![]() Restoring light and nature back into the game world isn't just something to satisfy the gamer in you - its floral carnival turns the game into some sort of interactive digital art gallery. ![]() As captivating as the gameplay undoubtedly is, the process of constant exploration benefits no end by the superhuman effort that Clover invested into the art direction and animation. ![]() Every scene is like a living ink and wash painting, with stunningly graceful pastel landscapes populated with buildings, wildlife and fauna that are lavished with an equal degree of crafted attention. What you see are arguably some of the most strikingly beautiful visuals ever found in a videogame - never mind on the humble PS2. And if that weren't improbable enough, you're accompanied by an ill-mannered talking bug called Issun, who also happens to be a calligrapher.įittingly, the cel-shaded brush art style matches the game's focus on the Celestial Brush powers. To combat this rising tide of evil, an old statue of a white wolf, Okami, is infused with the life force of an ancient god called Amaterasu - who just happens to posses the power of the Celestial Brush. On the flip side, how you go about playing the all-conquering hero is somewhat more interesting. Unfortunately, it's a yet another game where the land has been engulfed in darkness by a nefarious evil force known as Orochi, and, yes, another one where it's up to you to sort out the whole sorry mess, rid the world of evil and allow the nice fluffy villagers to get on and lead their idyllic rural lifestyles. That's sort of what Okami means in Japan-o-land anyway. Turn on the bright lights We would've called the game Wolfie, in tribute to our dearly departed pet. It really is an exceptional achievement on so many levels. It's not just one of the most consistently engaging action adventures we've played, but one that feels utterly unique in many ways that matter. At worst, going into too much detail could turn this into an anti-review.īite-sized synopsis? It takes all the best bits of Zelda (the structure, atmosphere, puzzles), throws in wonderfully original combat and the most adorable art style ever seen in a videogame. It's one of those gaming experiences with so many interesting quirks about it and so many magic moments that merely running through the back-story and explaining what you do won't give you a hope of relating to how special this game really is. Trying to neatly extol the virtues of Okami's endless charms isn't an easy task. You're pregnant?! Hang on a minute, I've just got to finish off this section. It's snowing outside, you say? Anna Nicole Smith's dead? England beat the Aussies? Meh. A game so engrossing, so crafted and so life-affirming that nothing else in the world seems to matter. Once or twice a year a game like this comes along. ![]()
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