Part 43: Soundtrack Discussion 6

This is it, the final soundtrack discussion! I will post here the last of the notable tracks in the game. If I missed your favorite, in any of the soundtrack discussions, now’s the time to speak up!

Oki’s Theme A noble and stately tune, with a tribal feel. It represents the proud warrior, Oki!

Kamui- The Frozen North Kamui is barren and desolate, very unlike the bright and verdant places we’ve visited up to now. Its background music reflects this. It’s sadder and slower than the other overworld themes.

Wep’keer A proud theme for a proud village, with undertones of sadness and desperation. Wep’keer is on the brink of destruction!

Oki’s Fate A sad theme, struggling to maintain the noble and stately feel of Oki’s Theme. It corresponds with Oki’s crisis of faith in what he perceives to be his destiny.

Shakuya’s Theme That’s Shakuya, with a “sh.” Whimsical and child-like, yet still graceful and elegant. It hints at the sophisticated princess Shakuya will one day become.

The Sad Tradition of Kamiki This is not the Kamiki Village we know and love. This Kamiki is still firmly in the grip of Orochi, forced to sacrifice its future every year to the dread serpent. This tune is melancholy, hopeless, and desperate, just like the village itself.

Wawku Shrine A tense and suspenseful dungeon theme. As a brilliant thematic touch, this track has the same rhythm as a ticking clock, complete with clock sounds in the background. It’s a great theme, since Wawku has a mechanical/clockwork aesthetic going.

True Strength Very similar to Oki’s Fate, but much more hopeful and optimistic. Oki begins to understand that there is power he possesses that has nothing to do with the sword he wields. Kutone is a guardian sword. It can only realize its full power when it’s used to protect people!

Oki the Hero Even more upbeat than True Strength, with the same motif that represents Oki. Here, like Susano before him, Oki realizes his true potential and becomes the hero he was meant to be!

Boss Battle: Lechku and Nehcku Continuing the clockwork theme, we have the boss battle music for Wawku Shrine. Lechku and Nechku are automatons, possessed by demonic forces. (They’re also freakin’ steam punk owls. ) Their battle music is sinister and frantic, with a similar tick-tock rhythm as in the dungeon theme.

Promise A sad and noble tune, representing Shiranui’s final sacrifice.

Time of Parting The farewell theme, bittersweet, with a hopeful undertone. Amaterasu must say goodbye to Issun and continue her journey without him.

Resolve Do you have the resolve to pass The Point of No Return? The mixture of quick, frantic strings and slow, melodic harp sets the tone for an angelic piece with frantic undertones. Amaterasu has met many resolute people on her journey. She’ll need their faith to lend her strength for the challenges to come. Where she’s going, no-one else can follow.

Waka’s Last Dance It takes two to tango! Short but sweet.

Tribe of Heavenly Gods Theme A noble and sad tune, with angelic undertones. It represents the doomed Celestial’s, whose spirits are still trapped within the Ark. When Amaterasu purifies it, their souls can finally rest. Then the last traces of the Tribe of Heavenly Gods vanish from the world.

An Eerie Winter’s Eclipse The Final Boss is revealed! Yami is the Lord of Darkness. Being the anathema to light, he grows stronger as the sun wanes. This is a sinister, desperate tune, meant to be a bit unsettling.

The Setting Sun Sinister and foreboding. The Day of Darkness begins, heralding the peak of Yami’s power. What happens to the sun god during a solar eclipse? Bad stuff, that’s what!

Waka’s Fate A desperate and frantic tune, heavy with revelation. Waka makes his last stand against the Lord of Darkness, buying Ammy time to gather the last of her strength and fight!

Moon Tribe Theme The mysterious Moon Tribe, of which Waka is a member! They brought doom upon the Celestials in the form of a big, iron Trojan Horse. Their theme is celestial-sounding, like Tribe of Heavenly Gods. It’s the harp, see? Makes the music sound angelic.

Emperor of Eternal Darkness OK, for real this time! This is the Final Boss theme. This track, representing the confrontation with Yami, Lord of Darkness, is frantic and sinister, with an air of hopelessness. How can Amaterasu, sapped of her Celestial Brush Techniques, hope to defeat such a powerful being? She’ll just have to beat them out of him, one Technique at a time!

Reset “Thank You” Version Issun embraces his role as a Celestial Envoy and gives Amaterasu the strength she needs to defeat Yami! This is a majestic and hopeful tune, and absolutely beautiful! This would be my favorite track in the game, if I didn’t like the Ryoshima Coast music so damn much!

Okami White Light Majesty At last! Amaterasu regains her strength thanks to the prayers Issun gathered for her. The sun goddess at full power is a beautiful sight to behold! This track is powerful and majestic.

The Sun Rises Theme of Amaterasu: hopeful and powerful, with a strong drum-beat, like a battle march. This track is the perfect accompaniment to laying the smackdown on Yami once and for all!

The Journey Continues Ending theme, this track is bittersweet and hopeful. Victory is ours, but that also means the game is over, and our hero Amaterasu must bid farewell to the mortal plain and embark on her next adventure!

Reset The song that plays during the credits, with vocals by Ayaka Hirahara. Has the same melody as the “Thank You” Version. Strangely, this track only plays in the PS2 version; the credits, and this song with it, were removed from the Wii version. I’m not usually a fan of J-pop, but this one’s not half bad! For the curious, here is a translation for the lyrics.

And that’s it, folks! That’s all the music I’m posting. There is just so much good music in Okami. Not only is the soundtrack among the best in video games, but I’d venture it wouldn’t sound out of place in a symphony orchestra. I hope you enjoyed listening!



Oh yeah. I knew I forgot something. I actually have a version of that to post, myself. (Also, I would totally wear that shirt!)