Okami

Okami (Wii port)

Rating: T

Score:  8.5/10

             One hundred years ago, the white wolf Shiranui and the swordsman Nagi tried to defeat an evil eight-headed dragon, but could only succeed in sealing the dragon away.  Now, Sakuya places the spirit of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, into the body of Shiranui, and informs her that the evil eight-headed dragon’s seal has been broken by an unknown man.  Bravely, Amaterasu steps up to stop evil, in the same way Shiranui and Nagi tried 100 years before.  This game is available for the Playstation 2 and the Nintendo Wii, but I’ll be reviewing the port for the Nintendo Wii only.

             Game designers said there wouldn’t be an Okami for the Nintendo Wii but after years of pressure from fans, they gave in.  Fans of Okami on the Playstation 2 will notice two things:  the new feature that allows you to skip cut-scenes, and the new graphic update.  The graphics on the PS2 look blurry and dark compared to the Nintendo Wii’s crisp and colorful graphics.  The graphics, though, are still cel-shaded, like they were before.  This story is unique, to say the least.  The game uses some complex words, but they’re not extremely complicated.  You could even use the words to impress your friends.  Who says video games aren’t educational?

            At the beginning of the game, you are given a magic paint brush.  This magic paint brush can fix broken things, make powerful slashes, make the sun appear, and much more!  You can control the magic paint brush with the Wii Remote, a suiting fit.  You can easily use all techniques learned with the Wii remote, but sometimes making a simple line is impossible.  Occasionally, the game can’t detect the Wii Remote making a line.  It’s not a major issue, it’s only a small inconvenience.  Using “paint” requires ink bottles.  You start with three, and can get more.  After all ink bottles are used up, you’ll be a normal wolf, as you wait patiently for the bottle to refill itself.  You’ll use the magic paint brush a lot to restore peace to the lifeless world the evil dragon controls.

            Other than the main story, you can try out side-quest.  Most side-quests will win you new items you can sell for money or get you more “praise”.  Praise, in this game, is like money but you use it to give you more ink bottles for your magic paint brush and for more health.

            This port won’t disappoint fans of the old Okami.  Everything is the same, but it looks and controls better.  If only all ports could be this good!