shiva
Avalanche Member
Joined: 21 May 2006
Magazine Articles: 8
Location: in my own twisted mind mwuhahaha |
 Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:53 pm |
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Hello people shiva here!
Game: Okami
System: Playstation 2
Publisher: Clover studio
Rating: 5 out of 5 / "Must Own!" 
This time I’m writing about a new game called Okami
(which I think the people of the geisha clan will appreciate  )
anyways, its produced by Clover Studio and its made using the cell shading effect.
The Story:
The game starts by showing the long but important legend of Orochi.
This legend goes about the peaceful village Kamiki, which a curse rests on.
Every year there has to be a human sacrifice to ease the eight headed snake Orochi.
The victim is chosen by a burning arrow that is shot into the air and hits the house of the unlucky person.
When the day of the sacrifice arrives, a white wolf walks into the streets of the village, named Shiranui.
Nagi , a warrior, thinks that Shiranui is one of Orochi’s helpers, and tries to scare him away, in which he failed.
Even worse, Nagi’s beloved one is this years sacrifice victim.
And of course he wants to stop the terrible fate of Kamiki by defeating Orochi.
After a rough battle, Nagi is the one defeated.
But just when Nagi is almost killed, the wolf Shiranui appears once again, to save not only Nagi’s life but to fight Orochi as well.
In a mad rage, Shiranui tried to defeat the snake, calling a magic sword from the sky. Just then Nagi stands, grabs the sword, and defeats Orochi.
Sad it may be, the wolf is hurt badly and must pay for his good deed with his life.
After all this, a shrine is build to honour Shiranui, and within it a great statue of the wolf.
The sword however, stays behind in the cave of the moon where Orochi is defeated.
Fast forward a hundred years later , someone steals that same sword out of the cave, and with that action releases Orochi (who is now a little less than dead) .
And just as before, Orochi releases his demon helpers once again.
With the help of Sakuya, the goddess of the village, the sun goddess Amaterasu is reincarnated into the wolf statue, reviving Shiranui.
sakuya
The task is now up to you (Shiranui) to save the world from darkness and, to defeat Orochi once again.
Surroundings:
The surroundings in the game are stunningly beautiful, taking on the style of Japanese paintings, following the premise of the game. 
Resembling a paint brush, the wolfs tail is used as one as well. During gameplay you can stop play and the screen changes into a white canvas on which you can paint with the tail of Amaterasu/Shiranui.
Every figure you paint does something with the surroundings of the game.
The easiest figure is a straight line which can cut down trees or kill enemies
As the game progresses, you learn more strokes to use with the tail for more complex actions, which are incredibly useful.
A dead tree: 
The painting: 
And the tree is alive again : 
But don't over do it! You have an 'ink gauge' that will eventually run dry and you will have to wait for it to fill again.
As you may read in other reviews, this game is very nature oriented. Where the wolf walks, flowers bloom, giving the impression that Amaterasu is one with nature and a goddess that comes to wash the lands over with peace.
You can plant trees, call for wind, make water lilies and above all, revive the trees again.
And of course its not only that, but there are animals as well, which you can feed. As you do, your bond between you and the animals grow and little hearts appear.
In summation: This game is a one of a kind and can be enjoyed by all age groups and personality types, and should be on every one's "must own" list.
Well ladies and gentleman, that was it for this time see you next month!!
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