Thanks to lebanese_boy for the images. Here is my review for Okami (Wii), please check out my other reviews as well at the bottom of my profile page.

Okami hit the PS2 in 2006 and ended up being a cult cIassic that few would play; but those who did play it enjoyed it greatly and fought on message boards to raise awareness of the game. Almost two years later, with Clover Studios dissolved it seemed hopeless for any of their work to see the light of day again. However, Ready At Dawn has done the impossible and ported a seemingly lost game to the Wii, and it has been done spectacularly.

Okami is the home to a sprawling world of puzzles and adventure that can leave any player with a soul speechless and, at times, in tears. After a long opening cinema, you take on the role of a wolf Amaterasu and her new sprite friend Issun the wandering artist. Issun plays the role of annoying character that pops in with hints every now and then, but over time you will begin to wonder how you could ever go through the game without him. Amaterasu is a reincarnated wolf of the legendary Shiranui whom one-hundred years before had defeated the snake beast Orochi with the hero Nagi at his side. From here you begin to learn the different kinds of abilities you will encounter throughout the game in the form of the Celestial Brush. There are thirteen different abilities ranging from creating the sun in the sky to giant bombs that can destroy cracked walls as well as most enemies. Luckily, the brush techniques are not the only ways to kill enemies, you will also be given a variety of different weapons to use in the game, each weapon must be used differently for different combos. Each weapon is controlled by waggling the Wiimote, so timing can become very difficult at times, but it is nothing that cannot be perfected with practice.

The way you use the brush makes the gameplay very fluid and easy to use in the heat of combat. With a little work, you will be pulling off brush techniques and killing enemies like it is child's play. However, killing enemies and giant bosses is a part of the game, it is not the main part. Throughout the adventure your overall goal is to restore the land itself as well as the peoples faith in the gods that has dwindled over the years. By restoring faith in the gods, or the environment, Amaterasu gains "praise points" that can then be used to increase Health, Ink (for the paintbrush), Max money holding number, or a special "Astral Pouch" that restores you to life if you die in combat.

The story is based primarily on Japanese Mythology, something that can turn off many gamers, but at the same time bring in many fans. The story pulls its characters directly from legend (though they might not do exactly the same things as in legend). Amaterasu, Orochi, and many others will all make appearances as easily recognizable creatures in game.

Where the game originally received its criticism was in the graphics, and on the Wii version of Okami are very bright and vibrant colors as opposed to a watercolor parchment effect from the PS2 game. The new color scheme does not take away from the game, in fact to many, it will add to the experience and make the game overall a more detailed and cell-shaded effect in the vein of Wind Waker.

In the end, Okami is an epic adventure that should not be missed on the Wii. For any fans of adventure games, Japanese Mythology, or a great rpg-esque story, Okami is the game for you. Don't miss Okami on the Wii if you can, the $40 price tag makes it one of the most attractively priced and greatest Wii games there are.