Okami

"A masterpiece..."

I remember when Okami was released on the PlayStation 2 last generation, and I desperately wanted to get my hands on that title. There were plenty of reasons for this, including the fact that I am a major fan of Capcom and the simple fact that this game is very much like Zelda. Unfortunately, my PS2 decided to die on me and it didn't seem like such a great idea to invest in a new system for only one game. I got Okami almost immediately after it was released for the Wii and I do have to say that I was absolutely floored; the game is brilliance on a disc. Sure, it does have some flaws, but when you finally finish the game, these flaws seem like nothing and you will forget about them faster than you'll fall in love with this adventure. If I knew that Okami would be as good as it is back when my PlayStation 2 kicked the bucket, I definitely would have shelled out the one-hundred and some dollars for a new system just to play this gem.

Okami shares plenty of similarities with the legendary Zelda series from Nintendo, so fans of those games should feel right at home with this adventure. However, I'm not going to sit here and list the similarities between Okami and Zelda, though this will be brought up a couple of times throughout this review. Instead, I'm going to focus on the noticeable flaws with Okami and the amazing qualities that manage to make most of those flaws obsolete.

You will immediately be introduced to Okami's breathtaking art style, but you will also notice some other things. While running around, you can swing the Wii remote slightly to make Amaterasu (the protagonist) run forward, and thus she goes faster. Flowers bloom behind her as she runs, and this can also be achieved simply by running in without being interrupted for a long time. While this may seem rather insignificant gameplay-wise, this is just an example of why Okami is so indescribably charming.

While running around the large game world, you can do a huge variety of things. You will probably be most compelled to complete the main quest line, but there are some side quests for you to enjoy as well, and some secrets that are actually pretty interesting to find. Some items are hidden around the environment like stray beads or sun fragments that you can collect and this definitely makes exploring worth it.

So, since this game is like Zelda, you probably think that you are actually pretty limited in your ability to traverse the terrain around you, right? Well, that couldn't be farther from the truth. In Okami, there are some heavy platforming elements present, and you can jump pretty damn high in this game. Other moves, including a double jump, can be learned at a dojo that you pay and then practice your moves.

Combat, unfortunately, is where one of Okami's main flaws comes into play. You see, there are three different types of weapons available to you throughout the game: reflectors, rosaries, and glaives. Reflectors are somewhat annoying to use with the Wii remote since the game doesn't detect the motion sensing as accurately as it should, but rosaries work brilliantly and you can attack just by swinging the remote back and forth in quick succession. Finally, the glaives, while they could have been one of the coolest parts of the game, end up being one of the worst since there are nigh impossible to use effectively in battle and you will probably stick with the rosaries throughout most of your adventure.

You can upgrade your weapons using an item called gold dust and there are plenty of other items that you can find lying around the environment, hidden in treasure chests, or that you can purchase at any merchants you happen to come across. These items range from special slips of paper that create a giant dome of power that damages enemies to little coins that allow you to warp across the world. They are all mostly useful except for a few items here and there, but for the most part, you will learn which items you will need and which ones you won't need to spend any money on.

Money is also something you can find just lying around or you can sell various treasures you come across to earn money as well. Another major way to earn money is in battles, which occur in real-time, but the battle grounds are restricted. You see, similar to the Dragon Quest games, you see a representation of the enemies just floating around, and battle is only engaged if they bump into you or if you run into them. While in a battle, each enemy has their own health bar so you know how much you're hurting them and each enemy has a little trick to them so you can learn and adopt your own strategies for taking care of enemies quickly.

But why would you be concerned with the speed at which you defeat your adversaries? Well, after each battle, you are ranked based on how much damage you received and how much time it took you to complete the battle. At some points during the battles, your enemies may turn gray, and this means that you must use your Celestial Brush to maximize the damage.

Wait, what? What in the hell is the Celestial Brush? It's what gives Okami its uniqueness! The Celestial Brush is used to interact with the game world and in all honesty, it makes very good use of the Wii remote and has awesome ideas, but just like the combat, there are parts of it that are a little frustrating and disappointing.

Throughout your adventure, you will earn plenty of brush techniques that you can use in battles, to solve puzzles, or simply interact with the game world. You can get a technique that allows you to slice things in half by holding the B trigger and then swiping the remote like a sword and you can earn a technique that allows you to repair the ground or even create things like bridges. Unfortunately, problems occur because the brush is just a little too sensitive and it demands near perfection in order for you to complete some challenges. Like I said, this can become frustrating and it really steals from the magic of the game, preventing the perfect score that it otherwise would have received.

Earning praise is also a huge part of the gameplay. By completing objectives or simply reviving the world using your godly powers, you earn praise. Think of praise as experience points because this is what you use to level up your attributes, like how much health or ink you have. Praise can be earned in other ways as well like feeding animals their favorite foods; stuff like that.

At first, the plot in Okami starts out with a rather small focus and a folklore-like feel to it. As the plot progresses and each huge plot point becomes rather small after an even bigger one pops up and outdoes it, you will realize that you are experiencing a story that only appears once in a blue moon. There are some very touching moments to be had here and there are even plenty of twists and characters develop very nicely. You will become engulfed in this adventure and there is no doubt about that. In case you are unfamiliar with the story, basically, you play as a God in the form of a wolf whose goal is to purge the land of evil. Sounds basic, but trust me, this blows up into a gigantic and plot driven adventure that you will never forget, and as of the time of this review, hasn't been succeeded by any game since it.

Another area where Okami seems almost unquestionable praise is its graphics. The environments look great and so do the characters, with a lot of this due to the brilliant cel-shaded art style. There are a ton of graphical effects that work together to form a true visual treat. Sometimes, the game would get a little on the glitchy side, there was noticeable pop-up, and the camera was a little wonky, but on the other hand, almost everything about this game is beautiful and very reminiscent of Disney cartoons. And that is definitely not a bad thing.

Okami is filled with awesome sound effects complimented by a brilliant soundtrack. The musical score is truly amazing, especially for Capcom, who are mostly known for their violent games with scary piano music or their action titles with generic fighting music placed in as a backdrop. Okami is on par with Disney in the visual department and the audio department. As you've probably figured out, that is a very good thing. No, there isn't any voice acting, but the characters make sound effects that is somewhat reminiscent of games like Banjo-Kazooie or Animal Crossing, and that's also not a bad thing, and part of Okami's charm is created by the fact that there is no voices.

Like most games in the genre, Okami is a very lengthy adventure, spanning about twenty-six to thirty hours. Capcom is pretty good at providing replayability and Okami is no exception. After you complete the game, you are ranked based on your performance and you can unlock various things like concept art, videos, and alternate costumes to use in your next adventure. Oh, and by the way, there is a new game+ option that allows you to go back through will all of your items, praise, and money, and it really makes going back through the game an attractive prospect.

All in all, Okami is a brilliant game and an absolute masterpiece no matter which way you examine it. Unfortunately, there are some noticeable flaws that hold it back from reaching its full potential, including the fact that the motion controls aren't as responsive as they really should have been and the camera can get a little on the annoying side sometimes, but the amazing plot and otherwise very engaging gameplay experience shouldn't be passed up by anyone with a Wii. Go out and get this game now, you won't regret it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/25/08

Game Release: Okami (US, 04/15/08)