I'm 31 hours into Okami... about to head to the frozen north.  Now, everyone knows that Zelda was the inspiration for Okami.  However, it seems that there are some scenarios that were lifted straight out of several Zelda games.  Spoilers aplenty here, so highlight at your own risk.

- A theif who steals from people in town and comes out at nightfall.  (A la Sakon the Thief in Majora's Mask)

- A voyage into the Water Dragon's belly.  (A la Lord Jabu-Jabu)

- A young boy who lives in the forest named Kokari.  (Kokari... Kokiri, a young boy, living in the forest -- Kokiri Forest all the way)

- A town made up of all females with only one male, King Wada.  (The Gerudos... with Ganondorf being the lone male)

- Ninetails fox mask... (Remind you of the Keaton mask at all?)

- A postman who runs superfast all over the overworld...  (yeah...)

This is just off the top of my head...  But no doubt, these scenarios are very similar, if not identical, to events that took place in various Zelda games.  Anyone else found any other similar scenarios?

You do bring up a point, but either way I don't really care. It's all done so beautifully in Okami that it wouldn't ever bother me.

Wow i never noticed that before. Sure there were little things that reminded me of Zelda games, but wow.

for me the biggest way thah okami references to zelda is when you find a princess in the game whos blond and dress all in green and when you rescue her she tells you she has a link to the past or someting like that.

Okami never showed any resemblance to Zelda. Ever.

The director outright said he was influenced by Zelda, and was going for that type of game.

Okam is a good game and a good diversion for everyone who love Zelda serie.
I still prefer the original source but it was a nice purchase in the waiting for the next Zelda for Wii.

Okami is awesome.  I'm having a lot of fun with it.  I just noticed quite a few of these similar scenarios.

@hitoriki - I must not have gotten that far yet!

I'd like to play Okami, but it'll never emulate Zelda, surely.

Yep it totally lifts things straight from Zelda but it does it so well it can be forgiven. Its the only adventure game that even comes close to Zelda games greatness.

I wont to know if they ripped have a dog/wolf character from Zelda TP or was it vice the versa. Zelda crew throwing some homage back at Okami?