No More Heroes
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Suda and team recount making of No More Heroes
Toilets seem to go hand-in-hand with Goichi Suda and No More Heroes. Around the time of the game's release, Suda mischievously compared making the game to defecating, and he's now revealed that he was inspired to make No More Heroes while perched on the porcelain throne. This in turn led to the title's quirky save mechanic, as seen above.These are just two nuggets from a "Making of No More Heroes" piece at the Official Nintendo Magazine site. Suda also mentions how Johnny Knoxville influenced the character of Travis Touchdown, while artist Katsuyoshi Fukamachi and assistant director Toshihiro Fujikawa reflect on the myriad challenges they faced during No More Heroes' eight-month development cycle, including the chaotic final weeks, which both describe as a "total nightmare." It's definitely worth a read, partly because Suda is one of the industry's most entertaining and frank interviewees, but also because he's talking about one of the best Wii games of the last twelve months.%Gallery-4611%
EA publishing action horror 'franchise' from Suda51 and RE creator Shinji Mikami
And here we thought the only talk of "Dream Team" was going to involve the Olympics! But no, an incredible wealth of talent in the gaming industry is coming together to produce something we hope is very special. With a mixture of talent like this, we wonder how it couldn't be!So, facts: EA and No More Heroes (otherwise known as the best game on Wii) developer, Grasshopper Manufacture, have signed a publishing agreement regarding an "all-new action horror game." On top of that, the title in question is being produced by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. Oh, and Q Entertainment is also involved. It's okay, we just wet our pants a little too.Sadly, that's as much as we know. The source link is full of the kind of carefree lauding that most press releases have, so we're just going to have to wait for more info on this project before we get so excited that we start typing in italics.[Via Joystiq]
EA publishing new action horror 'franchise' from Suda51, Shinji Mikami
EA has just announced a publishing agreement with eccentric No More Heroes developer, Grasshopper Manufacture. The deal concerns an "all-new action horror game" produced by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and directed by the master of self-referential weirdness, Goichi "Suda51" Suda. The mysterious title, which also boasts the involvement of Q Entertainment, is slated for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and Wii. Goichi Suda has nothing but good things to say about EA Partners in the press release, praising the group for sharing Grasshopper's "commitment to quality and innovation," all the while respecting its "independence as a studio, which is very empowering." EA Games' Frank Gibeau is equally polite, saying, "It is an honor for EA to sign Grasshopper Manufacture and help bring their new franchise to gamers worldwide. Franchise, you say? Of course, neither of them say anything about the actual game. Way to leave us hanging, guys!
Jamming to Wario Land: Shake It!
Click for image that isn't cropped If you're the type of person who is big into the music in games, then we've got a post for you. Combine the visual excellence and tight controls (which don't overuse motion control, by the way) with this audio assault and we're sure Wario Land: Shake It! is going to be the Wii title to top this year. Well, actually, the bar was set way back in January, by a little-known game called No More Heroes. We're sure Wario will give Travis a run for his money, though.Head past the break for the video.%Gallery-26293%
More Heroes -- for cell phones
Marvelous has announced three (three!) new No More Heroes games for Japan. Even though they aren't for Wii, or DS, or really any game system, they still look pretty great. The three mobile "No More Heroes Flash Games" include Travis, in which an adorably chibi Travis fights UAA assassins and thugs who approach him; Schpel Tiger, an isometric driving game using Travis's giant motorcycle, and Glastonberry, a shooting game starring a giant robot from the fake anime Travis enjoys. Each of these games will be distributed over cell phone networks for 100 "points," which we assume is equivalent to 100 yen each. They look simple, but we'd certainly enjoy paying small amounts of money for them.%Gallery-27106%
X-Play says No More Heroes is a game for cheap bastards
We say it's a game for people who enjoy awesome games. But, hey, we're just some internet blog. Although, when you think about it, being on a TV network that nobody watches might be better than being an internet blog that nobody reads. But, we digress. Any favorable exposure for No More Heroes is certainly welcome, because we're absolutely sure that every person that owns a Wii console also needs to own this game. In fact, we still have nightmares about how mixed the game sales were.Head past the break for the video.%Gallery-4611%
Dr. Peace releases his debut single
He may be ranked 9th in the UAA assassins' competition, but Dr. Peace is the first of the No More Heroes cast to release his own single. An 8cm (3") mini-CD single of "The Virgin Child Makes her wish without feeling anything" will be available from Grasshopper Manufacture's website on June 25.The disc will contain four versions of Dr. Peace's signature tune: the "normal" version, sax and trumpet versions, and a (presumably) instrumental karaoke version. We'd gladly pay 1,000 yen ($9.50) for such an item if we could, but, like everything else in the GHM store, it only ships to Japan. It makes us want to listen to some sad music, but ... yeah.
