Okami

"Clover Studios delivers one of the most original and visually arresting gaming experiences of all time. (JP Version Review)"

Ookami is an adventure game that is developed by Clover Studios (and published by Capcom) that was released in Japan on April 20, 2006.

If you are a video game enthusiast in this day and age you might vomit. With every other game on the current generation consoles being a never ending sequel to a tired franchise your head would spin. And at this current time with every other console manufacturer's P.R. machine working overtime trying to get the public hyped up over their "next gen" consoles (which will have even MORE sequels ad nauseum), it is enough to drive you crazy. "Where is the originality?", you may ask yourself. "Has every possible gaming concept been done already?". Fortunately, Clover Studios has listened to you. The developers behind the successful Viewtiful Joe series seeks to deliver a unique gameplay experience that is probably one of the best PS2 games in existence and is one that won't be matched anytime soon. And that revolutionary game comes in the form of Ookami.

The one aspect of Ookami that grabs everyone's is attention is the lush visual presentation. Ookami employs a rich artistic style that is leagues above your average cel-shaded videogame. Ookami can be best be described as a vivid watercolor painting in motion. EVERYTHING about this game just oozes style. The colors are absolutely beautiful, and the palette is composed of soft pastel colors that will definitely leave its impression on you. The animations of the main character, the wolf Amaterasu (the sun goddess) are extremely smooth and realistic. Regardless if Amaterasu is running, pawing at the ground, or just trotting slowly, every animation is executed smoothly and looks flawless. The enemies you face all have incredibly unique and exotic design. One especially nice touch is that when Amaterasu runs she leaves a trail of flowers and grass in her wake. Even the water effects and battle scenes are breathtaking. Any gamer who has thought about purchasing Ookami based on screenshots or internet trailers should definitely see this game for themselves as it is one of the best looking titles on any console that is currently available. A lot of people think that good graphics should only be based on how realistic they appear, and Ookami just proves that to be false. The aesthetics of this game pull you into this wonderful fantasy world and keeps you engrossed in the action. Overall, this is absolutely superb work by Clover.

The audio portion of Ookami is just as rich as the visuals. The sound is made up of beautiful compositions that complement the action on screen perfectly. When you are conversing with one of the many characters you encounter, for example, a lighthearted tune will play if a humorous situation is taking place. However when you enter a battle the music immediately switches to a dark and foreboding melody. Most of the music has traditional Japanese instruments and is a joy to listen to. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Ookami OST CD becomes an extremely popular collector's item. There is also speech in this game, however it is indiscernible. I'm not sure if the vocal tracks are recorded Japanese dialogue being played in reverse, or if it is complete gibberish made up by random voice samples. Either way it fits perfectly in the game with the whole "fantasy" theme.

The handling of Amaterasu is another category where Ookami excels. The controls are perfect in every way, with each button on the PS2 controller having a designated function as to avoid confusion. Whether you are controlling Amaterasu as she barrels down the countryside, or if you are executing complex attack combos against your foes, the controls remain solid. Traveling across the terrain, exploring, making calculated jumps, and controlling your paintbrush are done with ease. The calligraphy / paintbrush controls might throw you for a loop at first and are initially frustrating until you adapt to the controls. However, the learning curve is rather short as you'll be making sophisticated brush strokes using the analog stick in no time. And as many people have discussed, even though a game like this would be perfectly ideal on Nintendo's DS Lite, the painting portion of the controls handles surprisingly well on the PS2 controller.

If you were worried that Ookami would be all flash and no substance, then let your fears be dispelled, as the gameplay lives up to the incredibly high standards set in every other category.

Besides the graphics, the most talked about aspect of Ookami is the calligraphy / painting feature. And let me assure you in total honesty that it is not just a cheesy gimmick. The painting feature sets Ookami apart from any other adventure game as it is integral to both the puzzle solving segments and combat portions of the game. In Ookami you connect stars to form constellations, draw the sun to bring daylight to the land and the moon and stars to bring about nightfall. You are able to create bridges using your brush to travel across impossible gaps, and you can use it to create trees and restore foliage to the landscape. You are able to use your brush as a sword to slice through your enemies as well as objects (both in plain view and hidden), and you can use your brush to create explosives. In short, the painting aspect of the gameplay is VERY versatile and whomever came up with that concept at Clover Studios is an absolute genius. There are also enough puzzles and and hidden objects for the cerebral players and some serious combat action for the "twitch" players. Not only that you can build up your rapport with your fellow animals, do side tasks for the people you encounter, and converse with the locals. You can also visit a merchant to purchase extra items for your quest, learn and buy abilities to enhance your combat prowess, enhance your strength, your ink levels, etc. In short there is a lot you can do in Ookami.

There is also a lot replay value in Ookami, as Clover has put TONS of hidden objects in the game. If you are a diehard gamer that must collect every single hidden object and item than you will be playing this a long time. You will spend many enjoyable hours trying to get the best rank in battles and getting every single secret item in this game.

Ookami is truly an excellent title that is a breath of fresh air in a time when we are drowning in mediocre software, and every gaming publication is trying to convince you that your current console is worthless and that the great gameplay experience will be found in the next generation consoles. It is nice to see a game that incorporates traditional Japanese mythology and blends it together with an interesting story and superior presentation. The game provides enough challenge for serious gamers, but also has a small learning curve for casual players to immerse themselves in the game, so this is definitely a title that will appeal to gamers of all ages. Clover has created a truly superb title that it is excellently designed from the graphics to the gameplay. Hopefully this title will receive a warm reception in North America when it is released in September. A game this great and unique will either become a highly praised phenomenon or an underrated classic that has a cult following. I would highly recommend this game to import gamers even though it is rife with Japanese text (naturally). Fortunately there is an excellently written FAQ on this site authored by Kouli which should make your progress through this game enjoyable. Don't miss the opportunity to play this game as it is one of the most beautiful and unique games on the PS2, and one of the most excellently designed videogames, period.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/31/06