Origin of all that is good and mother to us all...

Capcom's 'Okami' is absolutely wonderful. It is one of the best marriages of visual and thematic design and it is undoubtedly the single best videogame tribute to a nation's cultural heritage. Clover Studios has created something that will not soon be forgotten.

Most reviews start off with a game's narrative context, but in the case of Okami the first thing you will notice is the sound. From the shimmering and tinkling of the shamisen to the pounding taiko drums, Okami features top-notch audio design. The game's engine makes full use of Dolby Pro Logic II to perfectly layer every instrument. Do your ears a favor and play with a decent set of speakers, you'll see what I'm talking about. Aside from fidelity, also Okami shines in its musical composition. While not as memorable as the soundtrack to a Final Fantasy or Mario title, the music lends itself perfectly to the game's epic theme.

The story begins with an extensive introduction to traditional Japanese folklore, narrating the defeat of the evil eight-headed snake Orochi by Nagi (a man) and Shiranui; a god in the form of a white wolf. You then take control of Okami Amaterasu, the sun god and Shiranui's reincarnation. Your task is to recover the 13 god powers that will allow you to fight back against the darkness that has once again begun covering the land. Along for the ride is the pint-sized Issun, a wandering artist and the game's comic relief. A bond develops between Okami and Issun that will have you chuckling and even reaching for a tissue. Your quest will take you across Japan and beyond in the search of people to help and powers to collect. The Nippon of Okami seems foreign enough with its eastern aesthetics, but the fantastic and ethereal aura is super-charged by visits to a spirit world filled with awe-inspiring and whimsical animal deities of eastern mythology. Even the game's manual asks that you play with an open mind as western audiences tend to miss many of the subtle cultural references. Amid all this newness, Okami remains genuinely easy to pick up and play — standing as a testament to success of the core gameplay.

If you've played Zelda games before, Okami will be right up your ally as it borrows many elements from the series and even influenced the latest installment "Twilight Princess". Gameplay is divided into combat and exploration, with a third overarching element — the brush. Apart from health, money, and tribute (which is used to level up your attributes) the HUD displays your ink bottles. Each of the 13 god powers require the use of your brush and some ink to be executed successfully. This is where Okami pioneers. Instead of pressing buttons to activate spells, you press and hold R1 to pause the action and enter painting mode. You can then use the aforementioned brush to literally paint the symbol for the power you wish to use onto the scene. Powers have different effects when used in battle or during exploration. For example, using the brush to create a water fountain to reach a raised platform could translate to using the brush in battle to exploit a fire enemy's weakness. Though the game initially holds your hand — pointing out where and when to use the brush — once you get a few hours in, using it will become second nature.

Total play time can vary depending on mini-games, helping NPCs, or collecting items and tribute. Even if you avoid the extras, expect the game to last a solid 35 hours. If you're a collector, finishing the game could easily take 40 to 45. While many titles wear thin by the 20 or 30 hour mark, this is when Okami begins to shine, throwing in plot twists, new gameplay, and expanding your repertoire of god powers.

The game's appeal endures thanks in no small part to its presentation. Okami makes the best use of cell-shading to date with a visual style that mimics traditional Japanese wood-block prints. Painting is so integral to gameplay that watching your brush literally transform withered and dying landscapes into bright, lush forests is breathtaking. If you are looking for one of the most gorgeous games on a last-gen platform — this is it. The graphics are executed flawlessly.

Okami's faults are few and far between. There are a few cutscenes that grow tiresome (the introduction in particular), some mildly irritating Rare-esque character voices, and a finale that just misses the mark in terms of emotional satisfaction. But these are hardly deal breakers, especially next to games with cutscenes as bloated as Metal Gear Solid 4's.

After getting a few hours into Okami I noticed something: I wasn't just hooked on the game, I was hooked on everything it represented. As a videogame it transcends the “interactive entertainment” label; it's a way to experience culture. From the game's music to visuals to character design, everything was influenced by centuries of ancient culture and tradition. Although Okami treads common ground with its timeless characters and action-oriented gameplay; it is so alien and fresh that it begs for you to play it all the way through.

Sound: 10
Story: 9.0
Gameplay: 10/10
Presentation: 10/10
Total: 9.75/10

(A note about ratings: A 10/10 does not mean a game is perfect, it means I do not think the developers need to take the time to revisit. If they did they would be nitpicking and and spending their time poorly.)