Okamiden has finally been released for the Nintendo DS by Capcom, as the sequel to the PS2 and Wii hit action adventure game Okami (released in 2006 and 2008 respectively) only this time starring a younger, pup of a wolf. Okamiden will be released in Europe on March 18th and in Australia tomorrow on March 17th.
Okamiden was chosen as a DS title due to the touchscreen being an ideal way to control the “Celestial Brush”, a key element of Okami where the player can pause the screen and use Brush Strokes (inspired by Asian calligraphy, the art of writing Asian characters) to effect the world via various powers. The DS was also chosen because it is the most successful platform of the current generation of consoles and would open up the game to a wider and younger audience that may have missed out on the console games. Okamiden was designed by the director for the Wii port of Okami and the producer of Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny at Capcom.
Taking place a few months after the events of Okami, Okamiden will follow the adventures of Chibiterasu – a young sun god who is summoned to protect the land. Following in the footsteps of Amaterasu, the sun-god-turned-wolf in Okami, Chibiterasu takes the form of an adorable wolf pup for the mission ahead. Chibiterasu will join forces with a rich cast of characters to fight off a new threat that has once more leeched the world of its vibrant colour. Beyond the battles, Chibiterasu and the partners you meet along the way will come to realize their inner potential and accept the kinship that comes with being the children of great heroes and gods.
Using the DS stylus, players will wield the Celestial Brush controlled by Chibiterasu. This powerful tool can attack enemies, paint helpful objects and structures into existence, and help Chibiterasu perform exceptional feats that will change the world before the player’s eyes. Chibiterasu’s partners in the game will have unique abilities of their own that help the player conquer puzzles and face an onslaught of perilous challenges. By blending vivid myth, artistic action and the innovative Nintendo DS,
“Okamiden has all the makings of a handheld classic. Okamiden takes the best elements of the Okami series and combines them with invigorating new features delivering an extraordinary adventure sure to please fans of the series and newcomers alike,” says Capcom.
Here is the Okamiden American launch trailer for the new DS game.