFO Ending' of Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, as well as in Silent Hill: The Escape and Silent Hill:  Book of Memories.

In the case of Silent Hill 2's Dog Ending, it reveals that all the events of the game were the work of Mira, a dog sitting in a control room, pulling various levers.  The protagonist, James Sunderland, falls to his knees in shock at this revelation.  Mira simply walks over and licks his face.

Mira has been credited with playing the guitar of Waiting For You alongside Yamaoka Akira.  She was also credited for making the screenplay of the Silent Hill: Downpour trailer.  Obviously she is very talented and is recognized by the developers as one of the most important characters in the Silent Hill series.

Okami - Amaterasu

Technically, Amaterasu is a wolf.  However, in Japan dogs and wolves are pretty much interchangeable.  In some areas of Japan, wolves are referred to as 'yama-inu' which literally translates to 'mountain dog'.  (This accounts for why every character in the game thinks Amaterasu is just a white dog).

Amaterasu is, in Shinto myth, both goddess of the sun and universe.  In Okami she is the protagonist, incarnated as a white wolf.  (This taps into a conflation of meaning here:  'okami' can mean 'wolf' and also can translate to 'great god').  

Amaterasu, nicknamed 'Ammy' by Ishaku and Isshun, is a friend to all living creatures.  All throughout the game she tries to help every living creature she can.  One major game mechanic is a Praise system: every time she earns the belief of those that she helps, through completing quests, sidequests, and by feeding animals she meets, she becomes stronger.  

Persona 3 (FES, Portable) - Koromaru

Koromaru is an albino Shiba Inu and is modeled after the famous Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited for his owner to return, even years after his owner's death.  Koromaru is a rare example of a non-human that has the strength of spirit and ability to summon a Persona (Cerberus).  As a result, Koromaru joins your party in its fight against the Shadows and other apocalyptic enemy forces.

In Persona 3 Portable, you are able to establish a proper Social Link bond with Koromaru which really shows you how loyal he is.  As you strengthen your bond with him, he comes to really trust and care about you and you will get to see the extent of how gentle and wonderful this dog is.

The 'social simulator' aspect of Persona results in the best kind of payoff with your interactions with Koromaru since, as you interact with him and gain his affection, he will bring you things and snuggle you.

Fallout 3 - Dogmeat

Dogmeat is an Australian Cattle dog, a potential companion and ally that can be found in the Scrapyard.  He is an homage to the Dogmeat from the first Fallout game.  

Dogmeat is unwaveringly devoted and is a powerful asset in a fight.  However, while he is very resilient, he can be killed.  This has motivated players to take advantage of the 'Puppies!' perk that enables Dogmeat to be reincarnated as a puppy upon death.  

Chris Avellone, Chief Creative Officer of Obsidian Entertainment and creator of the Fallout Bible said:

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For many reasons, Dogmeat is arguably the most successful NPC companion ever.

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Fable 2 - Dog

You meet the dog at the very beginning of the game during the protagonist's childhood.  You (the protagonist) and your sister Rose rescue the dog from a bully.  The dog follows you home and becomes a part of your family, staying by your side through thick and thin. 

Game mechanics wise, the dog helps you locate chests, quest objectives, etc.  Most importantly, the dog is directly influenced by your moral choices as the player.  Over the course of the game, as the protagonist's alignment shifts to either 'good' or 'evil', the dog's appearance will change to reflect that.  

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• 'Good' alignment - The dog will appear happy and receive praise and affection from townspeople.  Children will want to pet the dog.  
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• 'Evil' alignment - The dog will develop glowing red eyes and an aggressive attitude, quick to growl and bark.  The dog will also be hated by the townspeople; kicked and shooed away.
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A good deal of your dog's life will be deeply affected by your decisions in-game, further down the line.  

Haunting Ground - Hewie

Hewie is a White Shepherd that protagonist Fiona Belli saves from captivity.  In gratitude, he becomes her steadfast ally, aiding her in her attempts to escape Belli Castle.

