To begin with…

I recently purchased the game, Okami after reading how great it was in the comments of gaming related story on Digg. Although there are several aspects of the game that really get on my nerves, this game is truly a diamond among a lot of the third-party coal that is shoveled out month after month.

The Story

You play as a wolf-goddess named Amaterasu in the world of Nippon. This game is set in a mythical and definitely Asian-influenced land. The wolf, accomanied by a small flying nymph named Issun (Navi anyone?), must rid the land of the curse brought on by the demon Orochi, who wants to destroy all that is beautiful and full of life in Nippon. While the story may not seem that unique, it is the way in which it is presented that makes the game truly shine. There are a number of witty cutscenes that make the characters of the game seem believable and deep. I was very impressed how the game walked the fine line of balancing dark situations with humorous ones. I never felt dragged down by the storyline, although some of the cutscenes are quite long. To rid the curse, Amaterasu must use her celestial brush to ‘paint’ life back into the cursed areas as well as use it to kick some demon butt.

The Graphics

The graphics in this game are absolutely beautiful. It feels like you are playing a dynamic, living painting. While the graphics don’t have super-detailed textures, the simplicity of the game is what makes it feel so unique. I’ve never seen cel-shading performed in such a way that the scenery looks like a piece of artwork in which you can interact. I would argue that even Wind Waker could learn a lesson or two from Okami. The only time this experience was interrupted was when the camera would freak out and show the inside of a mountain or swerve so that you couldn’t see the enemy who was attacking you.

The Gameplay

First off, the land of Nippon is huge. It takes quite a bit of time to run from one end to the other, and the developers gave Amaterasu the ability to speed up into an all-out sprint, making the venture seem much less tedious. They also introduced Mermaid coins as a way to teleport to areas you have been before. The basic premise of the game is to find a cursed land and cure it with your god-like powers. This main goal is balanced by the various quests and activities you will find in villages both before and after you heal the area.

There are demon gates and moving curse scrolls that will engage you in battle. Once in battle, a sort of curtain drops in a large circle around you and forces you to look for the evil creatures that will most certainly be attacking you very soon. Although you can perform melee attacks, the real power comes from using your celestial brush techniques. You’ll quickly develop a strategy to take down every monster, and figuring out how to take down a new monster can be very exhilarating. Once you engage the brush mode, the game will freeze and you’ll be able to draw symbols over the enemies you wish to attack. For example, drawing a fast line across an enemy will slash it, dealing considerable damage to the enemy. It is difficult to get the Wii remote to register exactly what symbols you are wanting to draw later in the game when there are several very similar moves. Nothing is more aggravating than blooming flowers over a demon you simply want to slash. There is a skill to it, however, and I did improve my drawing techniques over the course of the game.

Overall

Okami has a few issues with symbol recognition and camera angles, but overall, it is definitely worth the buy. You can buy it new for the Wii for $40, or on the PS2 as well. The only main differences between the two versions are how you control the movement of the brush (aiming at the screen) and the attacks (shaking the Wiimote). The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay is solid, and the story is captivating. Okami gets the Game Gimp Seal of Approval.