Capcom veteran Hideaki Itsuno has introduced his departure from the Japanese videogame large, after over 30 years as a senior member of its growth workers. Itsuno is best-known for his work on the Satan Could Cry sequence, created by Hideki Kamiya however arguably reaching its peak with the Itsuno-directed Satan Could Cry 3, and Dragon’s Dogma, Itsuno’s personal dream sport with the sequel turning out as his final main challenge for Capcom.
“On the finish of August 2024, I can be leaving Capcom after 30 years and 5 months,” Itsuno posted on social media. “Thanks to your long-term help of the video games and characters I’ve been answerable for. I hope you’ll proceed to help Capcom’s video games and characters.”
Itsuno goes on to say that he is not finished with video games but, however is off to do his personal factor. “From September, I’ll begin growing a brand new sport in a brand new surroundings. I hope to create enjoyable, lovely video games which are as memorable as, or much more memorable than, those I’ve created thus far.”
Itsuno has actually been concerned with some memorable video games. A preventing sport fanatic, he joined Capcom on that foundation (in addition to as a result of the workplace was a straightforward commute) and his star rose swiftly: The earliest glimpse of Itsuno’s skills got here in 1995’s wonderful Road Fighter Alpha, which he co-directed. Itsuno would play a key function in Capcom’s preventing video games over the subsequent decade, directing and co-directing entries within the Rival Colleges, Capcom vs SNK, Darkstalkers and Energy Stone sequence.
The one wobble in Itsuno’s profession was when he was assigned to a salvage operation: Satan Could Cry 2. This sequel had few of the unique sport’s builders engaged on it, and was mishandled from the beginning, with Itsuno introduced in on the latter phases to attempt to make one thing of a challenge that was a complete mess. Itsuno didn’t recognize the task however, however, drove the crew and referred to as in each firm favour he may to get the sport over the road:
“The ultimate days of growth on DMC 2 have been wild,” recalled Itsuno in 2013’s Satan Could Cry: Graphic Arts. “I joined the crew proper close to the tip, because the deadline was approaching, and it is no exaggeration to say that each out there workers member was mobilized. They even recruited non-team members equivalent to myself. […] DMC 2 simply yanked out all these members from different groups who had been busy engaged on their very own initiatives.”
Itsuno ended up credited as DMC2’s director, and his dissatisfaction with the sport noticed him request to steer growth on Satan Could Cry 3 from the beginning. The end result was top-of-the-line hack-and-slash video games ever made, a gloriously fluid 3D fighter with an in depth and sophisticated fight system that rewarded participant experimentation. It additionally made Dante cool once more after the emo catastrophe of DMC2, however that is by-the-by.
Itsuno would go on to direct DMC4 and DMC5, in addition to overseeing Ninja Principle’s unfairly maligned DmC. After DMC4 Itsuno bought the prospect to develop considered one of his authentic concepts, a medieval fantasy RPG with a Greco-Roman bestiary and stylings. Dragon’s Dogma pioneered issues just like the pawn system however most significantly was a meaty RPG world the place the fight was Capcom high quality.
Itsuno is likely one of the builders most answerable for Capcom’s numerous kinds of motion and preventing video games being the gold customary. His work prolonged properly past the above titles too, and he leaves having led growth on a number of video games which are among the many finest examples of their style. Dragon’s Dogma 2 was launched in March this yr, Itsuno’s closing bow at Capcom, and as our overview says “this can be a sport that can be talked about for a very long time.” Who is aware of what’s subsequent for Itsuno, however I do know this: It will not be boring.
