Capcom's Okami celebrates two decades since its 2006 North American debut on the PlayStation 2. To mark the anniversary, the company has confirmed that a true sequel is currently in development.
The 93 Metacritic score and the legacy of Sumi-e art
When Okami launched on September 19, 2006, it arrived during a PlayStation 2 era dominated by established franchises like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. However, the title distinguished itself by placing players inside a traditional Japanese Sumi-e painting, utilizing a woodcut aesthetic that felt entirely alien to the gaming landscape of the time. According to the report, the game's unique blend of mythology and art helped it secure a prestigious 93 rating on Metacritic.
Players controlled Amaterasu, a sun goddess in the form of a white wolf, who used a "Celestial Brush" to manipulate the environment. By drawing ink strokes on the screen, Amaterasu could summon wind or fire to solve puzzles and battle enemies like the eight-headed serpnet Orochi. This mechanic transformed the action-adventure genre into a living canvas, creating a stylistic benchmark that few titles have since replicated.
Hideki Kamiya and the return of the original development team
The most significant revelation for long-term fans is the leadership behind the new project. As reported, the upcoming Okami sequel is being led by the original game's director, Hideki Kamiya.. This move signals a return to the creative roots of the series, as Kamiya is collaborating with three specific studios—M-TWO, Machine Head Works, and CLOVERS—which include members of the original development team.
While the 2024 announcement provided limited specifics, a teaser trailer has confirmed that the sequel will retain the core elements that defined the first game. This includes the return of the protagonist Amaterasu, the signature ink-based mechanics, and the distinct hand-drawn art style. By reuniting the original visionaries, Capcom is attempting to recapture the specific "magic" that made the 2006 title a cult classic.
Why Okamiden and the 2017 HD remake weren't enough
The road to this true sequel has been long and fragmented. In 2010, Capcom released Okamiden for the Nintendo DS, which featured a wolf cub named Chibiterasu. While Okamiden utilized the DS stylus to mimic the brush mechanics, it was a spiritual successor rather than a direct narrative continuation and failed to garner the same passionate following as the original. Later, a 2017 HD remake brought the first game to modern consoles,but it served as a preservation effort rather than a new experience.
The struggle to produce a sequel earlier was largely due to the fate of Clover Studio. Despite the critical acclaim of Okami, the report notes that the game did not sell well enough at the time to keep Clover Studio afloat. For nearly twenty years, the franchise existed in a state of limbo, with fans relying on remakes and spin-offs while hoping for a return to the original's scope.
The missing details on the 2024 sequel's release date
Despite the excitement surrounding the 2024 announcement, several critical questions remain unanswered. Capcom has not yet provided a specific release window or a list of target platforms for the new adventure. Furthermore, while the teaser confirms the return of Amaterasu , it remains unclear how the story will evolve twenty years after the original's conclusion or if new deities from Shinto mythology will be introduced.
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