Okami is a sprawling action-adventure game with a unique combat system that still stands up among the best in its genre.
What Is It? Okami is a 3D action-adventure game very squarely in the mold of the N64 Zelda titles. You control Amaterasu, a wolf destined to protect a village, and world, from an evil spirit promising to be unleashed after 100 years of banishment. Issun is your traveling companion who rides on your back, wielding a brush which can be used to draw increasingly powerful spells in and out of battle.
The game is open world with gates between areas being used to block you from freely exploring from the start; typical video game shenanigans. You will spend a lot of time talking to NPCs to determine where to go and what to do next, then head out of town to the next area. There are floating banners in the world, contacting them will result in instant battle with a variety of enemies. The battle system contains normal attack and dodge components but you can also use brush powers to directly attack opponents or draw helpful items such as bombs or a wind storm.
Combat really takes off when enemies start becoming difficult and needing certain brush techniques to get past. This is doubly true for boss fights, all of which rely heavily on the brush skills you have earned up to the fight. You get a bit of customization through various types of primary and secondary weapons. You will unlock these throughout the game and you can change your playstyle based on which you choose to equip and upgrade.
Beyond combat, most of the other systems will feel familiar. A wide range of items are available, there are side quests aplenty, you are often rewarded by exploring a bit off of the main path, etc…
A standout feature here is the art style, which is a variation on cell shading which brilliantly integrates the game’s setting of a fictional Japan province.
The Best Part: The combat. Okami is a long game, clocking in at nearly 40 hours for a playthrough, but I was still enjoying even the most basic of combat encounters at the tail end of the time because the system is so elegant and fun. Your brush powers freeze the screen which turns this action game into sort of a turn-based game. You can be a bit more deliberate with your choices, making sure to draw the right brush technique. Once things resume, you’ll be dodging and attacking like a standard action game. The mixture here is great and is the main reason I enjoyed this game.
The Worst Part: The length. I clocked 38.5 hours on my playthrough. I didn’t do nearly everything the game had to offer. An action-adventure game simply does not need to be this long and things aren’t helped here with a handful of fake endings you will encounter throughout. There is also a bit of recycling done late in the game which makes the length feel even more tiresome in the last few hours. A bit of editing would have gone a long way here.
The Verdict: Okami is quite possibly the best early 3D action-adventure game I’ve played. It is very much better than any Zeldas of the era with its unique combat system, good platforming, engaging story, charming characters, and wonderful art style. It is an easy recommendation, if you have the time to play the whole game.
How to Play: PS2, Wii. Remaster: PS3/4, Xbox One, Windows, Switch
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