Ōkami 2: Direct Sequel in Early Development

The announcement of a sequel to the beloved adventure game Ōkami at The Game Awards last year sparked significant excitement among fans, though details about the game have remained scarce. In a recent interview with IGN, project leads provided some intriguing insights. Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi confirmed that the Ōkami sequel is a direct continuation of the story from the original game. When asked about the presence of the great god Amaterasu in the trailer shown at The Game Awards, director Hideki Kamiya responded cryptically with "I wonder...," but Hirabayashi quickly confirmed Amaterasu's appearance.

This news, while perhaps not surprising to fans, has led to speculation about how the sequel will address the legacy of its predecessor. Notably, there is already a sequel to Ōkami, titled Ōkamiden, released for the Nintendo DS. Ōkamiden follows Amaterasu's child, Chibiterasu, and includes several characters from the original game. However, it received mixed feedback due to its platform and the absence of key original team members like Kamiya.

When questioned about Ōkamiden and its potential acknowledgment in the new sequel, Hirabayashi commented, "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 by depicting Amaterasu and another character embarking on a new journey to an unexplored location, hinting at new challenges and adventures. However, fans will need to wait patiently for more information, as the team revealed that the Ōkami sequel is in the very early stages of development. Hirabayashi shared their excitement for the project but cautioned, "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 a deeper dive into what's to come.