The sequel to Okami has finally been announced and it’s the game I have been eagerly waiting for – even if my hopes for it had been shattered – since 2006. The new game in The Game Awards 2024 announcements, and it was presented with a short cinematic trailer. The video showcased a wolf running through darkened woods and, upon reaching an open field and seeing the sunlight, Amaterasu’s signature Divine Retribution reflector appears upon its back.

After this, the video shows the wolf running through the field and, in its wake, several flowers start to grow, much like they did in the original Okami. Lastly, the video shows a paintbrush drawing a circle around a growing flower, which prompts it to bloom, referencing Amaterasu’s Bloom technique made possible with her Celestial Brush. The video ends by confirming that the announcement is for Okami’s sequel and that Hideki Kamiya, who directed the original title, is coming back as the new game’s director. To me, this is the most exciting game announcement from The Game Awards 2024.

Okami’s Sequel Comes As A Heartwarming Surprise For Fans Devoid Of Hope

Kamiya’s Return To The Role Of Game Director Is Also Soothing News

Even if the title does not yet have an official title nor a more specific release window, the sequel to Okami is one of the most anticipated games I had not been expecting, much less under the genius supervision of Kamiya. The first title, released back in 2006, stood out by offering players an art-related experience in a videogame that is widely recognized as a piece of art itself. The game has a conclusion to its story, but the epic experience provided by the installment left fans wanting more. Hopes died off when Clover Studio ended its operation in 2007.

A portion of Clover’s team then left off to form PlatinumGames, which created titles like Bayonetta and the legendary NieR: Automata. With the Okami IP (intellectual property) under Capcom’s belt and the original creators now within a new and unrelated studio, fans like myself had come to with the idea that an Okami sequel would not be a reality. A portion of that hope was rekindled when Capcom released the HD version of the game for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, but there were no hints that the franchise itself would continue to grow.

In 2020, former Clover Studio artist and now lead of Unseen, Ikumi Nakamura, stated that there were “pretty high” chances for an Okami 2 and that she hoped Kamiya would return to preserve the sequel’s artistic integrity.

Even with the statement and Amaterasu’s Easter egg in Monster Hunter Rise in 2021, the idea that the series would expand with a brand-new title seemed like a fever dream. With Okami being one of my favorite games of all time, the surprise announcement at TGA 2024 had me joyfully weeping at the prospect of controlling Amaterasu while exploring the new Nippon envisioned by Kamiya. After nearly two decades since the release of the original game and all the experience Kamiya gained over the years, I’m hoping the sequel will top the experience provided by the already fantastic Okami.

Since the closure of Clover Studio, Okami 2’s game director has worked on a series of hits that varied in style and only helped him expand his repertoire as a developer and artist. Kamiya had already worked on Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Viewtiful Joe, but after Okami, he’s put his hands on the Bayonetta franchise, as well as Astral Chain. Even with the disappointing cancelation of Scalebound, which he was set to direct, Kamiya has a solid list of successful accomplishments, and Okami may be the perfect example of his vision as a developer.

Okami Is A Staple In Creative Game Design

20 Years Later, The Title Still Breaks The Pattern For Games Set In Feudal Japan

Although the game is nearly 20 years old, it aged finely and is still a fantastic title to replay, especially with its HD version made available for modern consoles. Okami left a mark on the gaming industry with its art style that blended ink-wash painting techniques with cel-shading to create something truly unique at the time. It’s almost as if we were entering a traditional Muromachi-era Japanese painting. In addition to that, Okami incorporated the idea of the remarkable ink-wash painting into active gameplay, giving players a paintbrush to use in the form of the Celestial Brush.

The Celestial Brush allowed players to make some simple drawings and, with it, activate special abilities, useful for both combat and exploration. In of gameplay design in a highly-financed title, Okami showed just how creative developers can get. Puzzles, secrets, and boss fights were all tailored around Amaterasu unlocking new Celestial Brush techniques, which represented a nearly perfect learning curve. Although somewhat simplistic, the combat with Amaterasu’s three weapon types also added extra layers to how one approached the game, which made for great gameplay personalization and gave it a huge replayability factor.

Okami’s excellence extends to its other elements, too, such as its setting. The heavily Japanese-influenced game broke some patterns that were and still are recurrent in games. Instead of taking players back to feudal Japan under the guise of a samurai or a shinobi, Okami dives right into a creative interpretation of Japanese mythology, with Shintoism at the forefront. Being fascinated by various mythologies from an early age and not having had with those from Japan other than simplistic references to onis and tengus, for example, Okami was a catalyst for learning.

After my gameplay sessions, I’d spend hours researching details about Shintoism, how the characters mentioned by name in the game existed in the folklore, and how they were all connected.

To me, exploring this colorful and creative interpretation of Japan (called Nippon) outside of the perspective of a rugged sword-wielding warrior broadened my idea of what the region has to offer in of history. Furthermore, as an Asian American, Okami provided me with a brand-new perspective on what my cultural heritage had to offer and instigated me to learn more. Of course, this did not come alone. The original 2006 title has a delicately crafted soundtrack that helps guide us through the game, dictating the tone for each memorable story moment.

I couldn’t be more excited for Okami 2 than I am right now, and that’s because of how much the original game provided me – and still provides me, considering I am coincidentally replaying it. For those who haven’t yet been bathed under Amaterasu’s sunlight, I highly recommend playing the original game, which continues to be a masterpiece nearly 20 years later. For those who have, I am eagerly awaiting to play Okami’s sequel, just like you.