Suda 51
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'No More Heroes 3' heads to PlayStation, Xbox and PC this fall
After debuting exclusively on Nintendo Switch last year, No More Heroes 3 is coming to PC and home consoles.
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]
Suda 51 teaming up with Tokyo Jungle devs on new PS3 game
In quite possibly video game's weirdest collaboration, Tokyo Jungle developer Crispy's is teaming up on a new game with Grasshopper Manufacture's resident oddball, Goichi "Suda51" Suda. The game is called Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day, a playable interactive chapter part of Short Peace – an upcoming anime short-film compilation from Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo. Titular heroine Ranko Tsukigime attends school by day, but at night goes on assassination missions. Thankfully we graduated before murder became a mandatory part of the curriculum. Crispy's will handle development duties on Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day while Suda51 will assume the role of director. Namco Bandai has announced it will publish Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day on PS3 this spring.
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."
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."
Suda 51 'horny' for PS4 possibilities
Suda 51's most recent Famitsu column was written shortly after the Killer is Dead producer watched the PlayStation 4 reveal event, revealing the fresh excitement he still felt about the news."I think that in the future, cloud delivery will become totally commonplace," Suda said, translated by Edge. "Social networking has certainly done that. To be able to play anywhere, on any device, with shared data – this will be an alluring new feature for games." Cloud saving as a standard is also "an evolution in itself," he said."Thinking about the future of this stuff and then constructing and outputting something appealing is our job as game designers, and from that challenge we can take new strength," Suda said. And then, because he's Suda and edginess is part of his personal brand, he added "And that makes me horny." Grasshopper Manufacture, and parent company Gungho Online Entertainment, have signed on to make games for PS4.That attitude – the enthusiasm, not specifically the arousal – suggests that Sony's dev-focused approach to designing the PS4 is paying off.
Killer is Dead launches worldwide this summer
Suda 51's Killer is Dead is confirmed for a worldwide launch on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in summer 2013. XSEED is releasing the Grasshopper Manufacture game in North America, while Deep Silver is bringing it to Europe and Oceania.True to the developer's form, Killer is Dead stars an assassin taking out criminals in the near future. The hero, Mondo Zappa, brandishes a sword with his right hand and everything from guns to drills with his other, artificial arm.Today's announcement comes hot on the trail of Grasshopper Manufacture's acquirement by Japanese MMO makers GungHo Online Entertainment. GungHo does have an American publishing branch, but this Grasshopper game won't be the first to take advantage of it.Update: Killer is Dead will feature both Japanese and English audio on the disc.%Gallery-177734%
Grasshopper Manufacture acquired by GungHo
Suda 51's studio Grasshopper Manufacture has been acquired by Gungho Online Entertainment, known for its longstanding MMO Ragnarok Online. Rather than be renamed or realigned within the company, Grasshopper will continue to operate as Grasshopper Manufacture, much like Gungho's other acquired studios Game Arts, Gravity, and (ironically) Acquire, but will now have its games published by Gungho."We believe the strength of a publisher lies in its creative talent so with the addition of Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda 51 we are adding some of the most innovative talent in today's gaming world to our stellar family of independently-operated studios," said Kazuki Morishita, Gungho CEO (pictured, above, with Suda. "Suda 51 projects are known to put a unique spin on every game so coupled with our proven ability to support development with AAA resources including a tailored online experience, we believe gamers will benefit from this collaboration."The good news there: Gungho has an American publishing operation, which recently released Dokuro, Puzzle & Dragons, and a selection of PSOne Imports, meaning Grasshopper games now have a built-in Western publisher.
Killer is Dead shows off sick moves, characters in first screenshots
Killer is Dead, the next game from Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture, is alive, and this set of screenshots provided by Famitsu proves it. Yesterday we learned the juicy bits of Killer is Dead's story, which stars a mercenary named Mondo Zappa as he travels the world killing bad people.Combat in Killer is Dead is sword-based and close-range, though Zappa has an arm that can transform into a drill, a gun and other items. As seen in the shot above, Zappa's attacks get pretty bloody, especially when he uses one of his more powerful moves, Adrenaline Burst. Check out Famitsu's screenshots right here.
Killer is Dead stars an assassin with a drill, gun for a hand
Grasshopper Manufacture's Killer is Dead stars – you guessed it – an assassin in an imperfect future, a spread in Famitsu reveals, as translated by Gematsu. The protagonist, Mondo Zappa, is hired by the Execution Office, led by Chief Brian Roses, to kill murderers around the world, some of which are trying to regain their talents and others that wish for death. And, somehow, the moon is involved.The combat is close-range, mainly using swords, though Zappa is a bit of a transhumanist and his left arm can transform into a drill, gun and other items. Previous teasers compare the swordplay to No More Heroes, another game from director Goichi Suda. Zappa absorbs enemy blood to use the Adrenaline Burst attack, a powerful move that causes large amounts of blood to gush when foes are decapitated.Zappa's favorite food is a half-boiled egg, he's 35 years old and he is quite a lady-killer (possibly literally). He's joined by co-workers Vivian Squall and Mika Takekawa, and an enemy by the name of Victor. Killer is Dead is scheduled to launch on Xbox 360 and PS3 this summer.
