Okamiden Review (DS)

I’ll admit it; I became interested in the Okami series after using its main character, the divine wolf named Amaterasu, in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Okamiden is a sequel to the original Okami from the PS2 and Wii, and shares many similarities with its predecessor. It maintains the 3D world full of villages to explore, monsters to fight, and magical techniques to change the landscape while also staying true to its historic Japanese art style and music. The result is a game that treads a lot of the same ground the original did, but that’s not entirely a bad thing; Okamiden’s formula is very fun even with how familiar it is. Described as quickly as possible, Okamiden is much like a modern Zelda game (Twilight Princess, etc.) where Link is replaced by a cute wolf that gains new magical powers over time yet engages in the same cycle of exploring, acquiring new abilities, and fighting bosses.

For those who have played the original, it’s fair to say this is more of the same but you’ll probably be fine with that since it’s still quite fun. Newcomers will be pleased to find that experience with Okami isn’t required, as most of its plot is both easy to follow and quickly summarized. All you really need to know is that you control "Chibiterasu", a divine wolf pup that is tasked with restoring beauty and peace to a cursed land. Players guide Chibiterasu through a 3D world via third-person perspective, which might sound odd given the DS controls are more suited to 2D play. If you’re worried that this would cause the occasional control oddity and camera issue, you’re right... but they’re rarely crippling problems, just minor annoyances.

The general flow of Okamiden has you exploring an area, learning what is troubling the residents, and dealing with their problems. Sometimes this is as simple as killing a few enemies, but it usually involves going into exotic locations and solving basic puzzles while gaining new abilities. Chibiterasu starts the game with a few basic attacks that work well enough, but getting further into the game requires mastering different weapons and brush techniques. Yes, brush techniques; one of Chibiterasu’s special powers is that it can invoke the ’Celestial Brush’ (controlled by your DS stylus), and drawing certain patterns will result in a variety of effects. A simple circle or line might restore the sunlight to an area or cleave apart the boulder blocking your path, while more complex drawings can unlock access to greater powers still.