The announcement of a sequel to the cherished adventure game Ōkami at last year's The Game Awards sparked widespread excitement among fans, although details about the project remain scarce. In a recent interview with IGN, project leads shed some light on the much-anticipated follow-up, confirming that the "Ōkami sequel" is indeed a direct continuation of the original game's story.
Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi emphasized that the new game picks up where the first left off. When asked if the great god Amaterasu featured in the trailer shown at The Game Awards, director Hideki Kamiya playfully responded with "I wonder...", only for Hirabayashi to clarify moments later that it was indeed Amaterasu.
While this confirmation might not surprise fans, there's been considerable speculation about how the sequel would follow on from the original Ōkami. It's worth noting that a sequel already exists in the form of Ōkamiden, a Nintendo DS title centered around Amaterasu's offspring, Chibiterasu, and featuring characters from the original. However, Ōkamiden received mixed reviews due to its platform and the absence of key members from the original team, including Kamiya.
Addressing the topic of Ōkamiden, Hirabayashi acknowledged the game's fanbase and the varied feedback it received, particularly regarding its narrative. He 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 sets the stage for a sequel, with Amaterasu and another character embarking on a new journey not explored in the first game, leaving ample room for fresh challenges and developments for both Amaterasu and other protagonists.
Unfortunately, fans will have to wait for more detailed information as the Ōkami sequel is still in its very early stages of development. The team announced it prematurely out of excitement, but as Hirabayashi noted, "It might take a little bit of time before we might talk again."
For those eager to learn more, the full interview with the leads of the Ōkami sequel is available for viewing.
