This week I decided to review a game that originally came out in 2006 for the Playstation 2 and had recently been re-released for the Wii.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Abraxas, you hate re-released games, why should I read through another review where you fillet the heart and sole out of a game in a hilarious and rather charming manner?”

Well, because I’m really good at it, they deserve it, and I am charming.

But, that’s pretty true, with some rare exceptions I really do hate it when a game is released for a new system with no updates or changes. I think I can count on one hand games like this. For the record, the best port is Luna Silver Start story. And, I can safely say that Okami can be added to that list of good port’s.

Although, I do have to say something at the outset; Okami’s protagonist is a real bitch.

By real bitch I mean she’s a wolf. With a flaming sewer cap on floating above her back. Which I guess gives her serious street cred.

Or she’s a flaming bitch.

Okay, I’ll stop.

Now, you play the part of a Sun goddess returned in the form of a real bitch to save the world from colorlessness. Now I’ll stop. The returned goddess to save the world from a gray palate may sound a bit simple, the writers for this game actually managed to turn in a thoughtful and engaging story that takes up about 30 hours of time (if you do all the side quests).

Which, for an RPG based on Japanese mythos and beliefs is kinda on the low end. I mean, consider that Dragon Warrior 7 is somewhere around 70 to 80 hours of game play, Morrowind is likely somewhere around 100 hours, and Disgaea? Well, let me put it to you this way, I’ve never heard of someone having played through the entire game along with all the side quests AND maxed out every character with all abilities since the games launch 5 years ago . 30 hours? Yeah, at 30 hours you’re swimming in the shallow end of the pool with the little kids.

Which, is good in my Un-Humble Opinion©. You have to be a special kind of crazy to spend days upon days of farming and grinding the same fights, with different sets of characters over and over again and again and again. Or, at least, Japanese. Or an avid MMO player.

You know, whichever.

Anyway. Okami offers a compelling story that keeps you engaged through out the game, and moves you along nicely. Of course, there’s all the normal things that happen in these games- the endless destroying items to find money, as an example.

Which, honestly, I want to live in these places because apparently money is so common people hide it pottery, set it outside, and promptly forget about it. Seriously, how fun would it be to destroy any pot or vase you find with the expectation money will fall out? Although, on second thought, that might not be such a hot idea. I mean, I’d have androgynous pre-teens stomping through the house searching through all my stuff looking for whatever they can take.

Because if role-playing games have shown us time and time again that it is okay to enter anyone’s house and take whatever you find. Frankly, I’m not ready to surrender my extensive collection of 1970’s porn to some squishy tween’er.

There is something about Okami that is a bit different from other RPG’s: the celestial brush.

Which doesn’t sound like much, but do you remember those Daffy Duck cartoons where the giant pencil could come down and mess with Daffy? The Duck Amuck episode? It’s a lot like that.

Except you get to make all the changes using the Wii-mote.

You see, the protagonist has the bitching power to change the game world using her god powers to draw things in using her celestial brush.

Which, if a fantastic idea, and well ahead of its time by several years. It’s also one that seems to be a perfect fit for the Wii-mote. No fumbling around with a D-pad or the vestigial joysticks on the game controller anymore. Just simple point and swipe with the Wii-mote, and you’re done!

Too bad the execution of that excellent idea is utter crap. The sadder part than a great idea poorly executed? It was done better on the PS2 years ago. Also, you can’t draw whatever you want. You’re stuck with whatever the developers thought you should do right at that time. And, getting it right the first time is a real bitch. It’s meant to evoke the Gesture Brushing style of Asian writing, but all it really does is evoke a lot of cussing as you do the same thing over and over and over again to no effect.

Another let down for the port to the Wii is no new content. If you’ve played the PS2 version, you’ve played the Wii version, down to the last pixel. That is no surprise really, the studio that produced Okami, Clover, closed down shortly after the game launched. Which is a shame, Okami has a lot of promise in terms of story and game control ideas.

If you’re curious what these guys are up to now, read through my Madworld review.

In the end, if you loved Twilight Princess, you’ll like Okami. If you have no idea what Twilight Princess is, but you’d like to play a game that will take you more than a few hours to complete, give it a try. It has an interesting story with some nice character development.

If you’re anyone else, well…don’t be such a bitch.