Okami fans, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that Capcom’s acclaimed action-adventure title isn’t making a next-gen leap to the PlayStation 3 (at least not now). The good news is that a new Okami game is on the way in the form of Okamiden: Chiisaki Taiyo for the Nintendo DS.

Kotaku received a picture of the upcoming issue of the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, which shows some screenshots from the game. According to 1UP, the game takes place a short time after the events of the first game, and players will assume control of Chibiterasu, a younger looking version of Amaterasu, the original game’s wolf-god protagonist.

Gameplay is said to be similar to the first game, but with a new emphasis on using various “partners” to overcome obstacles and solve puzzles. Obviously, being able to draw on the DS screen fits in perfectly with the game’s brush mechanic, and that’s expected to once again play a significant role in combat as well as puzzle solving.

As for why Capcom decided to develop the follow-up for the DS, the game’s director, Kuniomi Matsushita, who also oversaw last year’s Wii port of Okami, explained:

"The original idea was to take what makes this game special and expose it to more people. That was why we chose the Nintendo DS -- being on a portable system will allow people to easily pick up and play it, and you can also use the touch pen as a brush."

The game is scheduled to be released sometime next year in Japan. However, Capcom is expected to have a playable version of it at this year’s Tokyo Game Show (September 24-27), which means you can expect more details over the coming weeks. I'm currently waiting to hear back from Capcom about all of this, so stay tuned.

Is an Okami game, regardless of platform, a must buy for you? Which version of the original game did you prefer, PS2 or Wii?

Source. Source.