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The stunning art direction takes its cue from traditional Japanese art -- imagine exploring a watercolor world brushed to life.

The PlayStation 2 originally received the critically acclaimed "Okami" in 2006, but the ingenious title begged for a Wii release.

Why?

The main hero of the game, Okami Amaterasu -- the Shinto sun goddess in the form of a white wolf -- battles demons and restores a cursed Nippon with her Celestial Brush, whose actions mimic brush strokes: a straight slash to cut, a swirl for wind, a blooming circle, etc. On the PS2, these moves were executed using the analog stick, a sometimes-painstaking process to get just right.

On the Wii, however, the controls are a breeze. No more analog trial and error; just "paint" the stroke by waving the motion-sensing Wiimote.

Ready At Dawn Studios ("God of War: Chains of Olympus") had the arduous task of porting the game, incorporating Wii mechanics and meeting the high expectations of fans and critics -- all without the help of the original developer, the now-defunct Clover Studios, which disbanded soon after "Okami's" release in '06.

Happy to say, Ready At Dawn came through, staying true to the spirit of the PS2 title and making "Okami" a must-own Wii game.

The gameplay takes its cue from "Zelda," but with a story line that outshines 99 percent of games on the market today. It's hard to believe it's two years old.

Steeped in Shinto mythology, the plot packs in drama and humor, with a sincerity that keeps you utterly immersed in Amaterasu's quest to dispel the evil cloaking the land. The themes carry strong messages of environmentalism, courage and honor. And although the game is rated "T" for "Teen," the heart of "Okami" is -- dare I say it? -- morally solid.

A few of the original's quirks managed to stick around, namely the spotty recognition of the brush-stroke action. Fortunately, pressing the Z button helps you draw the required straight line for the power slash, but it seems that you have to get the stroke just right in order for the intended action to happen. It's not significant enough to detract from the game's overall excellence, but it definitely mars some parts.

The bulk of "Okami" remains the same, with Amaterasu gaining new powers and leveling up health and ink as the story progresses. The aural experience is nothing short of exquisite, perfectly complementing the aesthetic visuals.

With a massive world to travel and plenty of quests, sidequests and demons to conquer, "Okami" easily will occupy you for more than 30 hours.

It's not often a game of this caliber comes around, especially twice, so if you missed it on the PS2, pick this one up. This is my second go-around as Amaterasu, and "Okami" still holds all the magic and charm it did two years ago.

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