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GameQuest Direct offers sales on No More Heroes and Scarface
Those of you who visit this site often probably know that we're big fans of No More Heroes. If you haven't made the plunge to purchase the game yet, though, this might be a good week to do so.From what we've heard, the game is selling pretty well, so it may be a while before it comes down in price. Luckily, GameQuest Direct is selling the title for $8 less than the $50 retail cost, meaning that it will only set you back $41.99. Sweetening the deal is a free shipping promotion through CAG. Once you add the game to your cart, just make sure to type the promotion code CAG1SHIP in the box at the bottom left corner.If you're craving a mature Wii game but No More Heroes is still too expensive for your taste, you can also get Scarface for $24.99. The free shipping promotion applies to this title, too, so make sure to use it if you decide to buy the game.Caveat: These sales end on March 18th, so if you're considering these purchases, make sure not to wait too long.[Via CAG]Read - No More Heroes at GameQuest DirectRead - Scarface at GameQuest Direct
Suda51 talks Xbox 360, American market
An Edge interview with Grasshopper CEO Goichi Suda has recently been reprinted by NextGen, and features a few insights into Suda51's development of No More Heroes, as well as the punk-rock designer's future plans.Regarding the Wii, Suda51 felt that No More Heroes was a unique opportunity to appeal to the wide user base for the console, and set out to make the title appeal to both hardcore gamers, and those that might be experiencing their first action game.Beyond No More Heroes, Suda51 expresses interest in developing for the Xbox 360, citing the console's tremendous performance in the States. According to Suda, America is the "Major League" of game development, and it's a market he'd most definitely like to conquer. We'll just have to wait and see what his crazy brain cooks up next.
Suda says U.S. version of No More Heroes is closest to his vision
During a rather extensive interview with Goichi Suda, the man behind No More Heroes and Killer 7 (GameCube), it's revealed that the Grasshopper Manufature CEO has found his experience of working with the Wii a very enjoyable one. And, in regards to the whole bloodless/bloody No More Heroes fiasco, Suda is of the mind that the U.S. version (see: the one with the buckets of blood in it) is definitely closest to his final vision of the game.Nintendo was totally cool with the blood from the get-go, as well. Suda says the U.S. version was the closest to his initial vision for the game, and that the "issue of having blood spilt is an interesting one. Today's technology makes a very realistic visual experience possible, so does that mean blood has to be sprayed all around? I'm not sure." Well, we're glad the blood was added, as looking at the comparison videos shows the blood adds a lot more to the game. %Gallery-4611%[Via Go Nintendo]
Wii Warm Up: Travis wears his sunglasses at night
It's no secret that we've had No More Heroes on the brain since the game's release a few short weeks back. We're doing our best to climb the UAA ranks, but that doesn't mean we don't have time to stop and smell the roses. Some of our time has been spent dumpster-diving for t-shirts and checking out the Area 51 for new apparel. Do you spend any time messing with Travis' looks, or is it all about the Beam Katana upgrades and UAA ladder-climbing for you?And yes, that is our Travis above. Show us yours!%Gallery-4611%
No More Heroes video compares bloody and blood-less versions
We know already that the European and Japanese versions of Suda51's No More Heroes are a tad less bloody than their American counterpart. But exactly how much blood are they missing out on?As the above comparison video shows, there's certainly a lot of blood in the American version that's absent from the others, but whether you'll actually miss it depends on your preference for riotously excess gore. We already know that Suda51 believed the American version simply needed more blood than the others; whether the game is actually better with fountains of ruby will ultimately depend on personal taste (or, apparently, your country of residence). [Via Wii Fanboy]
Comparing the censored and uncensored versions of No More Heroes
Spoiler alert: This is the first boss fight in the game.If there's one thing we can't get enough of right now, it's No More Heroes. Suda's masterpiece (yeah, we went there) came in to our video game collection and proceeded to decapitate every single other game in its pursuit to be the top title of our library. We're so smitten, we've cuddled with the game's case every night in bed, clenching it tight against our chest like our teddy bears of old. But enough about our rampant love of the game. One of the biggest concerns for Europeans is how the censored version would stack up the bloody affair that is the U.S. release. One gamer was kind enough to do just that, taking video of each death scene in the game from both censored and uncensored version of the game. So, if you're beaten the game or just don't care about spoilers, hit up the link below. For the rest of you, go play No More Heroes already!%Gallery-4611%
No More Heroes first planned for 360, says Suda51
No More High-Definition Heroes was almost a reality, had Grasshopper Manufacture's Goichi Suda not been privy to some Wii whisperings during his project's planning stages. "Originally, I'd wanted to make this game for Xbox 360, actually," he told MCV. The No More Heroes designer, also known as "Suda51," explained that he was swayed by Marvelous Interactive president Yashiro Wada, who shared "information about the new Wii and how the new controller would work before it came out." Suda51 admitted to being pleased with his choice, feeling that the distinctive wack 'n slash worked well with the Wii's control system. We're inclined to agree ... but then we wonder if anybody's ever expressed concern over the Xbox 360's "hardcore" audience.
