telophase | Okami

I ended up putting about twenty hours of gameplay in on Okami this weekend - finished the boss fight against Orochi, and started in on the second part. Now that the controller issue is settled and I know for sure how much I suck and how much is the fault of the controller, it's much smoothere and I'm actually enjoying the random monster fights.

For the, what, three of you on my friendslist who don't play video games and didn't recommend Okami to me, it's a game based deeply in Japanese mythology, with art reminiscent of Japanese brush paintings. As far as the mythology goes, let's put it this way: you play the goddess Amaterasu, in the form of a white wolf, and the weapons you fight with are the Imperial Regalia of Japan. :)

I'm putting part of the Wikipedia entry here, because there's spoilers in the actual ntry, and I didn't want to retype the setup. So, spoilers cut out, here's a summary of the setup of the first part:

The quiet village of Kamiki, filled with beautiful cherry trees, had a price to pay in order to maintain their peace. Each and every year a festival is held, during which a maiden must be sacrificed to the eight-headed serpent, Orochi, signalled by a white arrow being launched into the house of his chosen sacrifice. In the 100th year since Orochi's arrival, as the time for the sacrifice drew near, a pure white wolf the village dubbed "Shiranui" would appear and stalk the village's streets at night. A swordsman in the village, Nagi (Izanagi in the Japanese version), detested Shiranui, believing her to be one of Orochi's agents, and repeatedly tried to drive the wolf away. When the night of the festival finally arrived, Nagi's beloved, Nami (Izanami in the Japanese version) was chosen to be slain. Determined both to save the woman he loved and to put an end to the village's burden, Nagi went to Orochi's lair to slay the beast. Alas, he was defeated and about to be killed when Shiranui stepped in and took over the battle. Using strange skills, the wolf battled valiantly against Orochi, but still could not defeat the serpent.

Battered and beaten, Shiranui released a powerful howl the heavens. Strengthened by the howl, Nagi struggled to his feet and took up his sword once more, leaping onto Orochi and defeating the creature. Shiranui, filled with "poison" and fur dyed crimson with her own blood, was carried back to the village by Nagi where she was praised as Kamiki's savior - and then died. A shrine was built in the image and honor of Shiranui, and the sword that had saved the village was interred in the "Moon Cave" where the battle had taken place, and used to seal Orochi away. One hundred years of peace passed, and a man disturbs the sword at the "Moon Cave", unleashing Orochi, who is not quite as fictional as the intruder had believed. Orochi immediately begins covering the entire world in darkness and evil. In response, Sakuya the wood sprite, guardian of the village, goes to the shrine dedicated to Shiranui and brings the statue to life as Amaterasu, the Ōkami, reincarnation of Shiranui and sun goddess incarnated in the form of a white wolf.

Amaterasu must search Nippon (commonly known as Japan) for the 13 brush spirits to gain the power to defeat Orochi and heal the land. Throughout the journey, Amaterasu is hounded by Waka, a strange but powerful individual that seems to have the gift of foresight, and further teases Amaterasu and Issun to his own mysterious ends.

I kind of like Waka. I mean, dude's a total tool, but he's one of those characters that annoy me and attract me at the same time. :)

rachelmanija will be interested to know that of the weapons available, the Reflectors (mirrors), which can be used as shields for defense or also as offense weapons, remind me a lot of descriptions of the chakra weapons in Indian mythology. And I feel vaguely Sanzo-ish when using the rosaries as weapons. XD

One question I have, and I don't want to read the Wikipedia entry too closely for fear of spoilers so I don't know if it's in there, is about the blue symbol Susano wears. It's the same symbol as in the anime Blue Seed, and I assume it has some sort of mythological meaning in Japan. Can anyone enlighten me?

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The comma symbol seems to also be related to the Imperial regalia, at least according to wikipedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magatama) Magatama is an old symbol, but is used a lot in anime and games from Japan.

I can see how it fits into the game now. :) Thanks!

Here's what Wikipedia has to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitama

(Assuming I'm right about which symbol you're talking about. I'm guessing, without knowing the game, based on my memory of Blue Seed.)

Yeah, that's the one. And I can see how it fits into the symbolism of the game now. :D Thanks!

the only reason i didn't recommend okami was because i haven't played it. i want to, though! i've heard that it's good, and the art looks so lovely. *_*

I'm enjoying it, and it may send me on a search through Japanese mythology to find out more about all these elements. XD Which isn't all bad, since I'm going to Japan this fall.

yeah. i think i'll definitely have to try this game out when i can.

ooh, that'd be interesting in and of itself, but if you're going to japan, then all the better if you can read up on the mythology before you go. ^^

I'm following a walkthrough pretty closely, since I suck at working out puzzles in video games, but it's still fun. The soundtrack is nice, too - drawing from traditional tunes and instruments.

The magatama is a very, very old symbol. It has some connections to Amaterasu too. I think it's one of the things they used to lure her out of her cave? (You know, "ooooh, shiny!")

The Wikipedia entry linked to by two commenters says that wearing one is a way of gaining protection from kami, and is a representation of the human spirit, both of which fit right into the game. :)

Yep, or so my Aspects of Japanese Cultures teacher told us as part of our brief glance in to the ancient gods of Japan. I can't remember all the details, but the general gist of the thing was that some priests filled a box full of gems/ beads of that shape to lure her out whilst some others could seal the cave behind her so the world wouldn't be plunged in to eternal darkness again.

Hooray! I knew you'd like it, there was basically no way you wouldn't (though the controller tried hard).

The mirrors are excellent weapons. I think later in the game there's a technique you can get where, if you successfully block an attack with a mirror, you automatically counter in a dive attack that's DEVASTATING. Oh how I love that attack.

Oh, that sounds cool. :D I've been loving the hyped-up rosary attack so far, although I think just the idea of a hyped-up rosary attack is far too fun. XD

Okami

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