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'No More Heroes III' pulls Travis into the garden of madness next year
No More Heroes III is heading to Nintendo Switch in 2020, starring charismatic, homicidal nerd Travis Touchdown and, most likely, a lot of hacking and slashing. The first look at the game featured Travis cutting his way through enemies in slick, flying mech suits.
Suda51 and Let It Die's carousel of death
From the sound of it, GungHo Online and Grasshopper Manufacture's PS4 exclusive Let It Die is some sort of giant death recycling program. As we detailed last week, Let It Die stores every player death on its servers, and those dead players repopulate the games of other players as AI enemies. If you were gong to classify it, according to executive Kazuki Morishita, "Let It Die is a survival crazy action game." Also on board is Goichi Suda, best known as "Suda51," who says that coming up with the concept of storing death data was a key point in the development of Let it Die (formerly Lily Bergamo). "We all agreed the idea was good, so we decided to focus on this idea, thinking it would be a great new challenge for us." Suda is also in charge of creating the game world itself, as already evidenced by the figure of Death riding a skateboard in the announcement trailer. And before you ask, yes, Suda's shoes are amazing (as always), and yes, we did get a shot of them.
Let It Die explained by a diagram ... of death!
Have you seen the trailer for Grasshopper Manufacture and GungHo Online's PS4 exclusive, Let It Die? Did it leave you wondering just what the hell was going on? Fear not, because I have the explanation from none other than Let It Die executive producer Kazuki Morishita – in handy diagram form. Need a little help? See, when players die, their dead selves are uploaded to Let It Die's servers (into what I'm calling the "Death Cloud"). From here, your dead hero is downloaded to other players' Let It Die game, where your character becomes an enemy. Likewise, your own world is populated by the dead characters from other players' worlds. And the little figure of Death riding a skateboard in the Let It Die logo? That's not just for show, says executive director Goichi Suda (best known as Suda51). Death is a character in Let It Die, and he does ride a skateboard, presumably because he's so busy reaping the souls of its poor, poor players.
Suda 51's Let It Die delivers exclusive gore to PS4 [Update: trailer]
During Sony's E3 press conference, infamous developer Suda51 unveiled a short, intensely gory vignette for the PlayStation 4-exclusive Let It Die. Unfortunately, the live-action trailer offered no gameplay information, though the copious arterial spray made it clear that this will not be the sort of game you can enjoy with the whole family. Let It Die will debut exclusively on the PlayStation 4 at some point during 2015.
Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition due for PC on May 23
Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition won't lend PC gamers its dose of quirky Grasshopper Manufacture action until May 23, but fans can check its system requirements right now and plan accordingly. With minimum requirements calling for Windows Vista 64-bit, a 2.0GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, a GPU that can handle Shader Model 3.0 and 13 GB of space, Nightmare Edition shouldn't be too taxing for your gaming rig. Recommended specs jump up a bit, calling for an Intel Core i5-2400 Processor, 8 GB of RAM and a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450. The $20 Nightmare Edition adds a difficulty mode, includes the Smooth Operator DLC and offers a theater to re-view cutscenes. Aside from its uncomfortable Gigolo side missions, we'd recommend giving Killer Is Dead's bizarre brand of combo-driven action a shot. [Image: Deep Silver]
Lollipop Chainsaw cleaves through one million sales worldwide
Lollipop Chainsaw, a game where cheerleader Twilight Sparkle Bubbles Timmy Turner Juliet Starling (or all of the above, since they're all voiced by the same person) slices and dices undead hordes with her trusty chainsaw, has surpassed one million sales worldwide. Developer Grasshopper Manufacture announced the news Friday on Twitter. It's an accomplishment that took more than a year and a half, but developer Suda 51 and his team at Grasshopper Manufacture seem more focused on the positive; they're celebrating with deep discounts on the game's digital version in Japan. Everything's sunshine, lollipops and rainbows here! [Image: WB Interactive]
Killer is Dead suited and booted to slice up PCs in May
