The announcement of a sequel to the beloved adventure game Ōkami at The Game Awards last year sparked widespread excitement among fans, yet details about the game remain scarce. In a recent interview with IGN, project leads provided a few key insights, confirming that the "Ōkami sequel" is indeed a direct continuation of the original game's storyline.
Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi affirmed that the new game picks up where the first left off. When asked about the presence of the great god Amaterasu in the trailer shown at TGAs, director Hideki Kamiya playfully responded with "I wonder..." before Hirabayashi confirmed Amaterasu's return.
While this confirmation may not surprise fans, there has been considerable speculation regarding how the sequel will address the legacy of its predecessor. It's worth noting that there is already a sequel to Ōkami, titled Ōkamiden, which was released for the Nintendo DS. This game featured Amaterasu's child, Chibiterasu, and included several characters from the original. However, Ōkamiden received mixed reviews, partly due to its platform and the absence of key original team members like Kamiya.
When asked about Ōkamiden and its potential acknowledgment in the new sequel, Hirabayashi stated:
"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 ending of Ōkami itself hints at further adventures, with Amaterasu and another character embarking on a new journey not explored in the original game. This leaves ample room for new challenges and developments for both Amaterasu and other protagonists.
Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for more detailed information. The team revealed that the Ōkami sequel is still in the very early stages of development. They announced it prematurely out of excitement, but as Hirabayashi noted, "It might take a little bit of time before we might talk again."
For a comprehensive look at our full interview with the leads of the Ōkami sequel, click [ttpp] here.