Like a real dog though, Hewie should be both well trained and taken care of in order to maintain a good relationship between him and Fiona.  Fiona has to praise or scold Hewie when he obeys or doesn't obey commands.  He also should be praised and/or healed when he is injured.   This increases Hewie's friendship level with Fiona.  Repeatedly mistreating Hewie will result in him ignoring or outright attacking her.  The level of their friendship is very important as it will affect which game ending the player gets.

Call of Duty: Ghosts - Riley

Riley is a German Sheperd military working dog and part of the US Special Operations unit that is featured in the game, the Ghosts squadron.  He is based on a real Navy SEAL trained K9 named Ruger (motion-capture).  

Riley can sniff out explosives, and assists the player in combat.  Riley can even take down low-flying enemy helicopters by jumping into them and getting at the pilot.

According to the developers, Riley was added because the developers wanted to assure that the players felt emotional attachment to the central cast.  This definitely worked; Riley was a huge hit with the fans.  

Dead to Rights: Retribution - Shadow

Shadow is a Malamute dog, partner to Dead to Rights: Retribution protagonist Jack Slate.  

When Shadow was just a puppy, he was rescued by Jack's father, Frank.  Shadow was put through the K-9 program.  He was considered to be too vicious, however, and was failed out.  Frank instead brought Shadow to the 87th Precinct of Grant City, where Shadow helped Frank and Jack solve cases.  

After Frank is killed, Shadow fights alongside Jack.  Shadow can sneak around and can do silent kills from behind, ripping out throats.  As he is basically made of pure muscle and ferocious loyalty, he can also charge in and bowl over enemies.

Dragon Age: Origins - The Mabari Hound

The Mabari Hound sidequest, upon completion, earns you the undying loyalty of this pureblood Mabari hound whose default name is 'Dog'.  

Not only is Dog a powerful ally in battle, he also loves you unconditionally.  One of the mechanics of Dragon Age: Origins is an 'approval' system that will cause you to either gain or lose allies.  In the case of Dog, it doesn't matter what you do, he will always stay by your side.  

Tokyo Jungle - The Pomeranian

The pomeranian is the first non-DLC predator available by default at the beginning of the game.

It is very small, and as a result has rather low base stats, which makes it difficult to use.  However, this also means it requires fewer calories to survive and 'level up', developing into a formidable predator.

It is slightly difficult to compile a list of 'the best dogs in video games', since dogs are basically the greatest animals to ever exist in the history of mankind and every dog is the best dog.  

However, just in case you are also someone that would play a game just because a dog plays a major role in it, here is a list.

Okami is one of those finds that take a little digging to uncover.  By 2009 it was reported the game had a total of under 300,000 units moved, despite critical acclaim and IGN’s Game of the Year award in 2006. The game has, however, developed a strong following in those who have explored the world of Nippon (Japan) as the goddess Amaterasu.

If you are on the fence about it, or are even new to Okami, here are a few reasons you should consider playing the original, or its Wii or PlayStation 3 port:

Beautiful graphics

Graphics do not always make the game. While they are an added bonus, there are still games, such as Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal that still hold nostalgia and enjoyment for us even with their low-grade graphics. Okami is another story. The scenery, especially the black inked lines that define objects like trees and the wind, seem like the work of an artist that has painted the world in a stunning selection of watercolors.

A Okami HD screenshot of Kusa Village from Gamesradar. Okami HD is a PlayStation 3 port of the original game with improved, high-definition graphics.

This is to be expected, however; Okami's graphics are based on traditional Japanese artwork. Other games have used handpainted styles since, but none have emulated the stylized, sumi-e painting type graphics. The graphics also have aged incredibly well over time and fit the game well, given the style of play. Speaking of play styles...

A unique style of game play

The world of Nippon is rendered in such a way largely due to the primary game mechanic: a brush, which the player uses to alter the world. The celestial brush allows Amaterasu (the main character) to defeat monsters  and change the world around her.

