Okami 2’s Game Awards Reveal Stirred My Emotions

At the Game Awards this past Thursday night, Geoff Keighley, the founder and host, gave us quite the memorable moment. You could see the emotion welling up as he announced that Capcom is developing a sequel to the PlayStation 2 classic, Okami, with the original director, Hideki Kamiya, at the helm. His reaction was unexpectedly human and extremely relatable, and honestly, I felt the exact same way. That simple teaser, with its stirring music, a glimpse of a wolf sprinting, the Capcom logo, and Kamiya’s name, really tugged at the heartstrings and even brought a few tears to my eyes.

Let’s dive into why this is so meaningful. Back in 2006, Okami emerged as a real gem. The game, resembling a Zelda-style action-adventure, revolves around a celestial wolf god fighting spirits and aiding confused villagers with her blazing disc. Its visuals, a vibrant homage to traditional Japanese art, feature characters outlined with thick black brushstrokes and beautifully enhanced by soft watercolor washes.

When I reviewed Okami for Edge magazine back then, I gave it a solid 9 out of 10, and I’m still confident in that score. Admittedly, it’s not a personal favorite—it’s a bit lengthy and awkward at times— and if given a choice, there are probably half a dozen Zelda games I’d reach for first.

However, Okami is more than just a game; it defines an era in gaming history where prominent Japanese studios were ambitiously pushing the artistic boundaries of video games. Unfortunately, it also marks the partial failure of this vision, as poor sales led to the closure of its unique developer, Clover Studio. The studio’s demise even triggered Kamiya, Shinji Mikami, and some others to leave Capcom and establish PlatinumGames.

Now, Capcom is taking a significant step in trying to set things right by partnering once again with Kamiya (who fittingly named his new studio Clovers) to fund an Okami sequel. This move suggests that the enduring spirit of those days isn’t completely extinguished. Moreover, it also indicates that the game’s various re-releases over the years have performed well enough commercially to prompt such a revival, proving to Capcom that perhaps underestimating Okami was a mistake.

So, as I watched the announcement unfold, I found myself captivated by the enchanting live orchestration, the bold new visual direction that replaces inky outlines with rich painterly hues, and the dynamic animation of the wolf deity Amaterasu dashing across the landscape. Yet, like Geoff, I was particularly moved by what this sequel represents.

The livestream transitioned from a beaming Keighley to Kamiya sitting in the audience, cool and composed behind his iconic red shades. No doubt, the notorious Twitter personality was already considering muting Geoff for his heartfelt display. If that’s the case, I guess my name’s next on the list.