Okami Member Review for the PS2

     With a game like this--I don't even know where to start.

     Okami was amazing, there is no other way to put it. From start to finish I was hooked, trying to fit in as many hours during the day that I possibly could. And that actually proved to be quite long--I finished the game with 50 hours and 30 minutes under my belt.

     It combines so many ideas, that many other games would just crash and burn under normal circumstances. But Okami is different. Playing as the Shinto Sun God Amaterasu, the story is riveting, with many new twists along the way, keeping players on edge. After all, how many other games involve wolf-gods, time-travel, a lunar civilization, and an eight-headed dragon, and still keep the game afloat?

     And apart from the story, and the length of the game, the graphics and gameplay are nothing short of extraordinary. The modern cel-shaded design simply blows other games (namely the Windwaker and XIII) out of the park. This is one of those few games where it is just as fun to watch in awe as it is to play. Despite the fact that the game looks animated, the painstaking detail is inspiring.

     As for gameplay, that was one of the bigger surprises of Okami. No one would really expect that reviving nature, feeding animals, and helping people could actually be fun. But the characters go along way--mainly the protagonists, the cynical Amaterasu and the cocky poncle Issun (little bug-like warrior that follows you). But this is also where the puzzle aspect of the game comes into play. The celestial brush (a kick-ass paintbrush that can influence your surroundings) proves to be one of the most innovative designs to come along in a long time, and at first would seem more like an idea fit for the Nintendo DS.

     And to finish the game off, there was the ending. It isn't a heartbreaker, nor is it a cliffhanger, leaving room for a sequel (R.I.P. Clover Studio), but it is one that will leave you thinking afterwards; an obvious Japanese-styled fin. Unlike the last few games I have played lately (i.e. Gun, Liberty City Stories, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror), you won't leave feeling pissed-off and empty, left with nothing to do. It is one of those endings that jjust makes you want to pick the controller and start all over again.

     In short, one of the best games out on the PS2, or any system for that matter. Definitely worth the money, if you are into the whole action/puzzle gameworld. Anyone without an open mind, or without an eye for beauty, need not apply. I loved it.

                                                                                                                                                          --Joe Mac