By: Johnathan Mason

One of my all-time favorite video games is Comix Zone. It was a side-scrolling brawler for the Sega Genesis where players fought within the pages of a graphic novel as the villain drew obstacles on the panels from above. Bugs Bunny’s Hare Raising Havoc for the Super Nintendo used this as well, in homage to Warner Bros’ Daffy Duck cartoon “Duck Amuck”. The point is the examples above hold something in common: they portray the artist as an omnipotent enemy, tormenting the player. It took Clover Studios’ Okami to reclaim that power and put it where it belongs – in your analog stick.

You play, simply put, a goddess: the Japanese sun deity Amaterasu, reincarnated in the form of a white wolf. Together with her flea-like sidekick Issun, they will traverse a countryside poisoned by an ancient evil to set things right. This will involve controlling the elements and even time itself with carefully placed brushstrokes.

See, the world of Okami is made to resemble a Japanese watercolor painting. Thick inky lines frame all of the characters, and lush colors whirl and burst to life on scrolls that unfurl across the screen. As you progress through the game even Ameratsu’s own footprints leave a trail of flora in her wake, like the Spirit of the Forest from Princess Mononoke.

This design aesthetic brilliantly fuses with the control scheme to provide the most unique weapon seen outside of a DS game: the Celestial Brush. To cleanse this gorgeous cel-shaded world of its woes 13 techniques can be acquired from the lesser gods who kept them, and you’ll need every one.

Hold down R1 and the world literally becomes your canvas, complete with a pot of ink to dip the brush in. Overuse is not encouraged; too much ink will leave the goddess a defenseless mortal dog. Use quick lines to slash and later gain more powerful attacks, like a circle with a line will generate a bomb to burst walls and floors. Who would have suspected a character without opposable thumbs could make such an impressive artist?

While many of these abilities will need to be used in battle as well as puzzles, combat itself is just as fun. Defend yourself against all manner of strange beasts (geisha storks, demon monkeys, burning wheels of body parts) with three kinds of weapons, enhanced with a multitude of extra attacks you can earn at dojos. A few naughty maneuvers are included – let’s just say Amaterasu the dog goddess isn’t, well…

…housetrained.

Encounters in the overworld are initiated by floating enemy icons roaming the landscape. Coming into contact with one creates a circle around the battle that prevents the aged PS2 from being overtaxed while simultaneously keeping your enemies close. Escape is achieved by attacking the barrier at weak spots that can be leapt through at a moment’s notice.

Of course you can’t do this during the boss battles, but who would want to? In a game full of ingenuity, these are significant high points. You’ll pull apart a giant spider’s spinneret, get a demon drunk, and square off with a samurai ghost within the belly of an Emperor (it’s a long story).

Naturally Okami isn’t all art and war. You will be confronted with how best to restore the lands you travel through since their impurity will actually harm you, and once that’s done you’ll have to help the people and animals in each area. These events may earn you money or praise – the two things any self-respecting deity runs on – to upgrade abilities and purchase items to aid in your quest.

Comparisons have been drawn (no pun intended) between this and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, but on the Playstation 2 Okami stands in a class by itself.

I may not know art, but I know what I like.

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