Okami was an action-adventure game originally released for the PS2 in 2006. Since its launch, it has been re-released several times and is now available on PS4, Xbox One and PC with 4k support.
A long cutscene in the beginning of the game describes events of the past, where a villager Nagi, along with a white wolf Shiranui, defeats an eight headed demon named Orichi. One hundred years later, Orichi is seemingly freed and the world falls into darkness. Players control Amaterasu, the sun goddess who is perceived to be a reincarnation of Shiranui, and your job is to bring back life into the world.
Okami looks like an interactive painting thanks to its incredibly unique art. Its use of cell-shading showcases breath-taking scenery, but the poor character models and constant pop-in can be extremely distracting.
Pressing R1 pulls up a canvas over the screen and Amaterasu can use a celestial brush to make changes to the world. You can use them for solving puzzles, such as building bridges to cross a river, or in combat to cut through enemies. You can use basic attacks as well but they are secondary to the celestial brush. You can also utilise the brush outside of traditional gameplay sequences, such as cutting down trees which may drop an item. Different enemies can be dealt easily with the right brush pattern and mastering this mechanic is essential for the boss battles.
Perform well in battle and you are rewarded with money to spend on items, equipment and learning new techniques. Combat is simple and can get repetitive over the long 30-40 hour journey though. Thankfully, the game dazzles you with wondrous sights at every turn, pushing you to move forward.
Camera can cause several hindrances as it often gets too close to the character, making it hard to see enemies or the path you must take. Pressing L1 allows you to zoom out, but puzzlingly after you interact with any object, it returns to its default position. While several parts of the game have not aged well, its eye-catching art, use of the celestial brush during gameplay and engaging story are well worth experiencing. It is a not a particularly great remaster and certain aspects like the unskipabble dialogue can get annoying, but this is the best version of the game deemed a classic by many.
Overall 8/10
