Okami New Game Plus: What Transfers Over?
So, you've finished Okami, huh? What a masterpiece, right? But wait, the adventure doesn't have to end there! Okami offers a New Game Plus mode, letting you jump back into the beautiful Nippon with some sweet advantages. But what exactly do you get to keep? Let's dive into the details of Okami's New Game Plus and explore what carries over to make your second playthrough even more epic.
What Carries Over in Okami New Game Plus?
Alright, let's get straight to the good stuff. Starting a New Game Plus in Okami means you're not starting entirely from scratch. You get to carry over a bunch of your hard-earned progress, making the early stages a breeze and allowing you to focus on things you might have missed the first time around. Here's a comprehensive list of what makes the jump with you:
- Stray Beads: All those shiny Stray Beads you painstakingly collected? Yep, they're coming with you! This is a huge advantage, as you can immediately unlock some awesome bonus items and abilities right from the get-go. Imagine starting the game with those extra health upgrades – talk about feeling like a god!
 - Techniques: Remember all those sweet combat techniques you learned from the various dojos across Nippon? Those are yours to keep! From the basic Power Slash to the more advanced abilities, you'll have a full arsenal at your disposal from the start. This makes combat significantly easier and way more fun, as you can experiment with different combos and strategies right from the beginning.
 - Divine Instruments: Your Rosaries, Reflectors, and Glaives will all be there, ready for action. This not only boosts your combat prowess but also opens up new areas and secrets much earlier in the game. Imagine using the Thunder Edge to zap enemies right from the start – pure satisfaction!
 - Bestiary Entries: For all you completionists out there, rejoice! All the enemy information you diligently gathered in your Bestiary will be saved. This is super handy if you're aiming to complete every entry and learn all the weaknesses of your foes. Knowledge is power, after all!
 - Godhood Rank: Your Godhood Rank, which reflects your overall progress and completion rate, also carries over. This is more of a cosmetic thing, but it's a nice way to show off your dedication to the game.
 
The Benefits of Carrying Over
Carrying over all these items and abilities significantly enhances the New Game Plus experience in Okami. Here’s why it's such a game-changer:
- Early Power Boost: Starting with a full set of techniques and powerful weapons makes the early game a cakewalk. You can breeze through the initial areas and focus on exploring, completing side quests, and uncovering secrets you might have missed before.
 - Completionist's Dream: If you're a completionist, New Game Plus is your best friend. With your Bestiary entries and Stray Beads intact, you can focus on filling in the gaps and achieving 100% completion. Plus, having all your abilities from the start makes it much easier to access hidden areas and items.
 - Experimentation: With all your techniques available from the start, you can experiment with different combat styles and strategies without having to grind for them. This adds a whole new layer of depth to the combat system and keeps things fresh.
 - Story Focus: Having the combat and exploration aspects streamlined allows you to focus more on the story and characters. You can appreciate the narrative at a more relaxed pace and delve deeper into the lore of Nippon.
 
What Doesn't Carry Over?
Now, before you get too excited, it's important to know what doesn't carry over in Okami's New Game Plus. While you get to keep a lot, there are a few things that are reset to ensure the game still has a sense of progression:
- Story Progression: Obviously, you don't carry over your story progress. You'll be starting from the very beginning, reliving Amaterasu's journey from the cursed Kamiki Village. This is essential for experiencing the narrative again and enjoying the unfolding story.
 - Quest Items: Any key items related to specific quests will be reset. This prevents you from accidentally breaking the game or skipping important story beats. You'll need to reacquire these items as you progress through the story.
 - Map Completion: While you keep your abilities, the map will be reset, meaning you'll have to rediscover all the locations and fill in the map again. This encourages exploration and ensures you don't just fast-track through the game.
 - Money and Demon Fangs: Your Yen (money) and Demon Fangs will be reset to zero. This keeps the economy balanced and prevents you from buying everything at the start of the game. You'll need to earn your wealth and collect those Demon Fangs all over again.
 
Tips for Making the Most of New Game Plus
Okay, so you know what carries over and what doesn't. Now, let's talk about how to make the most of your New Game Plus playthrough in Okami.
- Focus on Missed Content: Use your New Game Plus run to explore areas you might have missed the first time around. With your enhanced abilities, you can access hidden locations and uncover new secrets.
 - Complete the Bestiary: If you're a completionist, focus on filling in any missing entries in your Bestiary. This is a great way to learn more about the enemies in the game and their weaknesses.
 - Experiment with Combat: With all your techniques available from the start, experiment with different combat styles and combos. Try out different Divine Instrument combinations and see what works best for you.
 - Enjoy the Story: Take your time and savor the story. With the combat and exploration aspects streamlined, you can focus on the narrative and appreciate the characters and lore of Nippon.
 - Collect All Stray Beads: If you missed any Stray Beads on your first playthrough, now's your chance to grab them all! With your knowledge of the game and enhanced abilities, it should be much easier to find them all.
 
Why Play New Game Plus?
You might be wondering,