Ubisoft loves getting exclusive with the Wii
In an interview with Ubisoft UK's Managing Director, Rob Cooper, GamesIndustry unveiled some insight regarding Ubisoft's policy on Wii-exclusive titles. Many gamers have complained about the piles of shovelware and lousy ports while Wii Play and other mini-game compilations continue to dominate sales charts worldwide.His line of thinking makes sense. While it may be easy to port the latest rubbish from other consoles, Wii gamers are clearly buying original titles by the bucketload. Cooper explains that exclusive titles for the Wii will always get that extra bit of attention, and since gamers are already rocking out with casual party games, they will be looking for bigger games you can't find anywhere else. Okay, Ubisoft still likes to throw a few random games out there, but based on Cooper's interview, from a business perspective they know what will end up being the most popular.Need some examples? The Raving Rabbids series, No More Heroes and yes, even Red Steel are some of the successful names in Ubisoft's portfolio. As gamers, we already know the Wii is something different entirely, and it's good to see some positive reinforcement from the powerful players in the industry. For further Ubisoft shenanigans, check out the full interview.
Wii Warm Up: Cosplaying agenda
Click for more on this awesome beam katana We had cosplaying on the brain recently, and we figured we'd divert from the usual gaming-oriented morning topic to ask if you're a fan of the practice or one that participates in it? Enjoy it? Have any pictures (unless you're this person, in which case we ask you keep them to yourself) you want to share? Tried it once and didn't care for it? Of the mind these people are loons? Tell us what you think!
Send in the cosplayers
Cosplayers are perpetual purveyors of entertainment. Die-hard fans never miss a chance to dress up, while some fans would rather die. Some do it so well that everyone becomes a fan, if only for a moment. Anyone grossly offended by the glory of cosplay should look away now (we're kidding, keep reading), as we present the new Guiness World Record for "Most Video Game Costumes in One Place."It is estimated over 600 fans showed up to A-Kon 2008 dressed in video game attire, easily besting the previous "record" of 80 Marios. Characters from all walks of Nintendo life were found at A-Kon, and we've gathered a few of the best to check out after the break. Cosplay done right looks rad.
Wii Warm Up: Forming a dynamic duo
We were just wondering to ourselves this morning about the team-up title Sonic & Mario at the Olympics and how such a combination of mascots has been a huge financial success. It caused us to wonder what other kind of team-up could be not only a commercial success, but also a game we actually want to play.And, like responsible bloggers, we decided that we couldn't think of anything good and instead would pass the buck onto you. So, what do you all think? Can you come up with some titles? How about a Duck Hunt clone where Mega Man and Samus compete to see who can shoot the most clay Metroids? Or, what about having Dante from Devil May Cry in a No More Heroes sequel?Of course, that last one is just a selfish suggestion from us.
Wii Fanboy hands-on: Nyko Kama wireless nunchuk
When we received our Nyko Kama wireless nunchuk, we thought about what games would be the most appropriate to use the nunchuk with. As such, pretty much all of our games qualified as good candidates, so we went with Super Mario Galaxy, No More Heroes and Wii Sports. How did the Kama stack up against Nintendo's nunchuk? Read on to find out!%Gallery-21332%
Circuit City has huge sale next week
Next week is going to be hard on your wallet. Circuit City is going to be having a big sale, according to DVDTalk, and our favorite Wii game is going to be available for insanely cheap. Supposedly, you'll be able to nab Suda 51's No More Heroes for only $19.99 (or you can try your luck at nabbing it from us). If, for some crazy reason, you haven't gotten the game yet, you need to do so next week.Aside from that, the deal is further sweetened through the retail giant offering buy one, get one %50 off on select games. These games include: LEGO Star Wars Super Mario Galaxy Super Smash Bros. Brawl Mario & Sonic at the Olympics Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 Mario Kart Wii Outside of the games, they've also got DVDs and other junk on sale. If you're into that sort of thing.[Thanks, Nate!]
Fanswag: Get a copy of No More Heroes on us [update]
Update: The contest has come to an end. Winners have been contacted and confirmed. Thanks to all who entered and better luck next time!We're going to be honest here: we just couldn't trust you to do the right thing and get No More Heroes. So, we picked up three copies ourselves to make sure that some of you got your hands on the game. The only crummy part is that we have but 3 copies and not the 50 we wanted to order. We blame our bank account, which is mainly filled with loose buttons and bottlecaps. Our bank account is a shoebox under a loose brick in our cell that Joystiq keeps us locked up in, if you were wondering.But, we digress. This is about you! And about how you are going to get a free copy of No More Heroes (retail value $29.99)! What do you need to do to enter? Well, for this, we thought about the game's protagonist, Travis Touchdown, and how he's such a punk, rebel badass. So, tell us the most rebellious thing you've ever done! Did you, like our own JC Fletcher, get spotted checking out a Ramones CD once in a local music store? Or, have your rebellious spurts been more tame than that?Simply leave a comment (you can leave one once per calendar day) between now and the end of the giveaway, which is Thursday, May 8th at 11:59pm ET (winners will be selected via random drawing the following day), and you're entered. The giveaway is only open to legal and current residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) who regularly check their email (we're serious, folks, if you don't check your email and win, someone else is getting your game so be on top of that). Also, you have to be 18 years or older. This is a mature game, folks!Best of luck to you all and don't forget to give the official rules a read.%Gallery-4611%
Hey, you sitting there reading this, buy No More Heroes already!
