Okami Update: Celestial Brush, Combat, New Level

LAS VEGAS--If there's one game we're fiending for this year, it's Capcom's Okami. The unique game that casts you as the goddess Amaterasu, who comes to save the land after darkness has fallen robbed the earth of its vitality. We got an update on the game when Clover Studios president Atsushi Inaba offered an update on the game during a presentation at Capcom's recent press event in Las Vegas, where he showed off more footage and discussed the game's unique "celestial brush" feature. Later, we were able to try a new version of the game that featured a heretofore unseen level.

Inaba's presentation focused on some finer aspects of combat, the celestial brush mechanic, and the role of nature in the game. Combat was shown via a clip that was a montage of different enemy encounters ranging from the now-familiar massive spider to standard grunts. Whereas our previous taste of combat in the TGS and E3 demos felt rather simplistic, the movie showed off new combos and ways to use the shield on Amaterasu's back that were far more complicated. In addition, the brush took a more active role. In terms of the celestial brush techniques, the mechanic looks far more sophisticated than the simple uses we've seen in the previous demos. Inaba called out sequences from the clips that show how you'll use the brush to create plantlike ziplines to get to other areas, draw bombs you'll use to open up new areas, create waterspouts, trigger elevators, and create winds to solve puzzles. All told, there will be more than a dozen techniques that you'll learn and need over the course of the adventure. Inaba's final segment focused on how integral the concept of nature is in the game--a bit of a no-brainer when you consider Amaterasu is working to restore color and life to the land--and concluded with a cinematic of the land being restored.

Unfortunately, our demo level of the game didn't offer quite as many cool things as Inaba's presentation hinted at. Ours was the third level in the game, following sequentially after the first two playable levels we saw. The level found us attempting to restore life to a new area of the world, Hanasaki Valley, and interacting with NPCs in need. In some respects, there's not much to report. The level featured the same mix of exploration and combat as the early levels we covered, although we were using the brush technique more, to open new areas and wake a sleeping bear that was balanced on a large ball (yeah, even we're curious about that one). We came upon the slumbering bear after speaking with an NPC named Susano who was hell-bent on heading to a secret training area. By drawing the sun, we opened up a hidden path and made our way to the area, where we found said bear and Susano. We ended up helping him show off his skills by slashing through torches in time with his moves, which led us to the bear, who got a bellyful of slash.

The level played well, as always, and looked even better than the last time we saw the game. It appears the team is going to town when it comes to polishing up the game's look. There was more motion in the visuals, represented by wavy lines and undulations in black lines that outlined the characters' models. The color palette has also been tweaked quite a bit, resulting in some muted tones but leaving you with the impression of a richer palette overall. The music, which we've long been a fan of, continued to impress with a surreal blend of instruments and influences. From the sound of it, a soundtrack appears to be in the cards for Japan.

Though the game still has a ways to go before it hits the US, the Japanese version is set for an April release with a domestic release in the States following some time after; the English text we saw was well on its way to having some personality. In talking with Inaba, we also learned that Okami will be a long adventure, and that what we'd played so far amounted to just a fraction of the whole experience.

It should be no surprise to anyone that our latest look at Okami only served to fuel our anticipation for the game. It may not be the most cutting-edge title on the horizon from a technological standpoint (although it's jaw-droppingly gorgeous), and it may not be conventional, but it is an undeniably unique title that is worth a look. Watch for more on the game in the coming months.