New Okamiden trailers hit as Capcom confirms western release

We gush over the latest footage and celebrate confirmation that the DS-only sequel to Ōkami will be making its way outside of Japan

The two lengthy new trailers were shown at Capcoms own "Captivate" media event, showcasing what is likely to be some of the best visuals produced on the DS. Ōkamidens bright, snappy cel-shaded visuals move along at a nice clip as new hero Chibiterasu paints and slices his way through mythical ancient Japanese settings. There are explosions of pink cherry blossoms galore and we see that many of the combat mechanics of the console original remain intact.

Story-wise, Ōkamiden is set only a few months after Amaterasus adventure. This time around, the Celestial Brush will be commanded by Ammys pup, Chibiterasu, who will need to face down a new dark and powerful Demon King that has emerged in ancient Nippon and return beauty to the lands. Ōkamiden will feature a new "Partner-up" system, that allows Chibi to team up with various characters with different strengths in order to defeat particular enemies and solve puzzles.

The sequel may not have been made by the original team from Clover, but the game captures the look and feel of Ōkami perfectly. Were delighted to hear that the heavily Japanese-flavoured game will be getting a release in English-speaking territories, but well have to endure a lengthy wait for its early 2011 release date.

Source: Capcom PR