A screenshot of Okami HD of a player using the power slash technique on a wooden gate barring the way. From Pixel Perfect Gaming.

When pressing the proper button (R2 on the PlayStation 2 or 3, and B on the Wii) the game will create a canvas of your current view of the world.From there, you can literally draw into the world new things, such as lilypads, and even cherry bombs.

 How Amaterasu may change the world is only limited by the brush techniques she knows, and available inkpots, and she regains them both slowly over the course of the game. Some brush techniques change the time of day, or may cause trees and flowers that are not cursed to bloom.

This power to change, and ultimately rejuvenate and heal the world is woven into the story...

Lovable Characters and Story

Amaterasu is reborn in the form of a white wolf in Okami HD. From Gematsu.

 Amaterasu, the Shinto Japanese sun goddess, is incarnated in the form of a white wolf when the tree-spirit Sakuya awakens her. The world is being cursed by an unknown force, entire swaths of land left lifeless and uninhabitable. Sakuya gives the goddess the task of freeing Nippon from the curse and bringing justice to those who would do its inhabitants harm.

As you endeavor to save Nippon you soon discover few believe in the gods anymore. Most will see Amaterasu only as a white wolf...while a rare few will see Amaterasu for what she truly is.

Amaterasu finds the bumbling warrior Susano in his house, taking a nap. PlayStation 2 screenshot from Moby Games.

In your travels you meet an extensive cast of characters, ranging from the tiny, amusing, yet rather perverted wandering artist Issun, and the incomptetent warrior Susano. Many of the characters, and even enemies, are based off of gods and demons from Shinto folklore.

Minigames, Sidequests and Upgrades

As you travel throughout the land of Nippon, you will find many people in need of aid. Sometimes it is a simple fetch quest and sometimes it leads to a minigame.

In the digging minigame, you help protect a human companion and dig deeper into the earth as they search for a source of water. From Okami Wiki. 

There are tangible rewards to going out of your way on sidequests, minigames and such, rejuvenating leftover patches of cursed land, and even feeding local animals. You gain praise, the faith of humanity in the gods, and can spend it on upgrades. Upgrades include health, inkpots (how much you can draw with the celestial brush before waiting), astral pouches (when filled, save you from death once), and the amount of yen you can carry.

There are also collectibles in the form of stray beads, of which there are 100, and sun fragments (3 to a unit of health and 15 in all). and  Some of the beads are rather challenging to obtain. However, should you find them all you are rewarded with an absurdly powerful item.

As such, there is much more to do in Nippon than follow the plotline. In a sense, this makes the game quite like the Zelda series. The populace can save themselves, right?

An amazing soundtrack

 A lot of older games have synthesized soundtracks. This is not so with Okami. The game is fully orchestrated, with tracks that evoke thoughts of traditional Japanese music. And if you do not think traditional music can be epic, check out this track:

Just so you know, the context for this one is getting a giant serpent demon drunk and killing it.

The music ranges from uplifting to creepy, saddening to heartfelt, and are composed by Rei Kondo, Masami Ueda, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Akari Groves, and arranged by Yoshinobu Takeshita. Just to get the point across, here is another worthy piece:

 Ryoshima Coast is one of the many outdoor areas in Okami. 

Okami is a well made game and deserving of your attention, although it has its flaws

There are, admittedly, some flaws to the game. The battles with regular demons can become tedious, though many are avoidable (there is the occasional ambush, which cannot be escaped, and monster hunting quests). The first time playing through the game can also be a little confusing if you are not willing to do a little exploration, as well.

However, great deal of time and love was put into building the world of Nippon in-game. From the hellscapes of demon-infested Oni island, to the quaint fields of Kamiki village, there are many places to explore and much to do.

Amaterasu poses and howls in celebration of her victory over a boss.

