While Hideki Kamiya is working with studio Clovers on the long-awaited sequel to action/adventure game Okami, he has revealed that the studio will not just be making sequels to old games. Speaking to Japanese publication GameSpark (translation via VGC), Kamiya, along with Kento Koyama, spoke about their work at Clovers.
According to Koyama, Covers “will not close off any possibilities when it comes to making games.” He spoke about how, after the studio is done with its work on Okami 2, its next project might even be a new IP.
“Basically, I don’t think that we limited the methods we use in our approach to our policy of creating interesting games,” said Koyama.
“If we were asked to make a game that uses an existing IP, and if it looked like it would be interesting to ‘Cloverize’ it in our own way, then we would do it,” said Kamiya, following up on Koyama’s statement.
“But of course, if we get a project proposal that we really want to work on, and the desire to go it grows, then we’ll do an original work too. So I think it’s appropriate to say we won’t close off any possibilities – in the end, it all comes down to whether or not we get a ‘wow’ feeling from it.”
Capping off the interview, Kamiya acknowledges the fact that some fans of classic games by Clover Studios during the early-2000s might be disappointed about more IPs from the time not returning.
“We’re only working on one thing at the moment, and it just so happens that it’s an IP I was involved with in the past, so I think it’s inevitable that that impression is strong,” said Kamiya. “The fact that we’re attracting attention because of that expectation is something we’re grateful for, but I want to reiterate that just because this is our first shot, it doesn’t mean that this is all we have to offer.”
The original Clover Studio, founded back in 2004, worked on quite a few critically-acclaimed titles with Capcom acting as its publisher. During its short run up until its closure in 2007, Clover Studio worked on the Viewtiful Joe games, as well as cult-favourite action game God Hand, alongside the seminal Okami. In its time, the studio developed and released six games across a variety of platforms, from the PS2 to the Nintendo DS.
Earlier this month, Kamiya had also expressed interest in some day returning to work on cancelled project Scalebound. Meant to be one of the tentpole releases for the Xbox One, development on Scalebound was ultimately stopped.
“Noticed some excitement around Kamiya’s desk…” posted Clovers on social media while showing a video of Kamiya excitedly watching an old trailer for Scalebound. “He was reminiscing about the development of Scalebound while watching YouTube videos. It never made it to release, but even now, he still feels proud of it.”
The Clovers account capped the post off by quoting Kamiya saying, “I’d love to make it again someday.”
A sequel to Okami was unveiled during The Game Awards 2024. The project is being headed up by Kamiya, with development being handled by new studio Clovers.