Wii Fanswag: No More Heroes
Santa Destroy is a rough place, unless you've got the moves to make it to the top of the assassin's ranking list. And we want you to give the game's protagonist, Travis Touchdown, a helping hand. So we're going to hand you a copy of No More Heroes for the Wii. How does one enter for such a prize? Well, each day, from now until Wednesday, January 30th at 11:59pm EST, you can leave a comment telling us who your favorite hero is. It can be a superhero or just your dad. We want to know who it is! But, you can only leave one comment per day, so any more than that and you'll get disqualified. Again, the contest is open from today, January 25th until Wednesday, January 30th at 11:59pm EST. Also, you must be 18 years of age or older and a current resident of the United States. And, be sure to give the official rules a read.Good luck!%Gallery-4611%
Suda 51 clarifies Wii remarks on third-party sales
No More Heroes creator Suda 51 wants to clarify a few comments. In a post on Grasshopper Manufacturer's website (click on "What's New"), the developer points out what he considers is a "misquote" in an interview with CVG. In response to a question concerning the sales of No More Heroes in Japan, Suda 51 said, "Whilst the sales weren't as high as I hoped, other titles for Wii aren't selling so well either. Only Nintendo titles are doing well," adding that this is the case outside of Japan, too.The clarification posted asserts that "unlike a lot of Nintendo Wii titles currently available, [NMH] is the kind of product which will attract a different kind of consumer to the hardware, i.e. gamers who are looking for a different genre to the products which have been successful on this platform thus far." That "different kind of consumer" we're guessing is a more hardcore gamer, given comments earlier in the CVG interview where he said, "I wasn't expecting that Wii would be a console targeted only at non-gamers. I expected more games for hardcore gamers." Obviously, he doesn't want to comment on the sales of other third-party titles, but do you think he might have a point?For those looking for a reportedly more hardcore Wii experience, No More Heroes comes out today in North America.
Suda 51 wants more No More Heroes
No More Heroes isn't even out on shelves yet outside of Japan, most of the reviews haven't even been published, and already director Goichi Suda wants a sequel. The punk-rock Killer 7 creator is already itching to create the next in this bizarre Wii-sclusive action series, despite publisher Ubisoft not yet soliciting for the sequel-itis treatment.Talking with GameSpot, Suda says he's "really willing" to make a second No More Heroes, and is already asking about moving forward with it as a future project. Suda describes No More Heroes as being unlike any other action game for the Wii, likening it to alternative rock band Arctic Monkeys in terms of its energy (uh, whatever you say, Suda).Suda 51 is currently working on American localizations of two Grasshopper-developed DS games -- Flower, Sun and Rain and Silver Case -- and is also working on an undisclosed Xbox 360 title for Konami. No More Heroes drops on January 22 in the US, and February 29 in the UK. We'll see then if it's sequel-worthy.
