A Secret Treasure of Okami

Most of the aesthetic attention paid to Okami centered on its beautiful, brush-painting inspired visual motif, but I hope we don’t overlook its music. The score is actually what made the game really stand out for the ages in my mind: at once sweepingly grand and surprisingly intimate, blending the traditional and contemporary, it draws upon a tremendous range of sources and associations over the course of the player’s journey.
Past video game series with music in the tiny subcategory of “synthesis of traditional Japanese instruments and the Western symphonic orchestra“ include Onimusha, Genji, and Otogi. There are also serious, high-art endeavors that attempt to do something similar – works by Toru Takemitsu and others – so while the conceptual basis of the score to Okami is not without some amount of precedent, the surprising degree to which the game’s four credited composers are able to balance and blend its influences distinguishes it from its peers.

Comments

[Andy M]

Indeed. I remember the music quite vividly, which is a rare thing for me. Also, even though Lucy generally doesn't like games like Okami, she actually enjoyed watching me play every now and then because it "looks and sounds beautiful."

[R.O.]

I played it and I wasn't impressed. Maybe I am losing it but I didn't like Okami's visuals or music. Wind Waker is much better to look at and the music is superb.

Clover doesn't understand how to make their innovative games fun to play. Viewtiful Joe, God Hand, and Okami are fun for like the first couple of hours but the fun never progresses past the intial intro.

[Jeriaska]

Wouldn't you know it, there is a videogame concert that takes place once a year in Tokyo called the Press Start Symphony of Games, and this year they have chosen to perform three songs from Okami, including the impressive vocal theme "Reset." The original tracks from the game can be heard on the website.