And despite praise by critics, few have experienced Amaterasu's grand adventure. Fame, or perhaps, units sold, however, are not always a good indicator of quality. The mere mention of books is bound to bring up visions of some best sellers that probably, given the quality of the storyline and writing, should not have been best sellers. Okami is on the opposite end of the spectrum: high quality, but litte known.

Regardless, the game is a fitting tribute to Japanese culture, and is an experience that I have not seen replicated since (except perhaps by Okamiden, but I am not a fan). If you choose to make the investment, you will not regret your choice.

Super Mario

While I thought it would be pretty difficult to show everything the Super Mario world had to offer, this tattoo proved me wrong. Plus it cheated my emotions with an ode to Link up near the top. Either way, it's very well done and the colors are vibrant, as they rightly should be!

I can say this style is right up my alley for my next tattoo!

Shadow of Colossus

This monumental game brought about a story that fans still rave about to this day. With that devotion comes amazing tattoos for the rest of us to check out! What sets this piece apart from the rest is the pointilist art style - many dots make up a single image.

The artist keeps it looking clean and together while having a loose fluidity to it as well, overall a very well done piece of work. I can only imagine how much time in the chair that took!

Pokémon

While there are no wrong Pokémon tattoos, this one speaks to some of our first-generation favorites. The artist used the perfect colors and the scenery all really looks like it's straight out of the Pokémon world.

A very well-done tattoo deserves recognition, and I don't know how to give this one enough - Bulbasaur all the way!

Mass Effect

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I'm Commander Shepherd, and this is my favorite tattoo on the Citadel.

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Legend of Zelda

With all the basic Triforce tattoos we see every day, I thought this artist put a nice, modern look into one of our favorite franchises.

The skin rips are pretty well done, with the shading accentuating folds and adding depth. The graffiti Link in the background is fantastic. Let alone the brick wall he's been 'painted' on! Overall this is one of the best - if not best - Legend of Zelda tattoos I have seen.

Kingdom Hearts

Sora has found his way into the dreams and hearts of millions of gamers with his journey through the world of Disney characters and villains. Only a tattoo that feels just as magical could possibly be worthy.

What makes this piece the best Sora piece I've seen is the shading. The lines are clean, but the color is done to look like it's watercolor. Definitely one of my favorite color pictures - let alone tattoos!

Halo 

If anything can be said about it; Halo was anything but simple - not counting the easy modes! So what better way to pay tribute to the Master Chief than with a complicated tattoo?

Everything about this piece is simply incredible; from the colors to the full picture, the artist did an absolutely amazing job. If you're thinking about your own gaming tattoo, keep a scenery piece in mind!

Assassin's Creed 

Sometimes the biggest impacts on the world are made in the smallest ways you could think of. In this ode to our favorite assassination game, we see everything the original game gave us. Something simple and direct, with an underlying message bordering on cryptic.

The clean look and the sharp lettering really work together to make this tattoo a nuanced type of simple, and one of the best tribute pieces I've seen for the game.

Ōkami 

 This iconic game has been given much attention since first launch, and for a very good reason. Really though, who wouldn't want an awesome tattoo of a badass wolf?

This tattoo is done in classic Amaterasu fashion; bright red and simple outline. But with the shading and the overall clean look of it makes this one of my personal favorite renditions.

Gears of War 

Gears of War has been iconic in the gaming world for its raw brutality and dismal future. The series boasts three of the best first-person shooters to have appeared in a long time, and many fans want to give tribute.

While this tattoo is a simplistic black and white, does it really need to be anything different? It is just a deviation of the classic logo, but it really jumps out and appears as if it's pushing through the skin. Definitely a piece worth having!

Gaming Tattoos

We've all seen some pretty cool and some not-so-well-done gaming tattoos - even some just very poorly placed! Well I sat and went through thousands of tattoos related to gaming and picked out my favorites to share with you!

On top of that, I'll say a little something about them and why they caught my attention over any other tattoo. Come take a look at these lucky people with some amazing ink!

Bully

Anyone remember this awesome title from Rockstar games? It's arguably better than GTA according to some fans. 

