No More Heroes
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No More MSRP
We don't really understand Amazon's price drops. Why do the prices for some games drop? And how long do such drops last? Yet, that doesn't mean we don't love them -- especially when it comes to getting one of the best games on the Wii cheaply.Now at Amazon (until when?) you can get No More Heroes for $39.99. That's the best deal we've seen on the game so far, and in our expert blogger opinions, it's worth every penny.Another price drop to note is House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return, which fell $5, meaning that the game will only cost you $24.99. Unfortunately, this price puts it just under Amazon's free shipping qualification by a penny, which sours the deal a little bit. Also, we can't imagine that a price drop so early in the game's life cycle could mean good things for how the it's selling, even if the sale is only on Amazon.As far as we can tell, the price drops on Amazon fluctuate as a game goes in and out of stock. So, if you check these out and one of the deals is over, it might be worth looking again at a later date.%Gallery-4611%%Gallery-10506%[Thanks, Sorensilk!]Read: No More Heroes on Amazon Read: House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return on Amazon
Another Week in Europe
Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of Wii lovers.This week's European charts mark the arrival of a bloodless No More Heroes and Rockstar's Bully: Scholarship Edition. As both are pretty excellent games, it goes without saying that neither was ever going to threaten the likes of smug old Mario & Sonic.But hey, sneering sarcasm aside, No More Heroes actually did a little better than we expected, reaching a respectable 14th in the UK, and 13th in Sweden. Okay, so Game Party (9th) and Carnival: Funfair Games (6th) both horrifically topped Suda's brilliant adventure in the UK, and it failed altogether to leave a dent on the top 20 in Denmark, Ireland, Germany, or Holland, but we're still pleased it came close to a top ten position somewhere.Perhaps surprisingly, Bully: Scholarship Edition didn't fare as well, at least on the Wii. While the Xbox 360 version is performing decently in the UK (5th), Holland (10th), and Sweden (19th), the Wii edition is nowhere to be seen, save for a lowly UK ranking of 26th.Oh, and in case you were wondering, we're sorry to announce that we're down a chart this week, as our usual sources for Spanish data are busy enjoying their four-day Easter weekend. The cheek! They'll be chained back to their desks next week. Go past the break for more charts than there are tulips in Holland. Probably.
The Wii's M-rated offerings rounded up
Did you know that there are currently 17 M-rated games on the Wii? Some of them, like Target Terror, aren't out just yet, and some, like Escape from Bug Island, have already been largely forgotten to history. OMG Nintendo has an interesting look at six of the most important M-rated titles on the system, from No More Heroes to games that aren't No More Heroes. They also delve into some violent "classics" like Time Killers.Each game gets a short description and a score, but what's interesting to us is that there's a description of the gore content of each game. It reminds us of the bizarre fixation we as gamers (and the game developers) have with violence. If something is "made for adults," we all immediately know why, and are usually right: it's bloody.
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
No More Heroes remix album approaches
No More Heroes composer Masafumi Takada mentioned in his GDC talk that a remix album of music from the game would soon be available from Grasshopper Manufacture's online store. We now have details of that album, called No More Heroes Sound Tracks: Dark Side -- as well as its burning-Santa-Destroy-flag cover. The album contains 9 tracks remixed by artists including Takada himself, Game Boy chiptune master 6955 and Metal Gear Solid's Norihiko Hibino. It'll sell for 2,100 yen ($20) when it releases on March 14th. We suspect awesomeness, even though there are only nine tracks on the disc. We're going to have to figure out how to get Grasshopper's online store to ship stuff to us!
Cosplay in Minutes a Day!
Here's a cheap, easy costume you can whip up for your next Halloween/convention/boxart-head meetup -- dress up as Dr. Kawashima's disembodied head! Here's all you need: some white posterboard a pair of scissors a sharpie marker a pair of glasses an aging Asian man Flickr user ClockworkGrue spotted this character last weekend at WonderCon 2008. Girls must have swooned over it, as there are lipstick kiss marks all around the Brain Age mascot. Why else do you think he goes around calling himself LL Cool K (Ladies Love Cool Kawashima)? Step past the break for more video game related costumers spotted at Wondercon 2008.
