VIDEO GAMES: Slice Your Enemies in Two

OKAMI BY CAPCOM (5 stars)
Platform: PlayStation 2.
Rated: T. The picturesque world of Nippon has been ravaged by a dark curse, and the only hope for restoring beauty to the land is ... a dog with fleas? Not just any dog, though—Amaterasu is a sun god in the form of a wolf, and that bug bouncing around in his snowy white fur is an aspiring artist, anxious to teach this divine dog a technique or two with the celestial brush.

Most of the action in Okami centers around this magical tool. Well-chosen brushstrokes can create rivers and stars or even slice objects and enemies in two. Painting is performed with the analog sticks and is fairly forgiving if your artistry tends to be more ... abstract. For instance, if your line eventually makes its way back to its point of origin (even after a few odd turns) that counts as a circle, and will summon the appropriate spell.

The game itself is an impressive work of art, each level having the look of an ethereal watercolor painting come to life. The Japanese mythology and breathtaking aesthetic make Okami a unique experience and one of the last few must-have titles for Sony's sophomore console.

JUST CAUSE BY EIDOS (3 stars)
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox.
Rated: M.

Since deposing dictators and installing friendly governments seems to be all the rage now, Just Cause lets you do just that as CIA operative Rico Rodriguez. With its open-ended nature, the game plays like a ripoff of Mercenaries (itself a GTA ripoff). But you can't hate a game that lets you hijack a helicopter in midair, leap through the propeller blades and ultimately hang from the tail with one hand.

NHL 07 BY EA SPORTS (4 stars)
Platform: Xbox 360.
Rated: E10+. The Xbox 360 version of NHL 07 comes with a mind-blowing realization: All previous hockey games have really been figure skating games for sissies. Video-game hockey is no longer as easy as pressing a button. Analog stick-controlled passing and scoring requires realistic precision. But be warned: The other console versions tacked on the feature as an afterthought, and it handles with about as much grace as a Zamboni.

THE GODFATHER BY ELECTRONIC ARTS (3 stars) 1/2
Platform: Xbox 360.
Rated: M.

It's just another day in the protection racket. Coming out months after the Corleone family hit the older consoles, the next-gen Godfather offers more of the same. Graphical improvements and additional missions are kept to a minimum. The game is still a solid GTA clone, but I was hoping the 360 version would make me at least one offer I couldn't refuse.