Suda 51's Killer is Dead is still alive, after Deep Silver Europe announced last year's stylistic slice-and-dicer is coming to PC in May. The new Nightmare Edition arrives in both retail and downloadable versions, and features a new difficulty mode of the same name. The Nightmare mode only allows kills via three attacks - Adrenaline Burst, Dodge Burst, and headshots - and prohibits the Final Judgment finisher. The Nightmare Edition also includes the Smooth Operator DLC pack, and a Theater mode to revisit cut scenes in. Deep Silver Europe's announcement notes a US price of $20, so although there's no official confirmation yet, it seems the PC port will hit stores statestide. The Euro pricepoints are £20/20 euros, and the release date for the region is May 9. While we weren't bowled over by Killer is Dead, our three-and-a-half-star review said Suda's return to third-person assassinating was also a return to form: "Its combat is neat if still a bit limited, and its dark direction and weird narrative a bit tainted by self-indulgence, but this is still a Grasshopper grindhouse romp worth most of its issues." [Image: Deep Silver]
Sine Mora free for PlayStation Plus members starting tomorrow
The PlayStation Vita version of Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality's horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up Sine Mora will be available as a free download for PlayStation Plus members after the PlayStation Store updates tomorrow. Merging arcade-styled action with a dual sci-fi narrative, Sine Mora features time-limited stages in the place of traditional life-based gameplay mechanics. The game skews toward the "bullet hell" subgenre in later levels, challenging players to counter curtains of enemy fire with carefully chosen ship, character, and ability combinations. Sine Mora was originally released for Xbox Live Arcade in 2012, and is also available for the PlayStation 3, iOS and Android devices, and PC platforms.
Killer Is Dead review: Drunk on the moon
I invariably recommend games made by Grasshopper Manufacture to friends, not necessarily because I enjoyed them, but because Goichi Suda's studio produces games that have to be tried. Grasshopper's approach to design can be nonchalant bordering on reckless, and leaves me as secure of their games' quality as I am watching a drunk at a dartboard. Much like someone's who had too many, their games can be hilarious, frivolous, profound, outrageous, offensive, and at their worst downright loathsome, but when it comes down to it I want to be there when they're around - even if it means taking a dart to the eye. For better or worse, Killer Is Dead is certainly a Grasshopper game, and for the most part it's closer to bullseye than head wound, although it's an absolute shame its one real gash is so very profuse. But then, the good thing about recommending games to friends is that you can tell them which bits to avoid.
Sina Mora gets one mora port on iOS
Digital Reality and Grasshopper Manufacture's picturesque steampunk shmup, Sine Mora, has landed on iOS. Sine Mora is currently available as a $5.99 universal download and requires iOS 6.0 and above. It is not yet optimized for 4th generation iPhone and iPod Touch devices, according to the product page. iTunes reviews suggest a Facebook login is required for both saving the game and accessing the leaderboards, and that the game does not run in full-screen on iPad. We've inquired with Digital Reality to confirm the details and will update accordingly. Sine Mora is currently available on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and PC. Our review said the game's time-control mechanic "gives less dedicated players a chance to enjoy one of the industry's more vibrant genres while simultaneously giving hardcore players a new spin on an age-old formula."
Killer is Dead hits US retail August 27
Killer is Dead, the latest mind-bending action game from Killer7 director Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture, will hit store shelves in North America on August 27 with a bevy of bonus goodies in tow. Publisher Xseed Games notes that all launch copies of Killer is Dead will include an 80-page hardcover art book, a soundtrack disc featuring 25 tracks by Silent Hill series composer Akira Yamaoka, and a download code for the "Smooth Operator" DLC pack, which adds extra in-game missions and other bonus content. Deep Silver will publish an identical deluxe version of Killer is Dead in Europe on August 30.
Killer is Dead puts on its gigolo glasses in Europe August 30
Killer is Dead, Suda 51's next over-the-top action opus, has been pegged for an August 30 launch in Europe by publisher Deep Silver. We've contacted North American publisher XSEED for a launch date in the US. The European date was included in a press release announcing a Fan Edition of Killer is Dead for £54.99, which comes in special packaging with an artbook, Akira Yamaoka's soundtrack and the Smooth Operator DLC pack including an additional mission and a special pair of x-ray glasses for Killer is Dead's "gigolo missions." The Smooth Operator DLC pack will also be included in all standard launch day copies in Europe. The story of Killer is Dead revolves around Mondo Zappa, an executioner for an assassination firm charged with killing bad people the world over. Zappa swings a sword with his right arm while his left, a full cybernetic replacement, can form various other weapons such as a drill or gun.