GDC08: Takada: 'Writing game music is my mission'
Grasshopper Manufacture's Masafumi Takada presented a discussion of his music (and fire prevention, he joked) to a welcoming crowd after an introduction by Tommy Tallarico. For thirty minutes, he discussed his process in Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, God Hand, Killer7, and then No More Heroes. The theme for his music design was "translation:" taking some aspect of the game, or some feeling, and putting it into the music. In addition, he relies on unique, catchy phrases that are repeated throughout each game's soundtrack, to "imprint the world" of the game on the player.
No More Heroes: not a bomb
Looks like all the anecdotal "I bought it!" evidence was accurate: Marvelous Interactive president Yasuhiro Wada announced on the company's website that No More Heroes has sold 100,000 copies in the U.S. Compare that to the 40,000 that shipped in Japan and it's clear that what once was a bomb is now kind of a hit for our favorite video game band, Grasshopper Manufacture. NPD doesn't seem to agree, reporting 65,000 copies sold in the U.S. in January. We don't know if Marvelous's numbers are from a different estimate or including February or what.Marvelous is shipping 160,000 copies to Europe, as they expect even more demand. This may be the reason for the brief delay. Overall, they are shooting for 500,000 total sales. That may not sound huge by most game standards, but for a tiny company like Grasshopper, and for such a bizarre game, that's huge.%Gallery-4611%[Via NeoGAF]
More waiting for No More Heroes in Europe
European gamers are already feeling pretty sensitive about No More Heroes, since they're getting the original Japanese version and not the "extra bloody" American version. Now there's one more thing to complain about, as Rising Star Games has bumped the release date back a week from February 29th to March 7th. That's not too long to wait, but considering that the game has been out for two months in Japan and one month in the U.S., we can imagine how it would sting.In lighter news (to distract the European audience from the boiling rage they're sinking into), check out Suda 51's joking, Suda-like design idea for an 'adult' Mario game: "Maybe Mario could wear an Italian suit and have a machine gun," he hypothesized, adding, "But Nintendo probably wouldn't like that idea." Oh, Suda, you certainly do enjoy making games about professional killers.%Gallery-4611%
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.
No More Heroes initially planned as a 360 game
Speaking to MCV, No More Heroes director Suda 51 said that in the earliest stages of planning, his game was going to be made for the Xbox 360. It was his producer at Marvelous Interactive, Yasuhiro Wada, who suggested the Wii instead. "Originally, I'd wanted to make this game for Xbox 360, actually. Wada-san had information about the new Wii and how the new controller would work before it came out, so that's why he thought I should produce the game on that format." It's important to remember that back then Suda wouldn't have known about the controller, or really much of anything about the Wii, while the 360 was a known quantity. A very small quantity in Japan, but still something that could be developed for. Of course, once Suda found out about the Wiimote (and, though he doesn't say it, the smaller cost of game development on the Wii) he was on board. Really, though, if No More Heroes tanked in Japan on the Wii, a system that people have, imagine the 360 sales.
WRUP: Mr. Boombastic edition
We can't really explain the parallels in our mind between Bomberman and Shaggy's "Boombastic." Something about the boom makes us think about bombs or something. We really can't understand why we're just so damn insane sometimes.Anywho, Bomberman Land is the only new game this week. For us, we're still chipping away at No More Heroes. What about you all? What are you playing?
Yet More Cosplay
We can totally get behind No More Heroes cosplay. For one thing, it's a cheap and fairly easy pastime, not unlike your mom requiring none of the intricate and potentially expensive items needed for, say, successful Metroid cosplay. For another, the end result generally looks quite good, if you have the right physique to pull it off (we don't), as well as the correct cocksure attitude (again, no).Hit the link below for more photos of Travis Touchdown and Sylvia Christel imitators that you can shake a paper-mâché WarioWare mask at.[Via GameSetWatch]
Fanswag: And the No More Heroes winner is ...
With over two thousand entries in our giveaway for No More Heroes, the task of selecting a winner would be a very difficult one. Thankfully, we take the easy way out and select the winner via random drawing. So, without further ado, let's congratulate: Patricia Mortimer, who said her favorite hero is Oprah Winfrey Congratulations to Patricia and better luck next time to the rest of you! Be sure to keep an eye out for our next Fanswag giveaway!%Gallery-4611%
Reminder: Today is your last chance for No More Heroes
Well, all good things must come to an end. And, as such, today is your last day to enter for a free copy of No More Heroes. Arguably a masterpiece of a game, it deserves to be in every Wii owner's library. So, why not try and get a copy into your library? Get to entering already!%Gallery-4611%
