No More Heroes
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This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available. |
| No More Heroes | |
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| Developer(s) | Grasshopper Manufacture |
| Publisher(s) | Marvelous Interactive Inc. and Spike |
| Designer(s) | Suda 51 |
| Release date(s) |  Summer 2007  Late 2007/Early 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Action Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player, possibly Online Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: RP |
| Platform(s) | Wii |
| Input | Wii Remote/Nunchuk |
No More Heroes is a video game directed by Suda 51, developed by Grasshopper Manufacture, and published by Marvelous Interactive Inc. and Spike for the Wii video game console.
The game is not a sequel to Suda's earlier game, Killer7 for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, but an all-new game running on a new engine. Suda says that while Killer7 focused on political issues, No More Heroes will deal with social issues. The working title of the game prior to November 29, 2006, was "Heroes."
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[edit] Development
A premier trailer was posted online on The Wiire on July 21, 2006. The trailer features the introduction of three characters: Helter Skelter, Travis Touchdown and Sylvia Christel. The trailer features Helter and Travis, who initially wears a red cloak, doing battle. At its outcome, Travis remains, where he is told that he is the world's eleventh best assassin. Sylvia prompts him to kill the first ten, and the trailer ends. The game currently has a tentative release date of summer 2007.[citation needed] This trailer was later removed from The Wiire (and asked to be completely removed from any public site) because the developers of the game believed that it was not ready to go public. The same trailer, with revised audio and some minor changes, was shown again at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show.
No More Heroes depicted a very similar look to that of Killer7, in which all the characters and their environments were cel-shaded, and featured a high amount of stylization, though in comparison is less cel-shaded.
On September 23, a slightly remixed version of the original trailer appeared on IGN.com, with new background music (more rock-oriented than electronic), higher video quality, and toned-down voice acting (mostly of the main character, Travis Touchdown).
A scan from the magazine Famitsu was released on November 29, 2006. The scan revealed that the game's character designer is Yuzaki Yuusuke, who had designed characters for Speed Grapher. Other joining the famous line of designers include Okama (costume design), who designed the OP for Densha Otoko, and Shigeto Koyama (weapons and mechanics design), who worked on Eureka Seven as an illustrator.
As of December, the game's development progress is 35%. It will use a completely different engine from Killer7. The visual style has taken a semi cel-shaded look, rather than the look of the trailer or Killer7.
In a recent interview, Suda51 stated that this game will be violent, though different from Killer 7. He stated that he will try his best to make No More Heroes as violent, or even more violent than Manhunt 2.
Prominent voice actress Kari Wahlgren will be providing a voice in No More Heroes. [1]
[edit] Game details
The story of No More Heroes revolves around Travis Touchdown, a typical otaku that lives in poverty. Somehow, he manages to win a beam katana in an Internet Auction. Soon thereafter he becomes a hitman and kills Helter Skelter, which earns him rank 11 by the UAA, the governing body of assassins. Sylvia Christel, who was shown in the trailer to challenge him to be the best assassin, is a French-born agent of the UAA. Other killers in the UAA include a girl named Shinobu, who wears a short school girl outfit, attends Santa Destroy high school, and is ranked 8th in UAA. A woman named Naomi is also revealed, who is a swordmaker and an ally to the main character. Also revealed, as also apparently part of the top 10 is Destroyman, a deadly superhero assassin. Unlike Killer 7, Player will control Travis only, and will receive no help during battle.
The game takes place in the fictional town of Santa Destroy, located in the west coast of America. Unlike Killer7, it will have a free roaming world similar to GTA. Travis can move around either on foot, or on his motorcycle, the "Schpel Tiger." However, he can also ride in any other vehicle, though is unable to steal them.
Like GTA, the gameplay is open-ended, but the player will have to kill the top 10 assassins in order for the storyline to progress. Numerous side quests also exist to gain additional weapons and make money, such as trash pick-up, a part time job as a stamper, and even complete weird jobs such as human bowling. It is revealed that Travis will have a wide range of swords available to him. The player will also level up through experience points, but the exact details are still being designed.
Each day will start with the main character, Travis Touchdown, in a motel where his outfit and equipment can be changed. Control will be done through the Wii Remote and nunchuk attachment, where the Wii Remote will control the beam katana and the nunchuk will control Travis. While the sword will not follow the exact position of the remote, it will be able to distinguish between three different height levels. Most attacks will be performed using the "A" button, though certain moves such as finishing strikes and sword lock breaks can be executed by following on-screen instructions. Successful execution of the moves, such as breaking from a sword lock, will provide additional chance for attacks. Additionally, since the sword runs on energy, the player will have to shake the remote from time to time to recharge it. The most recent trailer, shown at the 2007 Game Developers Conference, shows off a number of the game's moves, including using the light sword to physically cut a man in two and remove enemies' heads. A third move invovling both the Wii Remote and nunchuck was shown in which Travis grabs an enemy and performs a Suplex wrestling move.
It is rumored that No More Heroes will support an online mode, but nothing has been confirmed.
[edit] Trivia
- The character of Sylvia Christel shares the name of Sylvia Kristel, the most well-known actress to portray the titular character in a very popular series of French soft-core porn films, Emmanuelle.
- Travis Touchdown is inspired by Johnny Knoxville (of Jackass)
- Helter Skelter is named after a Beatles song.
- Sylvia looks very similar to Joe's girlfriend Sylvia from Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2
- The Schpel Tiger has Grasshopper brand tires, a reference to the company developing the game.
[edit] Game Trailer
The trailer for No More Heroes on the Wii was produced by Mitsutoshi Sakurai and Yasuhiro Wads. It is 3:43 minutes in length, and the text is in Japanese. Click Here For The Trailer to No More Heroes Wii
A second trailer was released during GDC 2007. This version showed more gameplay, including a Dynasty Warriors style mass slashing, a slot machine style indicator for an unknown purpose, shaking the Wii Remote for recharging, a bike driving session, and another adversary, "Destroyman", who is dressed like a purple superhero and shouts out attacks, such as "destroy beam".
