"Ōkami 2: Direct Sequel Confirmed, Early Development Continues"

The announcement of a sequel to the cherished adventure game Ōkami at last year's Game Awards sparked widespread excitement among fans, yet details about the upcoming game remain scarce. In a recent interview with IGN, project leads shed some light on the project, confirming that the "Ōkami sequel" is indeed a direct follow-up to the original game's storyline.

Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi affirmed that the new game is a "continuation of the story that we saw in the original game." When asked about the presence of the great god Amaterasu in the trailer showcased at The Game Awards, director Hideki Kamiya playfully dodged the question with a "I wonder..." However, Hirabayashi quickly clarified that Amaterasu would indeed be featured.

While the confirmation of Amaterasu's return might not surprise fans, there has been much speculation on how the sequel would address the legacy of Ōkami. Notably, there's already a sequel to Ōkami titled Ōkamiden, released on the Nintendo DS. This game follows Amaterasu's offspring, Chibiterasu, and includes characters from the original game. However, Ōkamiden received mixed reviews, partly due to its DS platform and the absence of key original team members like Kamiya.

When questioned about Ōkamiden and its potential recognition in the new sequel, Hirabayashi acknowledged the varied reception of the game:

"We know that there are fans out there that like the game, of course. And we also know the feedback on the game out there, of how the story was taken and now how perhaps parts of the story weren’t aligning with what people were expecting. With that, we also have the sequel now that, as we explained before, is a continuation from the story of the original base Ōkami. That's how we're going to phrase it."

The conclusion of Ōkami naturally paves the way for a sequel. Without giving too much away, the ending sees Amaterasu and another character embarking on a journey to a new, unexplored location, setting the stage for fresh challenges and adventures.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a bit longer for more details. The team revealed that the Ōkami sequel is still in its very early stages of development. They announced it early due to their enthusiasm, but as Hirabayashi noted, "It might take a little bit of time before we might talk again."

You can read our full interview with the leads of the Ōkami sequel [ttpp] right here.