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No More Heroes


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We're a bit dismayed by how the control scheme is described, but we'll await a hands-on impression before we make any judgments. When will a game designer figure out how to implement a fun-but-accurate sword fighting simulator?

 

I echo Joystiq's sentiments.

I like that there are big plans to sell this game, Suda 51 is aiming for a million copies.. so assuming 10 million Wii's are sold 1 in 10 people are going to have to buy this game.

 

I think because Wii is attracting a wider range of people.. the parents, kids, granparents that software sales will be more health on the Wii.. each person having a couple of games on top of a shared pool of games isn't going to be rare.

 

I think it's very do-able, th egames gonna have style.

The control system is make or break but part of me wants to get it just to support Suda 51's think tank of a gaming company.

 

It might be a bit too bold, but at least it's changing genres.

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1Up's preview.

 

Last year, producer Goichi Suda (aka Suda 51) and his team, Grasshopper Studio, made a name for themselves with the extreme violence and sleek style of Killer 7. Earlier this year, they unveiled a nice-looking video of their upcoming Wii title, Heroes. In this week's Weekly Famitsu magazine, on the eve of Wii's launch in Japan, Suda revealed some insight into what this latest game is all about.

 

First off, the game has a new title, No More Heroes, implying that the lead character of the game, Travis Touchdown, is going to stir up some trouble rather than fill the typical hero role. Travis, a hardcore geek, wins an Internet auction for a powerful beam katana, which he uses to boost his career as a hit man. After killing resident cool guy Helter Skelter, he is ranked number 11 by the UAA, the governing body of assassins. Providing him with rank matches is Sylvia Christel, a French-born agent of the UAA.

 

The action takes place in Santa Destroy, a town on the west coast of America. Travis can explore the area freely, either by foot, or on his monster machine called a "Schpeltiger" -- a huge motorcycle resembling something from The Transformers. The town is full of villains who have become distanced from society, and through searching for weapons -- and making money -- Travis tries to protect his own existence in any way possible.

 

 

While we have the first details on how you'll fight with swords, how you'll pull off over-the-top maneuvers like this is still a mystery.

 

 

As for gameplay, it comes as no surprise to find that the beam katana will be controlled by the Wii Remote. The weapon can be wielded at three heights -- high, middle and low. This is performed by pointing the controller up, holding it level and pointing it down, respectively. Swishing the controller from side to side has you swinging your weapon deftly at your rivals. Should you find yourself locking swords with your opponent, you can break out of it by moving the controller according to on-screen instructions. If you pull this off in good time, you'll secure a chance to get in an extra attack over your opponent. Unfortunately, your beam runs out of energy as you use it and you must shake the controller to recharge its power.

 

No More Heroes retains the same slick anime appearance of Killer 7, and Suda has enlisted the help of a few stylish creators to hone the look further. In what appears to be a first for games, a designer has been enlisted to specially create over a hundred different t-shirts for Travis. Being a geek and all, he has plenty of shirts featuring anime characters like young witches, fighters and pro-wrestlers.

 

In charge of this is a guy called Okama, an illustrator who worked on the character design for the opening sequence of Densha Otoko, a hugely popular TV drama in Japan. Character design will be handled by Yusuke Kozaki, who provided original character drafts for the popular animation Speed Grapher. Finally, the killers' weapons and machinery will be designed by Shigeto Koyama, another designer/illustrator who worked on the sci-fi robot anime Eureka Seven.

 

No More Heroes is currently 35% complete and is due out next summer in Japan. Spike will be publishing it, with Marvelous Entertainment lending its hand in the development and tuning. Suda hopes this game will be a million seller -- high hopes, perhaps, but given the potential of the Wii as a mainstream platform, he may very well have a budding international hit on his hands.

 

Screenshots.

 

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What amazes me is that Suda 51 has so much creative freedom. They've got an awesome team.. what looks like a decent budget.

 

But wasn't Killer7 a commercial failure? In the West if a studio cocked up a game like this.. even a larger one like Grasshopper they'd be out of the business, or doing some crappy ass games for the next decade.

I suppose in Japan they'll eat this up because they're more open minded and indie stuff gets marketted there.

 

I don't know why I'm calling Grasshopper indie.. they're meant to be working on a PS3 game which requires a big budget.

 

Also Grasshopper is working on a second untitled Wii game.

Those screenies look sexual.. I hope the battles aren't too raily though.

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I'm a bit disappointed with the graphical style actually. It doesn't really look that outstanding. A lot like GTA actually.

Killer7 was very surreal in that respect but this takes a more realistic approach. But I guess it's too early to really judge. After all a lot can happen between 35% and 100%

 

I'd solely buy it because of that motorcycle though.

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I really, really hope this game will have more substance than Killer 7 did. Cause that game was pure genius from an artistic point of view. Sadly, the game just didnt hold up in the end because of how shallow it was.

You've gotta love super cheesy voice-acting like that btw.

 

So ya, Fingers crossed.

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The voice acting is terrible. Think I'll be playing this with the sound down.

Someone needs to remind these developers that we do not want guys that sound like they haven't hit puberty.(Reminds me of tidus.)

 

Don't you just love it how opinions differ?

 

:laughing:

 

Being a cripple with disorded multiple personalities manifesting themselves, and not having hit puberty, is awesomeness. :bouncy:

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About the voice acting, don't assume it'll be like that just now, they actually realised a second version of the original trailer with some changes to the dialogue and it was somewhat improved. I expect as development goes on it'll be improved further, probably to at least Killer 7 level.

 

Anyway this game is looking and sounding awesome, especially with the information about the GTA esque elements and the shots in the recent scans.

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