For almost a year, virtually nothing has been known about the next game coming from Grasshopper Manufacture, the off the beaten path Japanese developer that's headed by Goichi Suda, who goes by the nickname Suda51. But that silence has finally been broken, thanks to Famitsu Magazine.
The facts, as re-delivered by Polygon, is as follows: for starters, it's another collaboration between Grasshopper and Kadokawa Games. The two had previously teamed up to produce Lollipop Chainsaw last year. And according to Suda himself:
"It's the first game in the 'assassin' series that Grasshopper Manufacture has worked on in a while, a title that picks up where Killer7 and No More Heroes left off."
Much like the two aforementioned titles, Killer Is Dead will sport the same unique cel-shaded-esque look, which is not quite as cartoony as some titles that are normally associated with such a style (like Jet Set Radio), but instead is designed to give everything an arty, avant-garde feel.
Not only does it heighten the over the top violence (which itself is pretty cartoony), but imbues everything with a cinematic feel, circa the late 60s/early 70s. An era of filmmaking that Suda has long professed his love for.
Those expecting the same visual style of No More Heroes can expect a greater deal of fidelity:
"It's not trying to regress into the past… We're trying to make a game that we'd only be able to make right now, at this point in time. The result is seen in our unique high-contrast shading seen in the graphics, as well as the high speed wrestling-like action."
The game stars Mondo Zappa, a 35-year-old male who is offered a job by the Brian Execution Firm, an undercover organization run by the half-cyborg Brian Roses. it's Mondo's job to travel the world and get rid of assassins. Sound a lot like No More Heroes, which is not a bad thing.
Polygon describes the new leading man as a combination of James Bond and Mega Man, which sounds even better. Killer Is Dead is due later this summer in Japan. No word yet on a North American release, but that should come when the time is right.
