Okami 2: Everything We Know So Far

As a die-hard video game enthusiast who has been following the gaming industry for nearly three decades now, I can confidently say that The Game Awards 2024 was nothing short of a dream come true! The sheer excitement and anticipation in the air during the show was palpable as we eagerly awaited the unveiling of new titles. However, among all the big-name announcements, it was Capcom’s Okami 2 that truly stole the spotlight (and my heart)!

I vividly remember playing the original Okami back in 2006 and being captivated by its unique blend of Japanese folklore, stunning cel-shaded visuals, and engaging gameplay. It was a title unlike anything I had ever played before, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. So, when the news broke that a sequel was finally in the works, I couldn’t contain my excitement!

The fact that the original game’s director, Hideki Kamiya, is leading the development team at Clovers gives me hope that Okami 2 will be every bit as special as its predecessor. The collaboration with M-Two Inc and Machine Head Works also bodes well for the game’s production values, given their past work on titles like Okami HD, Resident Evil 3 & 4 Remakes, and other critically acclaimed games.

I have to admit, I was a bit worried when I heard about the long delay due to Kamiya’s one-year non-compete agreement. But now that he’s back in the driver’s seat, I can’t help but feel optimistic about what Okami 2 will bring to the table. The fact that the game is set to feature a whole new look and feel thanks to the technical advancements of modern consoles has me counting down the days until its release!

For those who are eager to get their hands on Okami 2, I highly recommend checking out the remastered version of the original game, Okami HD, which is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S. Trust me; you won’t want to miss out on this magical adventure!

On a lighter note, I can’t help but wonder if Okami 2 will have a special cameo from the legendary Amaterasu herself, perhaps as a playable character in a mini-game or something? Fingers crossed that it’s true! After all, who wouldn’t want to wield the divine Celestial Brush once more and save the world from darkness?

At The Game Awards 2024, there were numerous significant game announcements during its 3-hour broadcast. Among them were titles like “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet“, “The Witcher 4“, “Elden Ring Nightreign“, “Mafia: The Old Country“, and “Split Fiction“. However, one particular game was unveiled towards the end of the show with a musical introduction. Out of all the impressive new games that made their debut, Capcom’s “Okami 2” was the standout, captivating both the audience and many viewers.

Released back in 2006, “Okami” is widely recognized as one of the greatest video games ever created. It garnered both critical praise and adoration from fans upon its debut. The game is based on various Japanese folklore stories and focuses on the story of Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess who appears in the form of a white wolf with celestial markings, saving the world from darkness. “Okami” stands out for its unique artistic design, featuring a cel-shaded visual style reminiscent of sumi-e, an art form that combines Japanese watercolor and wood carving techniques. To date, no other game has managed to introduce such a distinctive art style into the gaming industry quite like “Okami” did. Given this, it’s not surprising that fans of the original have been eagerly awaiting a sequel for almost two decades. However, why are players so excited about another installment in the series?

What Do We Know About Okami 2?

The highly anticipated sequel to “Okami” titled “Okami 2” will be developed by a fresh studio called Clovers, led by the original game’s director Hideki Kamiya. Assisting Clovers in this endeavor are two other studios: M-Two Inc, known for remaking “Okami HD,” “Resident Evil 3,” and “Resident Evil 4,” and Machine Head Works, a team composed of former members from the original Clover Studio. The delay in production is due to Kamiya’s one-year non-compete agreement that prohibited him from creating new games following his departure from PlatinumGames last October. As of now, there are no official details about the storyline or release date for “Okami 2,”, but it is expected to follow the style of the original game and bring back the character Amaterasu.

The initial version of “Okami” was among the last games launched for the PlayStation 2 before the PlayStation 3 arrived, yet it didn’t achieve commercial success. Consequently, the original developer, Clover Studio, shut down just a few months afterwards, with key personnel like Hideki Kamiya, the game’s director, moving on from Capcom to establish PlatinumGames. Later on, a version of “Okami” was made available for the Wii in 2008, and a spiritual successor, titled “Okamiden,” was released by Capcom for Nintendo DS consoles in 2010.

Discussions for a follow-up started during Kamiya’s tenure on the Bayonetta series at PlatinumGames. Back in 2016, he mentioned in an interview with Metro UK that he had concepts for Okami 2. In a 2020 conversation with Okami artist Ikumi Nakamura, she expressed her intentions to pitch the idea of a sequel to Capcom, ensuring that Kamiya would be at the helm of development. Following his departure from PlatinumGames in 2023, Kamiyama seemed absent from the industry until the unveiling of Okami 2.

Although it appears that the release of Okami 2 is still a ways off, the enthusiasm for the game among fans and the development team has only intensified since the original was released 18 years ago. With the ongoing advancements in console technology, players can anticipate a completely revitalized visual and tactile experience from the Okami series. For those eagerly awaiting the new title, consider playing Okami HD on PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox Series X|S in the meantime.

2024-12-30 06:10

What Do We Know About Okami 2?

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