Okamiden, the DS sequel to the astonishingly beautiful Okami, doesn't know exactly what image it wants to present. It wafts between compelling action and heart-melting sweetness but never truly defines itself.
The Wii remake of A Boy and His Blob introduced a fabulous mechanic to the world of adorable games: the hug button. At any point, you could press it and the boy would shower his cuddly, gelatinous friend in affection. A Boy and His Blob is intentionally precious (at times nearly unbearably so), but we at least know how to perceive it.
Okamiden needs a hug button or a comparable adorable action to help ease the bizarre disconnect between cuteness and action.
This wasn't a problem in Okami because it never presented itself in such an ambrosial way. Amaterasu was an elegant and powerful goddess charged with setting her cherished world right. While she had her amusing and almost slapstick moments, her primary focus was not on being delightful. Chibiterasu, however, thrives on precious, puppy-like behavior.
That wouldn't be problem if he was not thrown into various eerie and dangerous situations. Chibiterasu and his companions must confront the same hordes of demons Amaterasu defeated in Okami. This takes them deep into very dangerous and eerie places, including a demonic marketplace run by the hideous and disturbing witch queen.
The peculiar juxtaposition between cute and eerie in Okamiden is definitely to its detriment. It's difficult to transition from Chibiterasu snuggling up to humans in the world to striking down the fiendish legions of evil. I'm not looking for seriousness in a game where the main character is truly a chibi. No, I expect the exact opposite, and Okamiden does not truly deliver on that promise.
Despite this identity crisis, Okamiden is functionally entertaining. The stylus-controlled celestial brush is an improvement over previous attempts on consoles, and Capcom effectively captured the first Okami's lush enviroments in a handheld format. It is by far one of the best-looking action games on the platform and a lovely send-off to the pre-3DS world.
While it's disappointing that Okamiden can't fully deliver on its implied cuteness, it is definitely a beautiful game.
