Back in the full swing of things, attending classes, working my butt off on projects and stuff, with little free time to spare.

I have a large number of things I’d love to bring up, but I want to focus today on just one topic. I’m indulging myself here a bit, and things are about to get really nerdy. You may want to head to another, better site. May I recommend the esteemed Warren Ellis?
Anyways. The Tokyo Game Show has been going on this week, and a large number of things were announced, but only one title really stood out to me. That game happens to be the newest project from Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture, a collaboration with Shinji Mikami, with music by Akira Yamaoka. The game is Shadows of the Damned. Check out the phenomenal trailer which I have watched too many times:



You’re probably not terribly impressed. Just another 3rd-person over-the-shoulder action game where you’re some rough-looking man fighting demons and monsters, yes? Well, okay, yeah, I guess so, but while many people are screaming “GENERIC!,” I’m quivering with anticipation.

You see, it may not look like much, but this a game from Suda51. You know, the guy behind Killer7 and my personal favorites, No More Heroes and its spectacular sequel. Shinji Mikami, he directed Resident Evil 4 (aka the awesome one), the upcoming Vanquish, and other fantastic action games. These guys also collaborated on Killer7. And on top of that, Akira Yamaoka, the guy responsible for making the atmosphere of the Silent Hill games so damned terrifying with his sound design and music. He’s also quite the metalhead, with his soundtrack to Contra: Shattered Soldier being one of my absolute favorites.

Yeah, I know, our protagonist is another rather buff, ugly, older dude, but he really appeals to me. Most game protagonists are typically white whereas this dude is Hisapnic. When I hear him scream “my name is Garcia Hosper! Hunter of demons! My wrath is your hell!” it sends shivers down my spine. See, all we know of the plot to the game is that the love of his life has been abducted by demons and now he’s driving headfirst into Hell to kick a lot of ass and rescue her. I guess it’s similar to Dante’s Inferno, which came out earlier this year, except less poetic, romantic, preachy, and more rock and roll. I think Suda51 just has a thing for badasses in awesome jackets, and Garcia seems to be no exception, plus, c'mon, storming angrily into Hell declaring your intentions? That takes some stones, man.

Then there are little things: Garcia roughing up a vending machine for Absinthe? Something tells me we’re gonna see a lot of hallucinations in this game. Combat looks brutal, and the weapons look wild. That torch we keep seeing him wield seems to play a big role too. And how can you NOT enjoy kicking a monster through a wooden fence and see it splinter to pieces?

Suda51 is my favorite game developer, and I have the utmost faith in him that this game will be one wild, wild ride, and with Shinji Mikami at his back making sure the action is tight and visceral while Akira Yamaoka delivers some punishing and awesome guitar riffs, I’m sure I will not be disappointed.

I cannot wait for this game to come out.

[Brett]