No More Heroes had a lot going for it, but perhaps the biggest strike against it was the pitiful overworld. It’s still not really clear if the overworld was simply poor game design, or a joke about the emptiness of sandbox-style games. Well, expect things to be pretty different for the sequel. In Suda 51’s own words in a GameSetWatch interview:

Yeah, we’ll once again manage to do what we want to do with realizing the open world, but expect big changes for No More Heroes 2’s open world.

Ok, so that’s pretty vague. He could be planning to turn the entire overworld into a giant mound of cheese. Well, anything would be a step up from the overwhelming whiteness that was Santa Destroy.

GameSetWatch
via 1up

Artwork courtesy of Burn The Internet 

Eurogamer has released an interview they’ve done with Suda 51, director of No More Heroes. The interview covers a few new tidbits about No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. So let’s recap what we know, shall we?

• All of this.
• It takes place three years after the end of No More Heroes.
• The censored version of the game will be similar to the censored version of the first game in terms of content.
• Suda 51 hasn’t yet used the WiiMotion Plus, but he’s interested in using it in Desperate Struggle.
• The game will be darker and more serious than it’s prequel, but it will still have a sense of humour.
• The open world of No More Heroes was a disappointment to everyone, including Suda 51. He won’t be making the same mistakes with No More Heroes 2.

Are you excited yet? Well, the game isn’t set to release until 2010, so try to control yourself.

Eurogamer

Last time around, Europe ended up with the censored Japanese version of No More Heroes, with less blood. (People were still dismembered and cut into pieces, but less blood spurted out in the censored version. Apparently that makes it less violent.) According to Eurogamer, No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle will come in two flavours in Europe. One super violent version, and one slightly less super violent version for places that won’t allow the former version, such as Germany.

So which version will Japan get? Well, if you look at the press release, possibly neither. Tentacle rape anime porn aside, Japan is strict with its censorship laws. On top of that, the original No More Heroes didn’t sell too well in Japan. It tooks 20 minutes before someone bought a copy at the official launch event, and even that was a just a Famitsu reporter. (Apparently autographed toilet paper wasn’t enough of an incentive for most folks.)

Well, I can say I’m happy to live in North America. I need to satisfy my bloodlust.

Eurogamer
Gamecyte

If you haven’t played the amazing action game No More Heroes (and statistically speaking, you probably haven’t) run out and buy it. Right now. Play it to completion. (Go ahead, I’ll wait.) Done? Alright. Now watch this clip.

Aren’t you excited? You should be, because No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle is coming. So far there’s no information besides the teaser and the name, but that’s all you should need to start feeling all tingly and trembly. One thing to note is subtitle, Desperate Struggle. Could this mean it will be a DS game? If so, could slashing people in half with a stylus be as satisfying as slashing them in half with a Wii Remote? Either way, a fantastic game that ends with the words “Too bad there won’t be a sequel,” is getting a sequel. Be happy.

[Update: The official press release (which is in Japanese) states the game will indeed be a Wii game, and is set for a 2010 release. Maybe the rest of the world will get lucky and it will launch outside of Japan first. The first game didn't do so hot there anyway.]

Joystiq, GoNintendo