This handheld adventure is one you don’t want to miss.
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 15, 2011
ESRB Rating: E10+
Score: 4.5 / 5
Disclaimer: I have not played Okami on either PlayStation 2 or Wii.
When I first got a chance to try the demo for Okamiden, which was at PAX 2010, I was taken in by the beautiful art style. Its unique array of colors along with the way the game flowed made for a wonderful presentation. Now that I have the full game, nothing has changed my opinion of that. If anything, the addition of features not present in the game made me delight in playing it that much more.
The game takes place in Nippon which is overrun by demons and evil. As the son of Amaterasu the Sun Goddess, Chibiterasu, you must cleanse the world of this darkness. Chibiterasu, being a son, isn’t as powerful as his mother is, but still possesses the same ability to use the Celestial Brush. To help you on the journey is Kuni, who is the son of the swordsman Susano. Kuni is brave most of the time and can perform bold attacks.
Movement in the world is done by using the d-pad, which at times makes moving at angles slightly awkward. To use the Celestial Brush, you simply press L or R and draw a symbol of what you want to happen. For example, drawing a circle around a tree will revive it and sprout leaves. Additional techniques are scattered throughout the game, generally in a new area for you to use the new found power. These come in the form of constellations that you must trace. Attacks are performed with the A button and I’ve found during fighting sequences that mashing the button is an acceptable way to victory. To aide in battle are items you can use. Items can be purchased from various shop owners across the areas you’ll visit, or found in signs, chests, and other objects that can be manipulated with your Celestial Brush.
In Nippon are various characters that each have their own quirky personality. I rather enjoyed the cut scenes and dialog as a nice way to pass the time between the action bits. If you’re not one for waiting for all the talking to cease, there is an option to skip this. This also comes in handy should you need to repeat any sections. When you do interact with the characters and happen to fulfill a goal, it’ll help fill a meter that when full will add either a Solar Energy Units (health) or Ink Pots.
Dungeon type areas in Okamiden are extremely reminisce of The Legend of Zelda. You’ll be given your new ability and will need to solve puzzles in order to advance farther. The puzzles aren’t all that hard, but do get somewhat more challenging the farther into the game you go. Inside the dungeons at times are forced battles, which are about the only part I didn’t care for. They seem a filler and simply placed in different areas as a way to kill time. This is a minor gripe however because they are sparse throughout the dungeons.
The exploration is where this game shines however. Although there is a constant reminder of what you should be doing, you’re also somewhat encouraged to look around different areas. You’ll be rewarded with hidden treasures which fall into a few categories, item, key item, and unlockable. Items are obviously helpful in battle or to recover your health and ink supply, while key items will help you advance the story.
Okamiden isn’t a short romp and will take about 25 hours to complete, perhaps more if you’re taking your time with exploration and side quests. The game is presented wonderfully with fitting music and art that stands out from other titles. If you don’t already have this game, I suggest making it apart of your library.
A huge thanks to Capcom for letting me check out the game!
