| A New Platform For An Old Favorite = Gaming Perfection!
While this may be one of the latest best Wii games to hit the market, Okami has actually been around for a couple of years already on the Playstation 2. When it was released by Sony it was hailed by many reviewers as a perfect meld of graphics, storyline, and innovative interface. In a tale told through cinematic cut scenes, you take the role of the ancient Japanese goddess Amaterasu, on a quest to save the world (a hyper-fantasy Japan) from a dark evil. Up to that point, Okami seems much like many other quest-based games. But with its blend of Japanese woodcut-inspired artwork, a fluid palate of environments and cleverly rendered mythological characters, the original Okami elevated what could be simple and unoriginal into a visual treat. The soundtrack was also at the same high level, with its moody yet inspiring flow of traditional Japanese-themed music. But the most outstanding element of Okami was its interface: using an onscreen “celestial brush” to select items, options, and attacks, Okami actually made the act of doing things in a game fun. |
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The Celestial Brush
With the “celestial brush” interface, Okami allowed you to shape glyphs and kanji-like symbols to change the game world. Power slashing through objects with a single bold stroke, or using the brush to stretch and reshape things brought a feeling of omnipotent power rarely felt in more mundane adventure games. New puzzles on each level enhanced this gameplay— for example; a simple move that shifted water from one place to another would later combine with a clever set of puzzles for moving the water between containers in a certain pattern in a higher level of play. This interplay between puzzle and unique interface is what makes Okami a standout game.
Wii Perfection
But for all of its innovation, there was a problem - it’s hard to be fluid and artistic within the confines of the Playstation thumb stick. This is where Okami for the Wii brings improvement on what is already a nearly perfectly balanced experience and creates one of the best Wii game experiences to date. By using the movement capabilities inherent in the Wii nunchuck/controller interface, the sweeping gestures and flowing brush movements that were only hinted at in the PS2 version can truly come to life. As the challenges mount and require more sophisticated use of the celestial brush—shaping bombs to open sealed doors, cutting down entire forests with a wave of the “brush,” the Wii’s enhanced ability for precise motion enhances what is already an interesting and thoroughly engaging gameplay element. Okami also encourages the player to experiment with their use of the brush and its associated spell powers. Combine wind with some attacks and you can hurl bombs towards your enemies, or raise barriers from nothing but water.
But Wait, There’s More…
Although the combination of Wii controllers and Okami’s unique brush system makes it one of the best Wii games around, this only highlights an outstanding game that retains all of the elements that made its original incarnation stellar. There’s also a large focus on character building and development; Amaterasu’s abilities and powers change and improve as the game progresses, with new power ups and ways to vary already existing powers of movement and attack.
The world of Okami is huge, layered, and complex, with paths leading in all directions. And it’s varied; beaches, mountains, jungles, temples, dungeons, and villages all await your exploration, with a smoother transition between each map than most adventure games provide. This, plus a cast of truly inspiring boss battles and unique creatures from Japanese mythology give the world a sense of grandeur and majesty equal to the godlike role you play. And at a whopping thirty plus hours of gameplay, you’ll find Okami delivers a satisfying experience that feels full and unrushed. Whether you’re an experienced fan of epic adventure games, or a new casual gamer looking to branch out from your Wii Fit experience, you’ll find that Okami is one of the best Wii games to come along in a long while, and a worthy recasting of a unique and exciting original.