Flower, Sun, and Rain is a DS port of a PS2 mystery game. The trailer shows off how the gameplay works basically like an interactive novel with a few puzzles and such involving the stylus and touch screen. So why should you care? Because the game was made by Suda 51, the visionary mind behind bizarre cult faves Killer 7 and No More Heroes. Sure, the video may look a little strange and quirky, but knowing Suda 51’s past work, I’m guessing that’s just scratching the surface.

This autumn, the long-awaited release of Flower, Sun and Rain for the Nintendo DS will be making its way to North America and Europe.

Written and directed by the infamous games creator Suda51, this Nintendo DS exclusive is the first chance western gamers have had to experience one of their earliest creations and offers an insight into the evolution of his unique style reminiscent of Killer7 and No More Heroes.

Flower, Sun and Rain is a mystery adventure very much in the vein of Groundhog Day. You play a detective charged with locating and defusing a bomb by solving thought-provoking puzzles with a wealth of bizarre outcomes. Solving the mystery of what is happening to him and his surroundings is necessary before he eventually goes insane.

Originally released on the PS2, Flower, Sun and Rain was never available outside of Japan and has been high on wish lists of every Suda51 fan since Killer7 was unleashed on the western market in 2005. This updated Nintendo DS version features all the quirks that made the original a hit and uniquely utilizes the touch screen to solve mysteries, offering players a more intimate experience.

No set release date has been given at this point, other than it is coming in the Fall, so check back with us often. A trailer for the game is expected to hit on Monday, August 3rd, and you can bet we will have it here on Gaming Today.

For screens of the DS version, click here.

Via: Press Release

[UPDATE Via: Press Release]

Chrono Trigger will carry the exact same story it had when it first came out in 1995, still do not know whether it be 2D or 3D yet, but here is what we do know:

• Original Story: A masterpiece with an engaging and unparalleled storyline, leading to the discovery of multiple epic conclusions to a journey that transcends time
• An unprecedented and inspiring musical score created by Yasunori Mitsuda
• Intriguing battle system made possible by the unique combination of the Active Time Battle system and Tech skills
• Famed character designer Akira Toriyama lends his signature art style to create the vibrant world that has captivated gamers around the world
• Taking advantage of the Nintendo DS hardware, CHRONO TRIGGER makes its way onto the portable platform with all-new dual screen presentation and Touch-Screen functionality
• A brand new dungeon and a Wireless Play mode adds exciting new dimensions to this timeless classic

The game is set for a Holiday season release.

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If Square Enix was trying to keep their news regarding a DS version of Chrono Trigger a bit more clandestine they failed. Yes, its true that anyone who has any familiarity with the RPG would recognize the iconic clock image, but they really did not put much thought into the fact that the webpage literally has “ctds” in the url for the page.

Maybe they weren’t trying to be stealthy after all and I am just being grumpy, but whatever the case may be, it looks like the famed SNES title is going to be revamped for the DS. Whether it will maintain its 2D animations or get the 3D treatment like other Square Enix titles ported to the DS remains to be seen, but according to the countdown going on via the teaser site, we can expect something in the not so distant future.

Supposedly, the game is set to be released sometime this Winter in Japan, and while the countdown clock is indeed for the Japanese version of the game, hopefully when all is revealed we will get news regarding the NA version as well.

Check the site out for yourself here.

Thanks: 1UP

Another Wednesday, another awesome Zero Punctuation video game review. This week, the venerable Yahtzee Croshaw takes a look at the latest odd-fest from Suda 51 with No More Heroes for the Wii. For a change, he actually likes this game, despite some of it’s derivativeness and repetition. Of course that hasn’t stopped him from finding things to poke fun at before, and that definitely doesn’t stop him this time either.

Via The Escapist

Rising Star Games, who is the European publisher for No More Heroes, has changed the release date for the game. For those you waiting on Suda ’51’s latest title, you will only have to wait one more week though which is not bad considering how often release dates are changed by months at a time. So, come March 14th you will have No More Heroes sitting on your retail shelves.

Although not released with great fanfare in Japan which has only seen 40,000 copies sold since its launched on December 6th, over here in American 100,000 copies have been sold since its January 23rd release. The game has received generally positive reviews from the gaming community which for a Wii title is not too shabby. 1UP gave the game a 7.5 review score, and the average score for the game is 8.1.

For more information on No More Heroes, check out our previous posts and 1UP’s GDC 08 coverage of Masafumi Takada the composer for the game who has also created music for gaming gems such as: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, RE: Umbrella Chronicles, and Killer 7.

Thanks for the new release date info: CVG

No More Heroes, the Wii exclusive from Grasshopper Manufacture’s Goichi Suda (Suda 51) and Ubisoft is now in stores. Ranked the 11th best assassin in the world, you will lead the main character Travis on a journey to defeat 10 other killers and become the top dog of the assassin league. Featuring graphics familiar to those who played Killer 7, No More Heroes is full of bizarre characters and twisted storylines.

For more information on the game, look over our previous posts.

Via: Press Release

Are you aching to see more of what the upcoming weird-fest, No More Heroes, looks like? Well, then you’ll be happy to know there’s now a bevy of new screens for the game up. They mostly show a lot sword play…er, “beam sword play.” Apparently that thing can slice foes as well as deflect some ranged attacks. All that and you get to ride a motorcycle it seems. Considering this is the new game from Suda 51, creator of Killer 7, you can expect this to be one strange, but very original game. You can view the rest of the screenshots here.

No More Heroes is a different kind of game and Japanese gamers were not jumping at the opportunity to try out something new on the Nintendo Wii. According to Kotaku, Japanese Wii owners are sticking to Wii Fit, Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy type games. They are probably right.

No More Heroes was developed by one of the guys who brought us the great game ‘Harvest Moon’. During a sales promotion for this new Wii title, the two primary developers were handing out rolls of toilet paper while several models wearing mini-skirts were standing by the window to try and promote sales. Unfortunately, sales for the game were sad and people simply were not interested in the new game. I can understand the toilet paper giveaway as a bit of a strange marketing technique that would ultimately fail, but hot chicks in mini-skirts is usually enough to spark some kind of sales. Check out the via link below for the story.

Via Kotaku

Gamasutra has an article with Grasshopper Manufacture’s Goichi Suda. Suda aka Suda51 talks about Grasshopper studio and Samurai Champloo. He goes into detail with No More Heroes  for the Wii from swordfighting techniques used and what influenced the feel of the game to choice the of language for the game.

Suda also shares what games he likes, his thoughts on Japanese centric games and what he finds important in storytelling.

Sharing his thoughts on violence in video games, Suda stresses the importance of there being consequences for actions and his belief that video games should evoke an emotional response.  He also believes that there should be subtle political elements within games. Suda relates all this back to his No More Heroes Wii title.

Finally, Suda speaks about the future of grasshopper. He talks about the types of games we may see in the future and the possibility of change in the Grasshopper style.

PS3 owners will be pleased to know that the 2006 Game of the Year is available for your hacking and slashing pleasure.

This trailer makes me want to spend two-month’s salary on a PS3. No joke! I mean, just watching this video gives me the urge to go into my living room, kick my PS2 across the room, and hook the 360 back up. Oblivion is my crack/meth/oxycontin/Sudafed. Read the full article