Review: Okami
When Okami originally came out on the PS2, gamers and critics alike were impressed with its original visual style and story design. Now, two years later, the game debuts on the Wii and manages to not only recapture the magic and charm of the original but it surpasses it in many ways.
If It Ain't Broke...
Okami for the Wii is a direct port of the PS2 title, which means there is no new content. Also, the developers did not go back and make any tweaks to the gameplay; this means that you still have to slog through nearly 20 minutes of exposition at the start of the game before you get going. If you've played the original, you can skip it but new comers will have to suffer through in order to get oriented. It is a tedious hurdle to overcome but your patience will be rewarded as once the actual game begins, Okami definitely shines.
For the uninitiated, Okami follows the adventures of the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu, who has taken the form of a wolf, and her quest to save the world from darkness. Her most powerful weapon on her journey is the Celestial Brush, a magic paint brush that can be used to create things like stars and rivers as well as to destroy objects and enemies. This time around, the Celestial Brush is controlled via the Wii Remote and though it is a bit frustrating at first, once you get acclimated, it feels natural. I can honestly say that this is one Wii title where the motion controls didn't feel forced.
Blank Canvas
Despite the initial learning curve, using the Celestial Brush on the Wii is intuitive and a worthwhile experience. Holding down the B button turns the onscreen world into a canvas which you can then paint on using the A button. As the game progresses Amaterasu acquires more powers for the Celestial Brush but the downside of this is that you have be fairly precise with your brush strokes, which leads to a lot of frustration. In the beginning of the game, you can only paint simple objects like bridges and rivers, which only requires broad strokes. Later moves, such as the destructive Slice move requires a bit of finesse and learning the subtle nuances of each brush strokes takes practice.
But beyond that, Okami for the Wii is still the same game that earned raves from both gamers and critics. It managed to stand out on the PS2 thanks to its original art design and innovative combat, and the Wii continues on in that fine tradition. If you missed the game the first time around, this is the perfect opportunity to experience an innovative and expertly designed title. Conversely, if you played the PS2 game over and over again, there really is nothing new for you here aside from the motion sensing controls. But even then, Okami is good enough that you may want to revisit it again for a second time.
Cons: 20 minute intro is tedious. Learning curve can be a bit steep at times
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