In a medium largely dominated by crass stereotypes, anatomically impossible cleavages, and big "fudging" guns, it's hard to define video gaming as culturally important. Being someone that enjoys the finer things of life, such as beating up hookers in Grand Theft Auto, I often find myself in polite company, twisting and turning over the same old arguments and declarations.

And you've all been there too. You hold up your fingers to your eyes, squinting through the gaps waiting for the all clear as a non-gamer lays into your favourite hobby. We're branded immature, amoral, and stupid - our grip of reality is also questioned. Clearly these people have never preformed an "ultra kill" whilst bunny hopping off a space station with a rocket launcher. Just saying.

"Child with bunny ears: compulsory for any adventure game."

But then there are those games that make all of that abuse and flack seem worthwhile: Okami is one such product. This isn't just a piece of software that twinkles and sparkles to distract you from the humdrum of the everyday - this is an inspired adventure.

Oh, and it's also beautiful.

Do we ever get to throw that word around in this medium? We hear the word "headshot" or perhaps the phrase "balls-to-the-wall-action" but never any striking proclamations of aesthetic joy. It's an odd thing, usually most of us sit on our sofas, gurgling at first person shooters or doing the Mobot when winning at FIFA. To be visually, intellectually, and physically mesmerised by a game brought to us by the publisher that belched out Mega Man Soccer seems, well, just weird.

But Okami manages to enthral you from the moment its grand tapestry starts to unravel. It isn't about stunning mega-textures, or nightmare creatures with squishy heads, it's all about a white wolf called Amaterasu.

Long ago, in a time since forgotten, the eight-headed demon Orochi terrorized the village of Kamiki. Demanding human sacrifice, the settlement's greatest warrior, Nagi, took up arms, and along with the white wolf Shiranui, managed to defeat Orochi, sealing him away for 100 hundred years. Fast forward a century, and evil begins to reawaken - along with the resurrected white wolf.

"If Japan doesn't actually look this, it should be ashamed of itself."

It's a simple tale that you've heard a thousand times. An ancient evil returns to the land, causing untold destruction. The difference here is in how it is handled. Okami is most like Zelda in that it's the story of humble beginnings, rediscovering lost abilities, and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Along the way there is a hefty dose of puzzles, fights, and a fair amount of painting.

The celestial brush is Okami's killer app so to speak. By thumbing the R1 button, the entire screen fades to that of a blank canvas, with the scenery morphing into a spectacular Japanese sumi-e drawing. From here, you can paint onto the landscape, whether that is by brushing in a sunrise, or instead the blossoms of a barren tree.

It's a simple, yet effective mechanic, that makes Okami less of a Zelda clone, and instead an ambitious equal. New techniques are doled out according with progress- a bomb for instance is gained when having to destroy certain cracked environments.

But of course problems still linger, mainly those transferred from the PlayStation 2 original. The analog sticks, try as they might, still don't have any kind of speed or accuracy to perform quick blade strikes during combat, or indeed some of the more precise drawings later on in the quest. Like the Wii, there is the option to swap to the PlayStation Move, but honestly? Who still owns that peripheral? The lack of voice acting is also a startling omission. Annoying computerised gibberish interferes with any plot-point, making it feel like an insane children's game. It seems a real missed opportunity that HexaDrive didn't go that extra mile and put in recorded dialogue - thus pushing it from being an excellent port, to an absolute classic. As it stands now, it just falls short of the mark.

"This is your brain on Shinto, Sumi-E drugs."

Largely thought, the benefits of porting this to the clear-and-crisp technology of the PlayStation 3 are instantly recognizable, and out weight any negatives. The fuzzy and unfocused visuals of the PlayStation 2 and Wii are gone, replaced by lush, thick brush strokes, defined, and toned. The colours pop; the Ukiyo-e influenced landscape is inspired; and ultimately, this game is the most aesthetically pleasing you will ever have the pleasure to play.

So what more can I say about Okami other than that it is an unforgettable, beautiful experience? If you have never had the pleasure to check out this Shinto-adventure, then this HD remake is the definitive version. Capcom and HexaDrive have recreated this classic for another generation. Go and buy it on the PlayStation Network right now.

Best Gaming Moment: Making an entire region bloom and blossom with a few brush strokes.