I AM EXCITE~!

Half of the fun of being a gamer is getting hyped up for upcoming releases. In fact, I would wager that there are a lot of instances where the hype and the lead-up to a game being released is actually more exhilarating than the game itself.

Tracking down the screenshots and videos.

Learning about leaked information.

Developer interviews.

Game play previews.

All of it!

…and that is what I intend to bring you in this ongoing feature. All of the hype and anticipation surrounding games that have caught my eye. I AM EXCITE~!

[one_third][alert type=”red”]Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Kadokawa Games, Deep Silver, XSEED
Designer: Goichi Suda
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Release date: Aug 27, 2013
Genre: Action
www.loveandkill.com[/alert][/one_third]Killer Is Dead is an upcoming action game being developed by famed Japanese studio Grasshopper Manufacture for both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. You may be familiar with Grasshopper’s previous entries into the gaming universe with games such as Killer7, No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned and Lollipop Chainsaw. If you follow this studio, or this genre of Japanese-style hack and slash gaming in general, then you’re also more than likely familiar with Grasshopper’s head honcho – Goichi Suda, aka Suda51. Suda is infamous for his over the top, usually gory, and sometimes wrestling-inspired, hack and slash action games.

Suda’s more recent efforts (Shadows of the Damned and Lollipop Chainsaw), while still over the top, were a bit of a departure from his previous games and were not as well received by fans. Both Killer7 and No More Heroes became cult hits not only due to their outlandish scenarios, but also due to their innovations in game play (at the time) and also their distinct art style. The cell-shaded visual effects for these two games were and still are a welcome contrast to the usual crop of “everything has to be rendered to look like real life” games that saturate the market today.

Personally, I was a huge fan of both Killer7 and No More Heroes and cannot wait to see what Killer is Dead looks and play like when it ships this summer. The game itself looks like an amalgamation between both Killer7 and No More Heroes, both in presentation and from a game play perspective – lots of guns and swords, baby!

You are cast in the role of cyborg “Executioner” Mondo Zappa. Zappa, his cyborg arm (that has it’s own weaponized uses) and his sharper-than-sharp katana are on the hunt for S-Level Criminals across the globe (and further). S-Level being a nod to the usual grading system that Japanese games will give players when completing levels and boss battles. F, E, D, C, B, A and then S for “special” or “super”.. in other words, the best. So these brutes are some tough-as-nails bastards and it’s up to you to take them out.

Why, though?

I’m not 100% sure on that yet, as the story has not been completely revealed. Suda has stated that “love and execution” and “how far can you protect someone” are central themes of the story, so I would expect that the bad guys have your family or your girlfriend/wife and it’s up to you to save them. It may be a standard trope.. but I don’t care, to be honest. As long as I get to drop into Suda51’s crazy world, hack off some limbs, snipe some fools and then deliver a few brainbuster suplexes, I’ll be a happy camper!

Killer is Dead hits store shelves worldwide on August 27, 2013. Enjoy the trailer and screen gallery below, and if you’re excited for this upcoming hack and slash from Suda51, then please join us at The Real TSM to discuss this and many other games!