Wii releases for the week of January 14th
Gamers anxious for something new to play this week have a few titles to choose from. But, like us, we assume most of you are doing what we are: ignoring this week for the excellence that will arrive next week. Be patient, young grasshopper. Our time is almost upon us.In the meantime, however, there are some new titles to choose from this week: Nitrobike Furu Furu Park Kidz Sports: Ice Hockey Samurai Warriors: Katana CSI Hard Evidence Planning on picking up anything new? Or, are you just waiting for No More Heroes like us?
GT previews No More Heroes, we need some time to recover
There is just too much awesome in this video preview for No More Heroes. Immediately after watching it, we had to turn off all of the lights, shut all of the curtains tight and lay down on our floor in the dark, going back over all of the greatness in our minds. Then, we got up and watched the trailer again. Then, we got back down on the floor and started crying. We need this game so freakin' bad, you have no clue. We'd take time to say what is in the video right around here (the body of the post), but then there might be a chance you wouldn't watch it. And that, we can't abide by. So watch it already!
Suda 51 approved Europe's bloodless No More Heroes
Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi "Suda 51" Suda has made himself a target for fans angered by a recent display of perceived censorship in the European version of upcoming sword swinger, No More Heroes. Much like its Japanese counterpart, No More Euros has been scrubbed clean of blood, rewarding each violent slash with a spectacular gush of coins. In that sense, it couldn't be a more accurate metaphorical representation of the hitman motif that carries over from Suda 51's Killer 7.Regardless, a statement issued by Goichi Suda and Marvelous president Yashiro Wada hopes to divert the outrage away from publisher Rising Star games, noting that the decision was made "to release in Europe the same version as has shipped in Japan considering the broadly growing Wii market." Apparently, said broadly growing Wii market is entirely separate from that in America, where it's perfectly alright to add blood to the localized No More Heroes. A pretty weak justification then, likely conjured up to avoid a possible BBFC ban-trum.
No More Heroes too tough? [update 1]
Famitsu recently reviewed Suda 51's No More Heroes and we're glad to say the game received some good marks. But, even though the game was received well by the Famitsu folk, they still found one problem with it: it might be a tad bit too hard. See, the game is supposedly too tough for the Wii's casual audience. So, it's not so easy to pick up and play like, say, Super Mario Galaxy is. At least, that's what Famitsu thinks.We would like to know exactly what Famitsu found to be too difficult about it, whether it was the difficulty of performing Travis's maneuvers or it was simply just the mission structure. Heck, it could've been a combination of any number of things. But, regardless, we can't wait until February, when we will find out for ourselves.[Update: We don't know the actual text of Famitsu's review, but we do know that the translated review summary was a joke on the part of NeoGAFfer "Dascu." We do know that the game received scores of 9, 8, 8, 9.]%Gallery-4611%[Via Go Nintendo]
Travis Touchdown has a comfortable home life
Suda 51 is really driving home the message that No More Heroes' Travis Touchdown is, well, not a hero. Famitsu has some screenshots of the home of Santa Destroy's newest hitman, a room in the austere No More Heroes Motel. And, as if the beam katana purchased at auction, and the numerous references to pro wrestling and anime fandom we've already heard, weren't enough, Travis's room gets the point across: our protagonist is an otaku. A nerd.Travis is the kind of guy who lives in a cheap apartment (actually a motel room) filled with anime figurines and electronics. Dude's got some kind of big robot model. A Nintendo 64 is clearly visible on one of his shelves. He's also irresponsible enough to go put himself in danger when he's got a kitten at home to take care of. We can't condone that kind of behavior. Well, we can in a video game, but none of you should go join a hitman circuit unless you've got someone willing to watch your cat.
Is it worth watching X-Play to see some No More Heroes footage?
