#killer is dead

[ghenry]

What do you think of GHMs more "Mainstream" titles such as LC, SoTD and NMH3 compared against their more underground works like Killer7, Silver Case and NMH1. I find the latter has a sense of mystique and weirdness that's missing from the former when the studio seemed pigeon-holed in a brand of "Sex, Violence and quirky"

I've been meaning to write about this here, so good question! I gave it a lot of thought after finding a JPN copy of Killer Is Dead and seeing this within the box;

Here's a quote of Suda reflecting on the production of said game;

Suda was not interested in eroticism when it came to his company's games. However, the more mainstream games GHM made (without his direction) were full of instances that were little more than eye candy. Sex appeal for the sake of it. And much of that was against Suda's will;

Paula running around in a thong (and even tits out a couple times if you played the NA version) throughout Shadows of the Damned also reminds me of Tim Rogers recalling his time working at Grasshopper as a designer in the late 2000s. He sat in a lot of meetings with Suda talking to EA and mentioned a time Suda talked about a save function idea he thought of while reflecting on Travis always using a toilet to save in the NMH games.

An early idea was Garcia going to bed with a woman every time he had to save. This was likely when the game was still going to be open world-ish and Garcia was single. From how Tim Rogers talked about this, it was pretty much the only idea Suda had that EA actually showed interest in. Obviously this idea never panned out, instead saving being delegated to a little demon that poops to signify a saved game. Funny that it connects to NMH's toilet save function in that way.

Something else worth bringing up would be the "gigolo missions" from Killer Is Dead. This also derived from a concept Suda had for Shadows of the Damned where Garcia was gonna take girls out on dates, bring flowers, and it'd actually be cute and romantic. At least, from how he described it.

(These screenshots are from Feel the Magic, a DS game where you played mini-games as you tried to win the heart of a girl throughout the story)

This idea was repurposed for Killer Is Dead, but, according to Suda, the sexual aspects of it were conjured up by Hideyuki Shin, the game's director. Therefore, it devolved into x-ray glasses, staring at boobs, and giving gifts to a robot that repeated animations. A cannibalization of the original concept.

Suda seemed afraid of Grasshopper's reputation being mutated into an identity he didn't consent to. Sex appeal is not something he really thinks about when it comes to making games. It's not his style;

The only times Suda has shown sexuality in the games he directed is when it's discomforting or deeply disturbing, almost never for eye candy.

I still appreciate games like Shadows of the Damned, Killer Is Dead, and Lollipop Chainsaw. As much as this era of GHM was railroaded to chasing some mainstream trends and trying too hard to be quirky, they still had unique aspects that help them stand out above other games of the same subgenre. But I can't help but notice a fissure between these games and the ones he actually directed. The nuance, mystery, and thought-provoking stories are most prominent when he's the one directing.

I'm not going to fault people for liking eroticism and such in video games. I've played plenty of horny games too, and there's obviously an appeal there. But anyone still expecting that from Suda is barking up the wrong tree. Looking at how he's been handling everything since 2018 makes it even sadder when you reflect how these publishers tried cramming Grasshopper Manufacture into this box they didn't want to be in.

One last thing I have to retort, though. I don't lump No More Heroes 3 with the quirky "mainstream" games the way you did in the question. Sure, NMH3 definitely went for a more mainstream marketing plan and the game got super silly at times, but it still has an interesting narrative with a ton of nuance. Way more than any GHM game between 2010-2016. Hence my 4+ hour long analysis of the game;

Many people even rejected this game outright because the eroticism and scantily-clad female cast was mostly absent. This was likely expectations they built after experiencing games like NMH2, SotD, LC, etc.

Speaking a bit more on the sense of eroticism, it's funny to think how that was admittedly present in NMH1, obnoxiously expanded upon in NMH2, and then mostly done away with in NMH3. Going as far as turning Naomi--and her balloon tits--into a goddamn tree!

However, I don't believe Suda turned Naomi into a tree for the sole purpose of removing her sex appeal. I believe this just further accentuates how that aspect is not something he's interested in or finds important for the game itself. He likely didn't even think of it that way, but instead "Hey, she should be a tree now."

And then there's Kimmy, whose death was not only a very harrowing moment in the game, it was also depicted in a sexual manner. Similar to Bad Girl's death in the original NMH. Note the motions and angles in her death scene.

Like I said, this rather disturbing sense of sexuality is more Suda's vibe. And I'm happy to see he hasn't lost that edge, so many years later. Anyway, thanks for the question! I had a lot of fun writing out this answer.

[kujopher]

NoMoreHeroes x Killer7

Test Render. In reference to the 'Killer is Dead' short story.

