This post is in fact about Okami. You are welcome to leave at this point.

Are you still here? Read the above sentence again.

Whew. I was convinced the second anyone read the disclaimer at the top they would head for the exits. I mean, really? A game with the ideal protagonist, a powerful deity and force of nature that exemplifies everything we ever wanted a hero (or heroine, the game is never specific about this) to be? Where’s the evil, except at the far end of a Bead String?

Well, Amaterasu is certainly not evil, but there are several things she (assumed based on historical background) does that shatters any ideas about a completely pure soul. All of these are results of player decisions on a micro level, usually related to misuse of the Celestial Brush. Does that excuse the wolf-goddess from responsibility? I’ll address that later, or, better yet, let you decide. Just remember the fact that evil can be found ANYWHERE.

First on the list of transgressions is Power Slash. No ability in the game has the power to cause so much destruction while returning nothing. While I have no objections to slicing monsters in half, I get concerned when the technique turns to vandalism. Honestly, there is no reason to randomly turn a nearby rock to rubble. In one country, they say the gods put that rock there for a reason, and in another they say the rock has its own tiny spirit, disturbed by your playfulness. Pay some respects to others, Ammy!

Worse, the deity cuts plants open for no good reason. This is especially egregious considering she is a deity of nature, quite possibly the only leader of a pantheon dedicated to that task. Amaterasu, why would you do such things? Are you saying the easy access to food … no, stop right there. It never works. You’re better off digging using the C button, or whatever you used before your children switched loyalties. Claiming that plants and even rocks regenerate isn’t a legitimate excuse, since all things eventually come around. The fact that it take ten seconds instead of a hundred years makes no difference.

And to continue my proof that Amaterasu is a no-good, wandering vandal, she is in clear violation of last month’s “Nothing is Sacred: Smash it Up” promoted blog post, which I would recommend everyone read because running around breaking things is just wrong. The victim here is the clay pot, which not only suffers the indignity of being regenerated for the player’s entertainment, but must also be exposed to a variety of Amaterasu’s assaults. She can set them on fire or cause them to explode through electrocution, neither of which makes sense, but worst of all the pots can simply be head-butted into oblivion. Show some respect, dog!

Breaking things and ruining plant life aren’t the only things the wolf-goddess does to demonstrate her deviation from pure goodness. At the end of the third section, during the particularly timely celebration of 100 years eight-headed-serpent-free, Ammy can use her Waterspout ability to shoot the highly potent Thunder Brew directly into NPC’s faces. What kind of sick bitch (pun intended) enjoys watching people sprawl on the grass unconscious? Not only that, but when the people wake up, she can do it AGAIN. Shame, shame, and more shame.

It also goes without saying that the use of the Golden Fury and Brown Rage attacks are not marks of goodness. It’s a well-documented fact that those who are purely good have no sense of humor, since what is humor but based on suffering? The fact that you, Amaterasu, a paragon and direct manifestation of light, would stoop to the use of such vile techniques in your quest is despicable … but wait, there’s more! The use of these abilities nets the wolf-goddess Demon Fangs, which (unlike Demon Souls) are a tradable commodity in many locations. So not only is Ammy defiling enemies’ bodies, she is doing so in the pursuit of profit. Go back to the Reflector, Amaterasu. It’s cleaner.

On a final note, the deity is rude beyond belief in conversation. Remember the first encounter with that French-speaking prophet, whose name escapes my mind for the moment? She slept right through it. Really, everything this guy says is important. Her crassness is especially bad considering that she needs guidance for her next actions and that (if you didn’t already know) they’ve been good friends for over two centuries. Someone this antisocial doesn’t deserve to have children. I fear for Chibiterasu’s future.

To summarize, Amaterasu, rather than being an absolute pure soul, is a randomly violent, irresponsible jokester that should never have been let off a leash. Who should we blame for this travesty? Amaterasu? Her player? No, the answer is in fact Issun! Remember the tutorial, where the little bouncing ball of light explained how to smash things and generally cause havoc? Not only did Issun start leading the deity astray at the very beginning of the game, but he kept it up the entire time, with his constant barrage of lewd commentary and dishonest dealings. You should have swallowed him when you had the chance, but now your white coat is soiled forever.

How’s THAT for irony?