Black Knight Sword review: All flash, no flesh
While fairy tales have evolved over centuries into the family friendly Disney/Dreamworks films our nieces are all so fond of, they originally began life as terrifying stories of murder and misfortune designed to keep children in line, lest they find themselves in the oven of an evil witch.In that sense, Grasshopper Manufacture's Black Knight Sword takes an old school approach to the world of storybook fantasy, leaving warm fuzzies in a locked box beneath the stairs. Its dark tales of captured princesses, feuding sisters and the eternally damned are permeated by a sense of macabre wonderment that would make Guillermo del Toro proud.Unfortunately, the game is also analogous to fables of olde in a different, more tragic sense: It serves as a perfect cautionary tale for other developers, lest their own games buckle under the weight of their own sense of style.%Gallery-173410%
Portabliss: Liberation Maiden (3DS)
This is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go. The adage "leave them wanting more" immediately came to mind upon completing Liberation Maiden, a feat which took a little under two hours to accomplish. Level 5 and Grasshopper Manufacture's 3DS eShop shooter is engaging enough to whet the palate, but the ideas presented by its design don't feel like they have enough time to mature.It's almost like the development team started out with the design document for an entire, full-length shooter, and then decided to only made the first five levels. Thankfully, those five levels are exciting, twitchy arcade fun with Level 5's trademark of polish and Suda 51's sense of style.%Gallery-167532%
Liberation Maiden liberates North American 3DSes Oct. 25
Suda 51 and Level 5's 3DS anime shooter Liberation Maiden will make its stateside debut on the North American 3DS eShop on Thursday, October 25, according to the eShop's news ticker. Previously, Liberation Maiden was featured in a Japan-exclusive 3DS multi-cart called Guild01. The other two titles in the set are set to release on the eShop later this year.Liberation Maiden puts players in the shoes of Shoko Ōzora, a young high-school student who also happens to be the President of Japan, on account of the unfortunate assassination of her father. An invading force is attempting to steal all of Japan's energy resources, so obviously the best solution is to have Shoko pilot the "Kaihoki" mech herself into battle.Animated cutscenes in the shooter come courtesy of Studio Bones, whose previous work includes the anime Wolf's Rain, Full Metal Alchemist and Soul Eater.%Gallery-167532%
No More Heroes: World Ranker arrives on Android in Japan
No More Heroes: World Ranker was released on Android in Japan today, and is due on iOS soon. World Ranker, which Grasshopper CEO Suda 51 introduced last year as "the social game with the most blood," features touchscreen controls and multiplayer options.Aside from that, World Ranker apparently doesn't veer far from the original game's blueprints. You play an assassin, you kill other assassins, you climb the assassin ranks - you know the drill. The promotional artwork above suggests the game sees some of No More Heroes' bosses reappear.When Suda 51 announced World Ranker, he made clear he wanted it to be successful enough in Japan to warrant a worldwide release. Whether or not we'll see the game on Western smartphones likely depends on its performance during the next few months.Check after the break for some screenshots.
Lollipop Chainsaw ships 700,000, Grasshopper's highest numbers to date
Lollipop Chainsaw shipped over 700,000 units worldwide, making it the most shipped game in Grasshopper Manafacture's history. Grasshopper CEO Suda 51 and Japanese publisher Kadokawa Games proudly announced the figure at the game's 'Summer Appreciation Event' in Tokyo. The news comes a year after Shadows of the Damned only sold 24,000 units in its first week at US retail, so success for Grasshopper's major release of 2012 must come as welcome relief.Suda 51 also used the event to show off a new trailer for Killer is Dead, the studio's latest work in progress, which apparently will star a katana-wielding cyborg. That's something to look forward to when the game comes out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next year.
Lollipop Chainsaw heads to US on June 12
At the Lollipop Chainsaw event this evening it was announced the game will cut into North American retail on June 12. We're sure to have more details from the event as the night goes on.%Gallery-149593%
Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Shadows of the Damned
This sojourn in hell inspires the most intense evangelism, and that makes me think nobody in EA's marketing department bothered to play Shadows of the Damned. Even those who acted as envoys for the game's off-kilter charms, those people who were unpaid but still rewarded, might have gotten stuck on the easy marquee description: "It's the unfathomable oddness of Suda 51, paired with Shinji Mikami sensibility and an Akira Yamaoka soundtrack!" The summation is accurate (if a bit unfair to the major input from design lead Massimo Guarini, who left Grasshopper Manufacture in 2011), but hardly a detailed message for those unfamiliar with star Japanese designers. At least Shadows of the Damned had no troubles conveying its obvious qualities: a surprising and properly grotesque vision of post-life limbo, a protagonist passionate to a fault and a hilarious skull-on-a-stick to guide him.
