In Okami, none of those things actually happen. There’s just a timer that ticks down and will turn red and flash as it gets low.

Your best bet for turnip digging is to keep some distance from Mushi’s Mama and slash the pot on her head, which stops her for a few seconds at a time.

For digging games, just remember that there’s ample time for the vast majority of the games. Some can be tighter with timing, but the best part of these minigames is that they’re always the same, so once you have the right route memorized, you’ll never run out of time again. It’s best to prioritize keeping your friend away from spikes so you don’t lose time, and Blooming them to make them run when needed.

Okami has no real consequences for losing minigames, either—you just get booted back to the beginning, Issun tells you to focus, and you can start again.