If I could sum Okami up in one phrase it would be: "overstays its welcome." This is a game that could really use some modernization. I don't think the game is inherently bad, because I see all the pieces of a great Zeldalike game here. It just doesn't come together very well at all. The artstyle and soundtrack are about the only thing this game has going for it. The Celestial Brush is a cool idea, and there were times where I thought it was a fun mechanic, but it quickly got old.
Also there is way. Too. Much. Fucking. Dialogue in this game. This game would probably be better with like 90% less dialogue. The writing has a bit of charm to it from time to time but most NPC interactions are so tedious. I don't think I need to elaborate on Issun either, but I think most of my frustrations stem from that character's existence.
Combat is also pretty boring as you can faceroll most enemies in the game by just spamming the Rosaries.
I really wanted to like this game, as I've heard it's a good game from many people, but I am just not motivated to continue playing. It might not help that there are loads of other high profile games releasing this year that make playing an already dated game more difficult.
I think this game as a concept; its setting, characters, and story, would absolutely clean house in today's Indie scene if it were modernized. However, Okami in its current form is more of a chore than a game.