Okami to get surprise sequel co-developed by original team and helmed by Hideki Kamiya
Capcom suddenly announced that their beloved cult classic Okami will be getting a sequel. What’s more, it will be helmed by Hideki Kamiya, the director of the 2006 PS2 original. According to the game’s official website, the new Okami is a joint development project between M2, which employs many of the first game’s production staff, Machine Head Works, and CloverS, where Hideki Kamiya is employed.
The unexpected announcement was cryptically teased by The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley with an “This game might not have seemed like a possibility… if you truly love video games like I do, this moment is for all of us.” Then, the orchestra launched into a rousing rendition of Sunflower from the original Okami soundtrack, with the screen behind briefly showing lush visuals and the words “Okami Sequel.” A short trailer was also dropped.
The original Okami is a charmingly unique game first released on PlayStation 2 back in 2006. It’s unusual Japanese-mythology based setting had you take on the role of Amaterasu, a white wolf representing the Japanese Sun Goddess. Accompanied by pint-sized calligrapher Issun, the epic tale followed them through a gorgeous, fantastical Japan backed with legend and folklore, to defeat the 8-headed serpent Orochi. The distinctive gameplay involved using a giant calligraphy brush to defeat monsters and change your surroundings in the game’s lush, semi-open field (by painting cherry blossoms on tree branches or lilypads to create crossings over rivers). It has since become a cult classic, getting an Okami HD remaster on modern platforms.
The PS2 title was highly ambitious for the time, with its gorgeous painterly graphics and surprisingly long story and extensive world to explore. As teased in the very brief clip above, Okami’s sequel will no doubt harness current technology to deliver an even more powerful and immersive experience.
What’s also a welcome surprise is that Hideki Kamiya is the director of the Okami sequel. The game creator was previously on a break after departing Platinum Games. The fact that he will be helming the new Okami title suggests that the unique charm of the original will be carried over into this sequel. CloverS is currently hiring development staff for both its Tokyo and Osaka studios, likely to work on the Okami sequel.