We say it is! No More Heroes is the pinnacle of Wii awesomeness. Unfortunately the G4 website is the nadir of annoying Flash navigation. You have to click "Videos," then the X-Play icon, then the No More Heroes link. But once you've jumped through all those hoops-- beautiful gameplay footage. And English voice acting!No More Heroes looks as stylish and cool in motion as it does in stills. Sword combat looks great, with insane duels ending in explosions of blood. It looks like a real action game-- much more so than Killer 7. The motion-controlled Beam Katana charging is, well, inspired. The wrestling moves appear numerous. And then, as if merely to fill space, there's a surprise Suda 51 interview.No, there's no explanation of the tiger graphic. Yes, we're a little disappointed too.[Via NeoGAF]
No More Heroes character bios
The official No More Heroes page has updated with three brief character bios. We immediately put on our Secret No More Heroes Fan Club Decoder Rings and set to the task of figuring out the mysterious secret code in which they were written.Travis Touchdown is #11 in the assassin ranking. He loves pro wrestling, competitive fighting, and a "Japanimation" (their word) called "Bizarre Jerry." Sylvia Christel is an agent of the assassins' group. A mysterious, cool woman, she organizes the ranking competition herself (we think.) Holly Summers is ranked #6. She is a model who also works as an assassin.None of this is entirely new, but it does have the benefit of being about No More Heroes. And it's another excuse to go look at the character art.
Smash Bros. website finally updates
After a day of wearing out our F5 key, the Super Smash Bros. Brawl webpage has finally made its promised update. Unfortunately, we have yet to find any huge megaton announcements. In fact, some of the content is a little too non-megaton-- like an explanation of the (unchanged) basic rules of Smash Bros.There is neat stuff to be found, though, most obviously in the form of a few screenshots that, while they still don't show any new or new-to-Brawl characters, do show off a day/night cycle. Also, the list of composers contributing to the game is massive-- a total who's-who of Japanese game music. Some of the composers, we're sure, are only credited for having created the music from Smash characters' original games. But Jun Fukuda and Masafumi Takada from Grasshopper Manufacture are on the list, and that is really exciting.The website promises updates every weekday, so don't let the somewhat underwhelming first day put you off. Keep checking the site for the inevitable character announcements and control scheme explanations!%Gallery-3347%[Thanks, Tigeron Starfire!]
Wii Warm Up: Suda 51
He's got a weird name, he makes weird, violent games, and he's got really, really cool friends. He's also writing the Snatcher radio drama, which makes him our best friend. Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51 applies a punk-rock philosophy to game design, and the results are always interesting.He seems to have made the Wii his home console for the time being. Do you welcome his contributions? Are you looking forward to No More Heroes as much as we are? The kind of stuff he likes to make is pretty far outside the usual Wii fare, but we feel that the Wii all about shaking up the norm. Is there merit to his disruptive game design ideals, or are they just disruptive for disruption's sake? If you're a Suda fan now, would you still be if he didn't have the glow of Wii association? Can we put some more question marks in here?
DS Fanboy Favorites: Eric's top five
All this week, the DS Fanboy staff is letting you in on a few of their favorite titles. Each day, a different member of the staff will present their personal top five DS games along with a snapshot of their gaming paraphernalia and habits, in an effort to provide our readers with a little more information on the tastes and personalities of our writers. When my afternoons aren't busied by hours of photoshopping cat heads onto pictures of my friends, I pass the time with puzzlers and plumbers on my DS Lite. But those kitten-free days are few and far between, so I end up being able to only fit either the most polished or the most eccentric games into my packed schedule. Wario: Master of Disguise? Sorry, I've got things to do and feline faces to retouch. Lost in Blue 2? I'll have to pass -- I'm already lost in trying to get these whiskers to look perfect. My collection is a mishmash of AAA titles and niche releases, their cases piled atop one another like a Jenga stack of mismatched blocks, threatening to topple over at any moment. Just pulling a game from the middle of the shaky structure is an act preceded by hours of anxiety and self-doubt. Having my wife provide commentary during the ordeal, remarking "Oh god, it's going to crash this time for sure, I just know it. Why'd you even try, Eric?! Game over, man! Game over!" as I tug out my copy of Advance Wars DS doesn't make the challenge any easier. So when I do manage to put aside the pussycat photos and secure a game to play, it better damn well be worth it. Journey forth and read which of those titles have captured a place not only on my top five list, but in my heart.
