Okami's airy leanings and deep-seated grounding in Far Eastern folklore won't win fans among adrenaline junkies, but creative types will instantly gravitate toward the title. The first videogame to feature sumi-e -- an ancient form of watercolor painting -- Asian import Okami proves a work of art in its own right. Flush with hand-drawn imagery and subtle spiritual undertones, it's an adventure unlike any you've experienced.

Multi-headed beast Orochi has awakened after a century's absence, putting the quaint village of Kamiki's inhabitants in jeopardy. Summoned to their aid, Shinto sun deity Amaterasu appears in the form of a white wolf. Controlling the beast, you'll wander an animated world assisting helpless individuals and innocent creatures while amassing mystical powers. The greater your abilities, the better chance you stand of restoring nature's beauty and surviving heated skirmishes with giant spiders, living plants and misshapen demons.

Visually arresting, the game benefits from the inclusion of a singular play mechanic. By utilizing the joystick to scribble on-screen as a Celestial Brush, you solve puzzles and slay foes via the magic of calligraphy. You'll restore constellations to the starlit sky, sketch bridges to span raging rivers and summon helpful gusts of wind. Take a pass if you like your games short, simple and filled with eye-popping explosions. Those who prefer their action more cerebral, though, will find this game a stroke of genius.