Ōkami stands out with its unique art style, inspired by traditional Japanese sumi-e paintings, and its innovative celestial brush gameplay mechanic. This action-adventure game is not only a visual masterpiece but also tells a rich, culturally infused story that has captivated players worldwide.
Ōkami is an action-adventure video game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom. The game is set in classical Japan and blends Japanese folklore with a distinctive cel-shaded visual style that mimics the appearance of a watercolor painting with a calligraphic outline. The player controls the main character, Amaterasu, who is a Shinto sun goddess in the form of a white wolf, on a quest to defeat an eight-headed demon, Orochi, who has turned the world into a wasteland.
Gameplay combines several elements including action, platform, and puzzle-solving, and features an innovative mechanic known as the Celestial Brush. This allows players to pause the game and draw shapes with the brush to interact with the environment or attack enemies. The story, deeply rooted in Japanese mythology, is presented in an episodic format, with Amaterasu progressively restoring the land's beauty and defeating foes to bring peace and prosperity back to the world.
Upon its release, Ōkami was praised for its artistic style, engaging gameplay, and faithful incorporation of Japanese folklore, making it not just a game but an experience that imbibes the essence of Japan's rich cultural heritage. It has won multiple awards for its art and design and has been re-released on several platforms following its initial launch on the PlayStation 2 in 2006.