How Capcom Is Reviving The Game Genre It Once Pioneered

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As a seasoned gamer with memories of the golden age of gaming still fresh in my mind, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgic excitement about the potential revival of hack-and-slash action games at Capcom. Growing up, I spent countless hours mastering the intricate combos of Devil May Cry and the celestial brushwork of Okami, so the prospect of new entries in these venerable franchises has me all aflutter.

2024 might have been a more subdued year for Capcom, but this Japanese powerhouse has been on a roll lately by resurrecting cherished series. They wrapped up their streak of Ace Attorney remasters and translations with the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, swiftly followed that with the release of Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics and Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. However, it was the announcements at The Game Awards 2024 that truly sent shivers down the spines of old-school Capcom enthusiasts. Not only did we get news about Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a new installment in its franchise after almost two decades, but there was also an exciting console sequel for Okami finally announced!

After The Game Awards, Capcom’s investor relations site provided a brief summary of their announcements and expressed interest in reviving IPs that haven’t seen new releases for some time. With a collection of powerful franchises as extensive as Capcom’s, re-introducing series on a large scale, similar to what Sega is currently doing, would be met with enthusiasm. Particularly noteworthy is Capcom’s plan to launch fresh installments for games like _Okami_ and _Onimusha_. This move could also serve to revive the genre these games represent, which has been largely absent from the gaming scene since their original era.

Capcom Has More Than Just Franchises Sleeping In Its Library

Capcom produces a variety of game genres, ranging from puzzles like “Ghost Trick” to turn-based RPGs such as the classic “Breath of Fire” series. However, it’s Capcom’s action games that truly set them apart. These span numerous categories, including fighting games like “Street Fighter”, beat-’em-ups like “Final Fight”, hack-and-slash games similar to “Devil May Cry”, and even third-person shooting games like “Resident Evil 4”. Each of these Capcom titles is a standout example within their respective gameplay style. Interestingly, “Onimusha” and “Okami” are most reminiscent of the “Devil May Cry” series, providing some relief after the last decade’s treatment of their shared subgenre.

Stylish 3D Action Nearly Died In The 2010’s

3D action games that involve hack-and-slash combat with limited role-playing game (RPG) aspects have become relatively scarce since the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era. As Capcom’s AAA and AA productions decreased, so did the frequency of Devil May Cry releases, culminating in its primary director, Hideaki Itsuno, leaving in 2024. Former Devil May Cry, Okami, and God Hand developers continued their hack-and-slash journey at Platinum Games, but eventually faced departures due to creative disagreements and financial issues. Pillars of the genre like Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja and Sony’s God of War franchise incorporated RPG elements to broaden their player base. Despite indie contributions, it’s challenging to overlook the significant decline in 3D melee action games.

Hack-And-Slash Is Creeping Back Into Capcom’s Output

Action-RPG dominance isn’t a bad thing, as Soulslikes are popular for a reason, and other hybrid approaches like Kingdom Hearts, Dynasty Warriors, Like a Dragon, the Tales series, Ys, and even Capcom’s own Monster Hunter and Dragon’s Dogma offer plenty of variety. More options are still better for everyone, though, and Capcom seems dead-set on bringing some back. It’s already on its way, too, as summer 2024’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess harkens back to the experimental period of hack-and-slash’s PS2 golden age. Now, Onimusha and Okami just need to make this revival worth Capcom’s trouble.

How Onimusha and Okami Can Correct Capcom’s Combat Course

Onimusha: Way of the Sword shares similarities with both Resident Evil and Devil May Cry, carving out its own unique niche between them. It might be Capcom’s stealthy foray into Souls-like games, but given its existing emphasis on parrying and strategic offense, it could lean more towards the combat style seen in Sekiro. Additionally, the sequel to Okami, led by its original director Hideaki Kamiya and a group of former Platinum Games staff, promises to recapture the unexpectedly deep combat of the original Okami. This could open up new action possibilities for Capcom, much like in the good old days.

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2024-12-27 21:03