Rating: 4.5 Stars

Practically bursting with traditional Japanese culture, Okami offers a palette of unique ideas. From the water color style of the graphics to the unique puzzle solving, Okami is a much different experience from most games.

The story begins with a recounting of the legend of the wolf goddess Shiranui and the eight-headed demon Orochi, and the incredible battle the two had inside of the Moon Cave. The swordsman Nagi slays the evil demon Orochi, but Shiranui was wounded during the battle, and died from the poison that had infected her.

Hundreds of years later, a descendant of Nagi travels to the Moon Cave, and mistakenly unseals Orochi, who plunges the land of Nippon into darkness. The tree spirit Sakuya calls upon Amaterasu, a weaker incarnation of the wolf goddess Shiranui, to purge the land of evil. The plot, though it may not seem like it, is surprisingly simple, which works to the game’s benefit, as it allows for a greater focus on the gameplay.

Players are able manipulate the environment in various ways through use of the Celestial Brush. Usage of this tool is limited, and consistent use will leave a player unable to perform any other abilities for about nine seconds. Available powers vary from the ability to use flora and fauna to solve puzzles, creating explosives on command, restoring broken objects, causing a rainstorm and a plethora of other abilities.

A large majority of powers can be utilized in combat against a strange selection of enemies. Killer igloos, giant crows with swords and flying fish, to name a few. Enemies have weakness to specific powers, such as the Wind Mirror being vulnerable to the power that slows time. Every enemy has a technique they can be with as they die, called their Floral Finisher. Performing Floral Finishers makes foes drop more items upon death, and it’s a smart way to encourage attentiveness in players. Just because an enemy is defeated doesn’t mean the player should move on to fighting another immediately.

The presentation of the game is beautiful. The game runs under a filter that makes it look like it’s drawn on a scroll, and it works well. The soundtrack uses mainly Japanese instruments, such as the Taiko drum. Standout songs include “Ryoshima Plains,” which is an amazing brass and string centered piece, and “Dragon Palace,” a calming piece centered around the Koto, harp and flute.

With a combination of traditional Japanese art style and music, unique gameplay and simple storytelling, Okami delivers a satisfying experience that rarely falters. The game time runs around 60+ hours on the first playthrough, and around 40 on repeated plays, so there’s plenty to experience and enjoy.

Okami

Developed by Capcom

Current retail price is $29.99 for the Playstation 2 version, $14.49 for the Nintendo Wii version, and $15 for the Playstation 3 version.