Ever since the cult-classic Okami debuted on the PS2, fans gave clamored for more adventures featuring the white wolf Amaterasu. So far, they’ve had to settle for the pseudo-sequel Nintendo DS exclusive Okamiden, and multiple ports of the original which have made their way onto the Wii and PS3. But now, according the the official Okami Twitter account, the franchise is gearing up for a major announcement next week. Don’t worry if that text looks a little foreign to you, Gematsu went out of their way to translate the tweet. Here’s what was said:
“Hello, this is Okami news. Sorry I’ve been kind of out of touch lately, but I have the feeling we’ll be able to drop a fresh announcement like WHAM! around the beginning of Golden Week, so please look forward to it. Right now we’re on track with preparations.”
Golden Week is a week-long celebration of consecutive holidays that takes place in Japan from April 29 to May 5. It’s actually quite a big deal over there, with many stores and places of business shutting down to observe the festivities.
Looks like even folks who don’t typically observe Golden Week will have cause to celebrate next week, as Okami has one of the strongest underground followings I’ve ever seen. Deservedly so, in my opinion. Amaterasu belongs to a franchise that is near-and-dear to my heart, both for it’s brilliant aesthetics and the intelligent cultural teachings it delivers to those willing to learn the history behind the game’s many, many references to Japanese folklore and tradition. In fact, I proudly granted Okami the title of “Best PS2 Game” back in my retrospective look at the Sony brand in anticipation for the PS4 announcement.
Are you guys and gals anxious to see what this Okami-related announcement will turn out to be? Would you rather see a full-fledged sequel featuring Amaterasu, or perhaps a prequel taking place generations before the event of the original? Share your thoughts in the comments section. And for those interested in better understanding just some of the myths and lore Okami‘s story and locations are steeped in, check out Gaijin Goomba’s Game Exchange web series on the Game Theorist’s Youtube channel. While you’re there, you’ll probably find a few other videos that strike your fancy.
