Amaterasu’s Heir: New Okamiden Details Unveiled

We had a chance to check out an all-new demo of Okamiden at TGS, revealing a few interesting details about the pending title. The build starts out in a familiar location – Agata Forest. The land has become cursed and flooded by an unknown source. It is up to Chibiterasu to solve the mystery.

Given a guided tour of the new area by Capcom, they stressed the importance of the relationship between parents and children, and the responsibility that comes with growing up. This mantra will not only be true with the main characters, but with ancillary individuals as well. Chibiterasu will learn new brush techniques from the children of the deities found in the first game – a flock of Bakugami’s children teach you the all-important cherry bomb technique, for example.

The demo highlighted various brush techniques including Sunrise, Cherry bomb, Rejuvenate, Power Slash, and Guidance. Guidance is one of the more interesting new brush powers, allowing you to guide your partner along a set path for solving puzzles.

Weapon types have remained the same in the DS title and allow you to choose between reflectors, swords, and devout beads. Capcom highlighted diversity in combat – demonstrated in battle with a new enemy called the Bone Clam. The creature is encased in a tough shell and has arms with which to scurry around. Here, Chibiterasu can use the bloom technique to force the shell open, and then cause damage to its exposed innards with the power slash technique. Capcom promises unique battle strategy will be found in the bulk of enemy encounters.

Two modes of play were also revealed. The Old Hand mode is slightly more challenging – your ink pots won’t refill by default, forcing you to consciously replenish your stock. In Green Hand mode, the ink pot will refill in time. The difference is small, but considering how essential ink is to play, it will change the nature of the game.

While exploring the Agata Forest we were given the chance to take on side quests. Some of these missions will be mandatory – others optional. The reward for completing missions is a boost in your happiness meter, which equates to XP. Capcom also divulged that there will be collectibles in the game, with Chibiterasu ferreting out and stashing away antiques and masterpieces. There isn’t a tangible reward for collecting the items, but for a franchise so often hailed as a piece of art, appreciation itself seems to be appropriate.

If you haven’t yet seen the game in action, check out the official TGS trailer here.