There was plenty to do as a new student in Bullworth. Carnivals to go to, girls to date, nerds to help, Jocks to annoy, teachers to prank, classes to attend, and kung fu to learn from a homeless dude living near the school.

Ah, good times, good times. 

Dark Cloud 2

One can only hope for a deep and engaging action RPG that's complete with weapon customization, your very own plot of land, and a fun iteration of mini-golf would come to Sony's handheld. 

Perhaps a Dark Cloud 2 HD? That would definitely be something I would buy and I'm sure other gamers agree. 

Kingdom Hearts

Come on, the Kingdom Hearts franchise has made it's way a number of consoles already, including the 3DS! A remake or a spin-off of the series (which Square Enix has done quiet a lot) for the Vita would do wonders for the handheld. PSP's Birth By Sleep was a decent attempt but I (and many other gamers, I assume) felt that it wasn't good enough. The graphics just were not there yet on the PSP. 

The Vita is ready and it's just begging for a quality action-rpg like Kingdom Hearts. 

Okami

Aside from providing my desktop wallpaper with countless amazing watercolor backgrounds, Okami was a gem on the PlayStation 2. 

This is one game that I personally would like to play on the handheld. The touch screen controls and rear touch pad could give out to some interesting gameplay mechanics. It helps that the game looks fantastic. It's a watercolor world that has a very distinct Japnese painting style.

Devil May Cry 

This hardcore hack & slash would be absolutely perfect for the Vita. Okay, this game might send a couple of handhelds hurling across a room but a trilogy or special edition of the game would benefit the Vita's game library in terms of PS2 reboots and remasters.  

Given the Vita's graphical capabilities in high-end games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, the Vita should be able to handle DMC games with ease. 

It's no secret that one of the appeals of Sony's latest handheld is the fact that you can play games from previous generations on the PS Vita. There are HUNDREDS of titles from the PSP and PS1 that you can play on the go. But one thing that's missing are the PS2 games.

Yes, they probably take much more time to be optimized for the Vita but Vita owners want to play those games! At least, the popular ones. 

These are the PS2 games that we'd like to see on the Vita in the future.

Venom from Spider-Man

I saw this and had no choice but to include it, Venom being my favorite villain, and Spider-man being my favorite super hero. However, it's not just because I'm fan-girling pretty hard. Looking at that detail, it's hard not to be impressed. 

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Dhalsim from Street Fighter

A clever use of angles, this Dhalsim tattoo creates the illusion that the wearer's foot is actually about to cause someone serious pain. Too bad the tattoo wouldn't help him in a real fight. 

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Amaterasu from Okami

Speaking of contrast, the red and blues here are quite eye-catching. This is an awe-worthy back piece if I've ever seen one. 

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Haunter from Pokemon

I had to take a second look at this one when I first saw it. How fantastic is this Haunter? The shading and color contrasts beautifully.

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Sonic, Mario, Legend of Zelda, and More

Now this sleeve is just epic. Maybe I'm biased because I'm a huge Sonic fan, but the contrast between Sonic and Shadow is so well-done I'm almost speechless. 

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Another Mario Sleeve

Perhaps 1-upping (pun intended) our first slide, this sleeve is a much more realistic version of Mario. This time it's a scene from the game, and it looks like Mario is about to learn about Bullet Bill the hard way.

Sonic the Hedgehog

I don't think Sonic has looked any better. This tattoo artist knew what he was doing, this piece is flawless!

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Master Chief from Halo

The detail and color on this one is mind-blowing. Look at how majestic he looks. 

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Nintendo Montage Sleeve

Taking Mario one step further, this guy/girl decided not to stop there. There's Donkey Kong, Samus from Metroid, Link from Legend of Zelda, and more on this incredible Nintendo sleeve. 

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Mario Sleeve

I look at this and immediately get excited. From the mushroom to the warp pipes, everything that scream Mario is definitely here. 

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