Summary
Few personalities in the gaming industry match the charisma and originality exuded byHideki Kamiya. This game designer has been working constantly from 1996 into the modern era. Other creatives in gaming have directed more games, but few offer such variety. His games span the horror, puzzle, and action-adventure genres.
To celebrate this unique talent, the list belowranks all of the games directed by Hideki Kamiya from worst to best.Fortunately, it is pretty hard to go wrong with any of these titles. Even the weakest of the bunch will provide plenty of entertainment. Despite three decades within the industry, we can still expect more games from him in the future.
Though Hideki Kamiya has had a hand in many games, this list is focused on games he directed.
Genre
Puzzle
This game is the least known and the least celebrated among Hideki Kamiya’s work. There is not a lot to say about it.Arthut to Astaroth no Nazomka Nazomakaimura: Incredible Toonsuses gameplay fromThe Incredible Machineseries and puts a coat of paint inspired byGhost ‘n Goblinson it.
Every stage is a puzzlewhere players have to place contraptions around the play area to essentially make a Rube Goldberg machine. It is an extremely difficult game, which is appropriate consideringGhost n’ Goblinsis also a notoriously hard series.
The Wonderful 101started life as a Wii U exclusive. Instead of an action game starring one person, players control a group of heroes simultaneously through a top-down perspective. The gameplay takes advantage of the Wii U’s gamepad, with players drawing shapes on the controller’s screen to activate certain abilities.
The unique concept and multiplayer alone make it worth playing, but it feels like something that could have been refined to perfection in a sequel. Unfortunately, the game did not sell well and was only remastered for other consoles through asuccessful Kickstarter campaign. While it was somewhat of a happy ending for this game to come out on more systems, it does not seem like a sequel will ever be made.
Devil May Cryushered in a new era of action games. From this point on, any game in the genre needed to be more complex than the brawlers and beat-em-ups many players were used to.Devil May Crythrew in elements from games likeResident EvilandDino Crisisfor a perfect blend of intense combat and exploration.
Even though the sequels further refined the combat, making it faster and smoother, there is still something charming about the debut entry’s first steps into what can ultimately be called a new genre. While its dated nature can be hard to go back to in some ways, the game is so short that it does not overstay its welcome on a single playthrough.
Viewtiful Joetook a step back into the second dimension for its gameplay.This side-scrolling beat-em-upfeatures gorgeous cel-shaded graphics and smooth controls to create a delightfully whimsical gameplay experience.
The aesthetic heavily draws from the fact it takes place in a parallel world called Movieland. The special meter is called a “VFX Gauge” and is lined by sprocket holes.Viewtiful Joewas not a huge commercial success, but it still spawned a sequel and spin-offs. However, Hideki Kamiya only directed the debut entry.
Viewtiful Joe 2’sPS2 demo has an infamous glitch that froze the game and deleted all the memory from any memory card in the PS2 at the time.
Visual fidelity should be one of the least important standards in judging a game’s graphics.Just look atOkami.It came out on the PS2 in 2006, and it is still one of the most gorgeous video games out there.
Players control a wolf goddess, Amaterasu, as she battles the forces of evil in ancient Japan. Unlike many games on this list, combat is just a fraction of the adventure and probably the least interesting part. Players solve puzzles and interact with the world using the Celestial Brush. They paint certain patterns to activate different techniques. The colorful world is brimming with personality, especially from the many odd characters Amaterasu encounters along her journey.
Bayonettais one of the best character action games around and cemented developer Platinum Games as the kings of intricate but intuitive combat systems. It is a relatively short ride, but it does not let up from its opening moments right up until the credits roll.
The encounters with angels are intertwined with giant set pieces and creative boss encounters. The combat is complimented by a story that oozes style and humor. The sexualized design of the titular character is a constant topic of debate, but she is always cool, confident, and tough.
The originalResident Evil 2is often cited as one of thebest survival horror games ever made. It is easy to understand why. Just one trek through the adventure is enough to justify the purchase, but its unique structure offers incredible replay value.
The game came on two discs, each with a distinct campaign for Claire and Leon. After beating the game once, players save their game and play through the campaign again with a new character, and the previous run-through affects the new playthrough. With this system, players would have to beat the game four times to see everything. The Racoon City Police Department is also one of the most iconic settings in gaming, cementing this title as Hideki Kamiya’s finest work.
