Though it may sound it on paper, the brush mechanic is far from a gimmick it's critical to both Okami's narrative and to every aspect of its gameplay, tying it all together with a simple, satisfying elegance.Īs a whole, the combat isn't all that difficult. There are thirteen so-called brushstrokes to learn in all, and the effects of these range from slashing at foes, to conjuring the elements or causing the sun or moon to rise obediently in the sky. With it, Amaterasu can wield her divine power over this mystical watercolour world and momentarily stop time to ink symbols onto a heavenly contextual parchment. As a god, the world is your canvas, and the Celestial Brush is the most powerful tool in your arsenal. It's this beguiling hand-drawn style that in turn makes the gameplay really flow.
The world and the characters within it create a rich, vivacious tapestry of colour and form, where a simple bold brushstroke in the sky can comfortably signify a distant mountain range, where life returns to parched areas in a joyous tidal wave of fresh flowers and fruit, and where at night, fire quietly dances in swirling plumes of red and gold. Historic Nippon is depicted in a vivid, cel-shaded art style reminiscent of Japanese sumi-e watercolour paintings. This very traditional approach also applies to Okami's visuals, which despite now being six years old, are still wholly unique and exquisitely beautiful. It's a classical story, one that borrows heavily from Japanese Shinto fables and folklore, and it exudes a simplicity and a timelessness that makes you feel as though it could almost have been handed down over the ages, told and retold eternally.
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