[live-at-fortune-city]

ktp anthro art set the “I remembered I genuinely like these games” set

[jimmawww]

Fave Health Bars

Atic Atac

The Legend of Zelda

Fallout 3

Pokemon Red

Team Fortress 2

Street Fighter 2

Doom

Doom (2016)

Dead Space

Halo

Super Mario 64

Resident Evil 4

Metal Gear Solid 2

Metal Gear Rising

Killer 7

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Dark Souls

Skyrim

Star Fox 64

Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox Assault

No More Heroes

Killer Is Dead

Earthbound

Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy XIV

Kingdom Hearts 2

Deus Ex

Jet Force Gemini

[fiendnyc]

It's me! ME! You don't remember? Your chief killed me? You already forgot? I'm Travis!!

Etsy

Ebay

[wewatchyoujuno]

dont fuck with us suda51 fans our favorite game probably has little to no fanon or canon content so we're left to pick up the often vague details and create our own wild headcanons. maybe i do think that mondo zappa and david were raised mormon and that's now part of their trauma. im literally the only killer is dead fan currently alive and who are you to stop me.

[sephtheroth]

Stuff for the Sudabros out there

[they-have-the-same-va]

Yui Hirasawa from K-ON, Chiyuri Kurashima from Accel World and Mika Takekawa from Killer is Dead all share the same voice actress in both English AND Japanese.

Voiced by Stephanie Sheh and Aki Toyosaki

[megiddo-ichi]

Stream Schedule: May 13th - 19th

This Week's Schedule is Brought to you by...Curiosity.

Alongside collabs involving Killer is Dead and Phoenix Wright, there's also Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth and Uni 2.

Plus a secret project I've been thinking on for a bit.

Keep your eyes peeled batheads.

[Twitch | Twitter | Youtube Channel | Discord]

[imperotenebre]

Killer is Dead PS3 gamneplay - Follia e sangue

Un capolavoro spesso dimenticato

[humfrery]

Persona AU video game ideas

(Update!! part 2 here)

Okay, so I've had this idea for a really long time now. Completely unrealistic and self-indulgent but whatever. The internet was made for screaming into the void, anyhow. Hopefully, someone will think this is cool. What if each Persona user got their own video game? An alternate universe game that lets them be the hero of their own story?

Yu Narukami - Killer is Dead

I had a lot of ideas for Yu. A runner-up idea was Devil May Cry. You know, monster-slaying, grey-haired, sword guy with a Stand voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch? But I went for Killer is Dead because I think Mondo really exudes that bad boy, gangster energy that Yu also does. Which is funny, 'cause Yu is practically a saint but whatever. Not too much to explain for this one. Katana go cut-cut.

Yosuke Hanamura - Ninja Gaiden Sigma

It's the definitive ninja game. All of the acrobatic moves, monsters, magic abilities, and wall-running makes it a no-brainer for me. There are tons of other ninja games out there, but none fit Yosuke quite like this one.

Chie Satonaka - Sleeping Dogs

There are quite a few martial arts games nowadays. I considered Sifu, but the fighting in that game was a little too efficient and skilled for Chie. More Donnie Yen than Bruce Lee. The over-the-top combat of Sleeping Dogs I think is a better fit. Plus, this game also involves a some John Woo style gunplay for bonus Hong Kong cinema points.

Yukiko Amagi - The Legend of Korra

Hear me out. Platinum's Legend of Korra game features a character who uses physical movement to bend the elements and attack long range. Sort of like Yukiko (especially in the Arena games).

Okay, I realize this one is a bit of a stretch, so if anyone has any better ideas, please let me know.

Kanji Tatsumi - Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Back to the obvious stuff. Duh, right? Kanji and Kiryu have very similar fighting styles. Scrappy, lots of grappling, and improvised weaponry. Plus, Kanji always had a sort of a reputation as a trouble-making gangster. It fits too well honestly.

Rise Kujikawa - Hi-Fi Rush

Thank CHRIST this game came out. For the longest time, I had no idea what game would fit Rise. A J-pop version of Brütal Legend? J-pop Metal: Hellsinger? BPM: Bullets Per Minute? Maybe Final Fantasy X-2? Finally, my search is over.

If this interests you, I might have a part 2 coming. In the meantime, please somebody give me some ideas for P3mc and Junpei.

[hotcomicstv]

The Art of Grasshopper Manufacture

[akashicpoint]

KILLER IS DEAD feat. in @GAME magazine May 2013

[god-of-toilet-paper]

[bloody-didy]

I love this game and its plot twist made me crazy! Amazing! I’m so happy to have it (I bought years ago and I enjoy playing it each time)

[fiendnyc]

It's me! ME! You don't remember? Your chief killed me? You already forgot? I'm Travis!!

Etsy

Ebay