The excitement surrounding the announcement of a sequel to the cherished adventure game Ōkami at last year's Game Awards has been palpable among fans, though details about the game remain scarce. In a recent interview with IGN, project leads from Capcom shed some light on the project, confirming that the "Ōkami sequel" is indeed a direct continuation of the original game's story.
Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi affirmed that the new game picks up where the first left off. When asked about the character seen in the trailer showcased at The Game Awards, director Hideki Kamiya teased with a "I wonder...," while Hirabayashi confirmed it was indeed the great god Amaterasu.
While fans may not be surprised by this news, there's been much speculation on how the sequel will address the legacy of Ōkami, especially considering the existence of Ōkamiden, a Nintendo DS game that served as a sequel featuring Amaterasu's child, Chibiterasu. Ōkamiden received mixed reviews, partly due to its DS platform and the absence of key original team members like Kamiya.
When questioned about Ōkamiden's role in the new sequel, Hirabayashi acknowledged the fanbase's affection for the game and the mixed feedback it garnered. He explained, "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 sets the stage for further adventures, with Amaterasu and another character embarking on a journey to an unexplored realm, leaving ample opportunity for new challenges and narratives.
Despite the excitement, fans will need to remain patient as the Ōkami sequel is still in its very early stages of development. Hirabayashi noted that the team announced the project early out of excitement, but cautioned, "It might take a little bit of time before we might talk again."
For more insights, you can read the full interview with the Ōkami sequel's leads on IGN.