Suda 51 and Grasshopper are using Unreal Engine 4 'heavily'
No More Heroes and Killer is Dead dev Grasshopper Manufacture is "heavily relying" on Unreal Engine 4, with next-gen games in mind. Speaking to Joystiq at E3, Grasshopper CEO Goichi Suda, most commonly known as Suda 51, confirmed his studio's use of Epic's next-gen engine when asked about his thoughts on the PS4 and Xbox One. "As a developer, we're heavily relying right now on Unreal Engine 4," Suda told us. "That works really well with both systems – or in the sense that we could go either way." Grasshopper recently revealed it has a stylistic action game in development that isn't Killer is Dead - and it isn't No More Heroes 3 either. As Suda told Siliconera back in April, it's a new game coming to one or more consoles. He also teased to Siliconera the game was either running on Unreal Engine 3 or Unreal Engine 4, adding that if he said which one then "you would know about the platforms." Suda told Joystiq we can expect Unreal Engine 4 in Grasshopper games "if it's a big title, or if it's suited to that title," all of which suggests a next-gen landing for said secretive game. As for the future possibility of No More Heroes 3, Suda told us, "Travis [Touchdown] is one of the characters I'm really fond of, that means a lot to me. So if there was the opportunity to create another sequel then yeah, I'm always up to the idea."
New Killer is Dead trailer is killer
You could try to make sense of the latest Killer is Dead trailer, but we wouldn't recommend it.%Gallery-191270%
Killer is Dead and depicted in new screens
Executioner and Killer is Dead protagonist Mondo Zapper has new stuff to stab in another stylish batch of screens, freshly taken from the upcoming Suda 51 action game.
Killer is Dead trailer features Mondo's girls, EU pinned for August
If you hadn't gathered yet, from it being a Suda game and including "gigolo missions," the upcoming Killer is Dead features scantily-clad ladies, as does this possibly NSFW video. While the North American release window is still "Summer 2013," Europe and Japan received upgrades to August.
Level-5 and Grasshopper's 'Liberation Maiden' becomes an adventure game
Grasshopper Manufacture and Japanese game publisher 5pb are adapting Liberation Maiden, the 3DS/iOS game in which the teenage president of Japan shoots down enemy structures from her flying mech, into a visual novel for PS3.Liberation Maiden SIN stars Kaido Kiyoto, chief of staff to president Shoko Ozora, and also, naturally, a mind reader. He works with the president and her cabinet of young women, because this is a visual novel and what would it even be about if not choosing who to date?This game involves a large portion of the Japanese game industry in some nominal way. 5pb is publishing a game based on a universe originally published by Level-5; Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture designed the original game, and Suda is writing scenarios for this one; Grasshopper is now part of Gungho Online Entertainment, which is itself now part of telecom company Softbank.
Killer is Dead screens showcase combat, gigolo missions
Grasshopper Manufacture games often feature mature content, and Killer is Dead is no exception. These screens feature its 'gigolo missions,' where you travel the world to meet "exotic women" - publisher XSEED's words - as well as some of the crazy-looking combat. %Gallery-185801%
Killer Is Dead's second trailer is no less crazy than the first
The second trailer for Suda51's Killer is Dead includes earth-stealing, giant aliens, and a woman with 16 arms all holding guns, all to the wholly apt backdrop of Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries."Killer is Dead is coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 in North America and Europe this summer.
Grasshopper already working on another action game
Grasshopper Manufacture's latest assassin action game, Killer is Dead, is still in progress, but Suda 51 and co. are already thinking about the next stylized sword game.Suda shared the above concept art by No More Heroes (and Fire Emblem: Awakening) character designer Yusuke Kozaki, for Grasshopper's first game to be conceived and developed as part of Gungho Entertainment (and now part of Softbank!)"There is a base for our specialty, the slash action games we've made so far," Suda told Famitsu (translated by Gematsu). But with Gungho's power, we want to put in our knowhow in ways we haven't done before. We are also considering developing for not just offline devices, but online devices too."
