Okami by Capcom

Game Informer Review - 9.5

According to Matt at Game Informer: "I had expected a quirky, unique title with an engaging and fresh art style. What I got is probably one of the most engrossing gaming experiences I've had in recent memory - an enormous adventure that I think stands among the greatest PlayStation 2 games ever released. Just as the gameplay becomes more ambitious and unique, so do the enviornments and missions, taking you to the bottom of the ocean, the tops of snow-covered mountains, and even the belly of a giant serpent. The game's plot is also grand in scope and incredibly rich. In a time when games are becoming increasingly Westernized, aping successful Hollywood action films and cliches, Okami is resolutely Japanese, delivering a gentle message of spirituality and a love of nature. While many of the themes of Okami are serious, it's also lighthearted, thanks mostly to your constant companion Issun, a pea-sized "wandering artist" who's there to provide comic relief when it's most needed. Whether he's threatening a giant dragon 1,000 times his size, or commenting on a priestess' large, ahem, "melons", Issun is definitely one of the year's best new characters, and provides an excellent foil to the dignified (and silent) Amaterasu.
While it's not perfect - some of the puzzles are too obvious and for the most of the game the boss battles aren't particulary challenging, especially if you keep a good supply of items - Okami remains compelling throughout the literally dozens and dozens of hours that it takes to complete the adventure. Throughout the course of the game, you're constantly encountering new gameplay, new abilities, and new enviornments, which helps keep this game fresh past the point where most similar titles start to go stale. The brush techniques add a level of gameplay that is stunning at times, as you feverishly switch back and forth between arduous platforming, brush techniques, and conventional attacks. Most importantly though, is the level of artistry and detail that is shown throughout every minute of the game. The core mission of any game is to create a world that players want to get lost in, and Okami delivers on this in every way - with the gameplay, with the graphics, and with with the story."
* Players take control of Amaterasu, the mythical sun god in its earthly form of a wolf, and must seek out and defeat these monsters, returning colour and hence life to the area.

* As a deity, Amaterasu's power is in part derived from humans believing and this is accomplished in two ways - by bringing colour and life back to areas and by listening to the wishes of the people and fulfilling these desires. The more faith people have the stronger Amaterasu becomes and the easier it will be to defeat the monsters.

* Okami's visual style is based on traditional Japanese art. Although a digital reproduction, the developers have ensured that the analog feel of paper plus the delicate calligraphy and pen work of this art form have not been lost.

* This graphical style also helps set the pace of the game with players encouraged to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Okami's world rather than rush headlong through the missions.