Look, folks. We've presented you with many opportunities to pick up Suda 51's amazing game for a lot cheaper than the usual $49.99 price tag. Now, Amazon is selling this game at a ridiculously low price of $29.99. That's thirty frickin' dollars. Thirty!Whatever your excuse for not opening up the Amazon page right now and ordering the game, know this: it isn't a good enough reason. We're serious about this; if you don't own the game and read our site, we're going to call your parental units and rat you out. That's how serious we are about you needing to buy, and play, this game. Especially when it's this cheap. %Gallery-4611%[Thanks, Steven! You're a kind and wonderful person!]
No More Heroes remix CD launched nerdily
Game|Life's Jean Snow, along with a very exclusive audience that naturally did not include us (we'd be happy just to be able to buy the CD), attended the launch party for the No More Heroes Dark Side CD, which features remixes of Masafumi Takada's excellent soundtrack by other game and chiptune musicians. The party took place at Shinjuku's 8-bit Cafe, a retrogaming-themed restaurant with displays of classic games, and even a bin full of games for customers to play at any of the systems set up around the shop.Once the event closed, the celebration moved to another bar called 16 Shots -- as in Takahashi Meijin's button-mashing record. You'll never hear a geekier name for a business, at least until our loan goes through.
Zero Punctuation believes in No More Heroes
Zero Punctuation discovers that we could use another hero (and a way home) in this week's review of Suda 51's No More Heroes. Rightful finger-pointing at Suda 51's pretentiousness starts the review, but it soon gets slashed away by Yahtzee's belief that No More Heroes does offer something "different." As we all know, "different" is this industry's version of the Monopoly "Get Out of Jail Free" card. It won't save a game from nasty reviews, but the cuts are certainly less deep.Thunderdome your way to this week's NSFW review of No More Heroes after the break.
Zero Punctuation shines the spotlight on No More Heroes
Wii Fanboy favorite No More Heroes is the focus of this week's Zero Punctuation, and it actually gets off fairly easily compared to the roasting received by most games. In between describing Suda 51 as "the 51st result of an illegal Japanese cloning experiment to create the world's most auteur game designer" and fretting over what the game is satirizing and what it isn't, Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw admits he enjoyed playing as Travis Touchdown, and eventually praises Grasshopper's game for its "unpredictable story and quirky aesthetics."Finally, as if we didn't already admire the man enough, he reveals his deep-seated love of Branston Pickle. Way to make us forgive every mean thing you ever said about our favorite games, Yahtzee. Hit the break for the full, NSFW review.%Gallery-4611%
We Got It 4 Cheap: 38 Wii sales at Amazon
The thrifty kids at Cheap Ass Gamers have compiled a list of Wii games currently on sale at Amazon, digging up almost 40 different deals. Of course, most of them are junk -- pet sim shovelware and titles based on movie licenses -- but there are a few marked down that you'll likely find interest in: Alien Syndrome - $19.99 ($29.99) Battalion Wars 2 - $23.31 ($49.99), read our review Bust A Move Bash - $29.99 ($39.99) Nights: Journey of Dreams - $29.99 ($49.99) Nitrobike - $19.99 ($29.99) No More Heroes - $33.99 ($49.99), read our review Soul Calibur: Legends - $18.90 ($39.99) Sonic and the Secret Rings - $20.99 ($29.99) We can't guarantee how long these bargains will last, so jump on them now while you can, or you'll end up having to settle for Chicken Shoot. Bring your cart past the post break for the full tally of discounted games.
As No More Heroes' price falls, its awesomeness rises
Hey, you! No, not you, kid, the person over 17 next to you. Buy No More Heroes! Your concerns about finances are becoming increasingly irrelevant, because the price on Amazon keeps dropping. It's currently at $33.99 with free shipping available!We would recommend No More Heroes to anyone (of the appropriate age) who enjoys action games -- and we did! It's by far the best action game on the system, and it holds up well against other action games of the last couple of generations. In fact, just talking about it now makes us want to turn on the Wii and get back into our second playthrough.
