Contemporary action games, reminiscent of titles like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, must deliver more than just impressive visuals, according to Hideki Kamiya, a luminary in the genre who has made significant contributions with his iconic games.

In an interview with Famitsu, alongside Felix Schade, the creator of Morbid Metal, Kamiya shared his ambition to innovate game mechanics rather than solely focus on aesthetics. He drew a parallel to the original Resident Evil, explaining how the door loading screens were originally implemented to prevent players from facing a black screen for several seconds.

“When developing a new game, my goal is to introduce a gameplay mechanic that is distinct and can only be found in that particular title,” he stated. He cited examples like the Witch Time mechanic in Bayonetta, where dodging attacks slows down time, and in Okami, the Celestial Brush feature allows players to manipulate the game environment through drawing.

Kamiya emphasized that he seeks more than just visual appeal in games, expressing his desire for unique experiences that each game provides: “As a gamer, I am excited by the distinct experiences that a specific title can uniquely offer.”

Furthermore, Kamiya feels optimistic about the current state of the action genre, noting, “Not too long ago, there were few 3D action games available, but we’ve seen a surge of stylish, combo-driven titles lately. I believe this growth is due to increasing demand, and as someone eager to create such games one day, I am delighted to witness this trend.”

Fans of Kamiya’s creations were particularly excited by the announcement in December 2024 regarding his work on a sequel to Okami at his Clovers studio, in partnership with Capcom.