Okami

The world is a painting. As I step into it for the first time, I am taken in by every shape, object, and color. Trees, grass, flowers - are these the things gamers are really interested in? Somehow this world has made them interesting. As I land a jump for the first time, I see grass and flowers grow out from under my character's feet. The flowers, a symbol of his great power, quickly disappear as he walks away.

By the end he will have met his full potential and restored beauty to a world covered in darkness. But even in darkness the game is drenched in beauty. Every time of day has a different look and feel (and at night, a different set of monsters). An unprecedented amount of hues and contrasting colors were to used to create several locales – each with the quality of a detailed storybook, multiplied by 20.

Over the course of this adventure it is you who will control him and re-paint the world. You'll form bridges to cross the water, draw lines to slash enemies, and paint trees to lift the curse that has left them lifeless. You'll create objects to cross dangerous paths, draw a simple shape to plant bombs, and turn the world into something you couldn't possibly imagine.

Graphically Rich, Graphically Influenced

Okami's innovations are very unique. When I look back on games whose innovation was partially graphical, I think of Resident Evil (first 3D horror), Metal Gear Solid (first 3D spy game), and Tomb Raider (groundbreaking third-person shooter). These were the first in their series, and their innovations couldn't have been possible without the new 3D environments.

Okami's graphics are innovative for a different reason. We've had 3D games before, and beautiful cel-shaded effects. We have not, however, experienced an adventure where every action leads to something visual – and that every visual can lead to something that affects the gameplay.

Take this tree for example. If you look closely you should see a ribbon tied in the center.

Hold the R1 button and your Celestial Brush comes up. The screen flattens, or so it appears, and you are now able to draw over the environment.

But things are not as they appear. This screenshot cannot depict the whole truth. Push the right analog stick and you'll see the environment move within your drawing area, allowing you to adjust the angle as needed.

Now push the square button and draw a straight line using the left stick. Release R1 and the tree will be sliced in two. This move, though cool, is not the solution to your current problem.

What you need is a power called Bloom. It enables you to draw a circle around barren trees, replenishing its color and lost leaves:

This blossomed tree is one of many world elements that must be restored. As you restore them, peace begins to return to that location. More areas become accessible, and more rewards are given to the player.

Innovation, Exploration

Underneath the innovation is an exciting and polished adventure game. The all-powerful creature you control is Amaterasu, a wolf with the power to paint the world. He's very quiet.

Issun, a tiny creature who follows Amaterasu on his journey, more than makes up for the lack of silence.

Drawing isn't just limited to restoration and enemy slashings. Amaterasu will have to create bombs (draw a circle with a line through it) to combat monsters and bust open cracks found in the environment. Aim for the sky when drawing a circle and the sun will come up. Time plays an important role in this game, with some events taking place only at night, and others only during the day.

The controls are smooth, responsive, and feel just right. Environments aren't just beautiful, they're also extremely well designed, and are very effective in practice. You won't find an area that feels weird or out of place. Every locale comes across exactly as it should. It's a world you'll want to return to again and again.

The Celestial Brush elements are surprisingly quick and without flaw. Shapes do not have to be drawn perfectly. Quickly scribble them out, release R1 and be on your way. This has undoubtedly avoided a plethora of frustrations that would've been caused by a stricter drawing system (where artwork had to be more precise).

All I Need is a Tri-Force, and...

It's impossible to avoid comparing Okami to The Legend of Zelda, most notably The Wind Waker. I hate to bring it up for fear of those who shunned The Wind Waker's art style may shun Okami as well. But that'd be a horribly foolish mistake. And you know what they say about people who allow themselves to be fooled twice...

Both games are third-person adventure RPGs. Zelda has an annoying fairy who uses sounds, not words, to communicate. Okami has Issun, an equally annoying creature that never shuts up. Zelda has long story sequences that can't be skipped - Okami is no different (the intro is painfully long). In Zelda, Link uses bombs to blast through cracked walls. Okami does the same. Link jumps over objects automatically, and though Okami has a jump button, he too will lift himself over small objects without the press of a button.

I could continue, but there's really no point. Okami may very well have been born from Zelda's source material, but its innovations and contributions to video games are not to be overlooked.

You could fault it for being a partial clone, but I've heard developers say, "People want every game to be Zelda." Okami is not Zelda. But it has the same quality, the same masterful design, and its own innovations that are bound to be copied by other developers who wish they had thought of them first.

Gameplay: 9.4
This is one of Capcom’s finest releases – an adventure that demonstrates what could be a new era in video games. It’s an unexpected blend of gameplay and visuals. Gameplay influences the graphics and vice versa. You will get to see the world transform from ugliness to beauty, all presented in sequences built using the game engine. Those sequences follow the countless moments where you will change the world in real-time simply by drawing on key areas of the environment. The transition is unparalleled.

Graphics: 9.9
The pinnacle of PlayStation 2 visuals. From the gameplay-influencing painting aspect and world evolution elements to the hand-drawn characters and environments that are superior to every anime I have ever seen on Cartoon Network, Okami is a gorgeous and glorious work of art with no equal.

Sound: 8.0
Okami’s music is great. The sound effects are also pretty cool, but the voice-overs – which consist of various sounds, not actual words – are a bit of an annoyance. It’s nothing Zelda hasn’t made us sit through (remember the faeries?), but still – if you’re going to copy and improve upon the best, why not leave the worst behind?

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
About as difficult as the two more prominent Zelda releases: The Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker. Puzzles are brilliant, but they’re no ICO. You won’t have to spend an hour thinking them through. Trial and error and deep exploration is typically all it takes.

Concept: 9.4
Drawing without a Wii or DS? Is that even possible? I was intrigued but concerned by Okami’s unusual concept. PlayStation 2 proved to be the right choice for the game, as the developers found a clever way to incorporate simple drawing motions without the use of a stylus.

This game world-changing idea is backed up by unforgettable environments, quality controls, and an excellent (but like most, imperfect) camera system. Battles are exciting, puzzles are intriguing and satisfying, and the graphics cannot be beat.

Overall: 9.4
If you buy only one PlayStation 2 game this fall, make it Okami. Don’t get completely caught up in the next-gen hype. Every moment is heightened by breathtaking beauty. At times you’ll forget that this game was designed for a current-gen console. Whereas other titles fake or skip around to avoid showing a world that was supposed to have evolved, Okami gives you everything – and it never misses a frame.