Finally got to sit some more with Okami...

[Smeags]

Well I just finished the game, and it's now in my top 20 games of all time.

I can understand that you're frustrated with the controls. Okami has a pretty steep learning curve, especially for a Wii game. Still, give it some time as you battle and use the celestial brush and all of a sudden it clicks. Fighting isn't about waggling as fast as you can (like I was doing early on...), it's more rhythm based than anything. And as for painting, it's one of those things you just have to familiarize yourself with. It took me a while to finally get thunderbolt down... but once I got it, I got it.

And as for the "boring" maps, I could run around Nippon all day long. It's just so beautiful and serene. Ah well, whatever floats your boat.

Now I just have 3 stray beads to collect. 2 from the spider hole devil gates, and one from blockhead grande. The latter will be the end of me.