Controller-wise, Ameratsu has very basic functions at his disposal. He's got two attack buttons, a jumping ability, he barks with the circle button, and he can dig holes with repeated taps of the triangle button. It still remains to be seen why he can dig holes or bark, but it's something that will probably come up in some sort of puzzle down the line and was likely not something that was useful in the demo.
Again, describing Okami without talking about the visuals is like describing a supermodel who has a degree from MIT. No matter how much you talk about how brilliant she is, it's inevitable that looks will also fall into the equation. And the visuals are incredible enough to make something as mundane as a wolf digging a hole look cool. When Ameratsu jumps, the grass wilts upon impact when he lands. If he smashes open a few jars, it creates a spiral-smoke effect that's reminiscent of The Wind Waker. If you're a gamer who has a thing for cel-shaded graphics, this one's a no-brainer. Even if you're not, it's visually engrossing enough to keep you sucked in. It's the kind of game that guys can play in front of parents and girlfriends and wait for them to get sucked in, too.
Even though our time with Okami was limited at Capcom's Press Event in Las Vegas, it left an indelible mark. It's one of the most visually arresting games to ever come out on the PS2, and it handles fairly well. At times, the Celestial Brush is a little bit dodgy to control, but, hopefully, the Clover team can tighten that up before they release it in Japan and begin the Western localization process. Again, it's difficult to describe Okami without making it sound like it's going to be the greatest game ever. It won't. But it's shaping up to be one of the best gaming experiences to ever happen on the PlayStation 2.
