Today has been officially recognized as the seven-year anniversary of Killer7, one of the most awe-inspiring and beautiful videogames ever created. Seven years ago today, the game launched in Japan. It actually came to North America two days earlier, but Grasshopper Manufacture is going with its home country's date.
Killer7 is a truly fascinating experience, and while it's often overlooked, it's one of those titles that should be brought up whenever the "are games art?" debate threatens to bore the world with its clockwork regularity. It boasted a mysterious narrative, unique visual style, and unorthodox approach to exploration and combat in a way that is yet to be matched, a way that somehow succeeds despite the fact it really should fail due to sheer alienating weirdness. You can't date that thing, it's so distant from everything else on the market.
It is truly a shame that the game not only failed to sell well, but has been summarily ignored by Capcom to the point where even a PS2 Classics release on PSN seems difficult to imagine. There truly is no game like Killer7, and there probably won't ever be again. It's the game that turned me on to Suda 51's bizarre style, and made me appreciate just how wonderfully evocative and surprising games could be.
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Funny how a song that plays for seconds during minimal parts of the game is one of the most popular songs of the game.
I love Killer 7, I hope Capcom surprises us with an HD collection or something like that for its 10th anniversary... but an annoucement right now would be just fine, and fitting to the game's name.
Maybe I was too young or ADD addled, but if this game had a story, I missed it completely. Googling plot summaries for the game I only managed to gleam a few details. I should try replaying it one of these days I guess.
Ah, yes one of the five Capcom GameCube "exclusives".
Such a wierd little game. There were a couple of really stand out chapters that I still remember very well. Maybe I'll pop it into the Wii and dust off a Wavebird. The sad thing is, this game has probably aged better than more than half of the HD games I have.
If Capcom ever remasters this game in HD, I'll be all over it. Never had the chance but I hear great reviews. I'll admit very unlikely but I didn't believe Okami would see an HD remaster despite poor sales but it did.
Would love to play this again. I got it when it first came out and barely remember the details after so long. Also, they should have done this two days ago, because then 7 Day would be 7/7.
I'm kinda freaking out because I actually agree with jim sterling on something. Weird game, never missed a suda trip since. HD remaster with move support. Make it happen capcom.
Mask de Smith headbutting a: bullet and crushing it like a beer can is still one of my favorite WTF moments in the game, even if far bigger and better ones exist.
I would die for a sequel, but I'd buy a re-release as well.
Such a beautifully bizarre game. I need to finish it some time, but I'm lost in the level that has a bunch of identical rooms and swimming pools! Grr! Also, Suzie is great in that game.
"This is too easy!" - The original "Check my big boner!"
Still gets me that the game is mildly about the never-ending battle between U.S. and Japan, with China as the instigating force between these two superpowers.
Also, the Internet is outlawed to prevent cyber-terrorism. What other story has done that?
When I was younger, I decided to play Killer 7 on a whim, after hearing comparisons to the likes of David Lynch and Tarantino. I expected a game so campy and over the top that I'd play it solely for its absurd violent antics.
Instead, what I found was the first game to truly challenge the way I thought and showed me how video games could ascend to an art form. I found a game so twisted, so enthralling, and so unique that its narrative and characters have stuck with me for years. From the absurd dialogue to the great music, Killer 7 was one of my favorite games on the gamecube, and truly unlike anything else I had ever played on it.
It's what makes me a little sad that Suda 51 has yet to revisit such deep themes in years. No More Heroes was close and at many moments, was just as poignant as its predecessor. But Shadows of the Damned and Lollipop Chainsaw, while fun, simply don't challenge my mentality like Killer 7 did.
To this day, I shudder when I hear the Heaven's Smiles' laughter.
okay game, and a pretty perfect encapsulation of his style. alot of bad with some good that people are totally forgiving of because of his "quirkiness" or "artistry" or whatever, when is it okay to say he is basically a mediocre game maker?
It kind of saddens me that Killer7 is easily still Suda51's best game to date. Happy Birthday, Killer7--you were, and still are, completely awesome. :D
"It is truly a shame that the game not only failed to sell well, but has been summarily ignored by Capcom to the point where even a PS2 Classics release on PSN seems difficult to imagine."
Right, but you can go over to Good Old Games and get the game right now, probably for cheaper then Capcom will ever sell it digitally over a console service.
I bought it this past Christmas when GoG had that awesome half off everything sale and just installed it (and every game I got that night, and the Humble Bundle V games) this past Friday. Now, I see this as as good a reason to play this first as any.
You heard "Rave On" in the tiniest rooms in the game, yet it's the longest track in the game if I recall rightly. It's also that rare thing called "fun videogame music" that we don't get much of anymore these days. Bayonetta had some, but series like Megaman had the monopoly for a while.
I bought a new copy of the Gamecube version off ebay a few months ago for $27 USD. If you check online once in a while you might find a new copy for a reasonable price too.
GameFAQs lists both the Gamecube and PS2 games having a Japan release of June 9, which would mean the 7th year anniversary was last month.
I admit that I never bought Killer7. I wanted it, but lost most of my interest during the extra year or so of delay that was added when they decided to not only port it to the PS2, but to do a simultaneous platform release. That was enough time for my interest to shift to other games.
Yeah I think I bought 2 new copies for like $20, keep telling my friends that it is an awesome game that they should play but they would rather play Bayonetta ><
whatever... RAVE ON! BEST BOSS GATEWAY INTRO MUSIC EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never understood how anyone could like Killer 7. I guess it just wasn't my thing. I tried my damnedest to like it when it first came out, it just felt like it was trying to hard to be wacky and different.
hell yeah you should join in as well as Scrappy Doo and Grethiwha(the other Dan guy)
we should play who should who.
of course i want Dan Smith :D
for me Killer 7 is one of the grandest games ever, i played this game last year and i was mind fucked on how this game played.
i mean even the opening alone is just wtf O___O
and yes i could understand that some people are not into this.
i mean even the controls at first were weird but after awhile i have gotten used to it.
what i like about this game is just those little clues and bits they presented like the head guy in every corner(even in the washing machine wtf) the puzzles were genius and creative, not to mention the cutscenes man. one minute We're talkin' guys who beat off FOUR TIMES A DAY! the next thing your playing some russian roulette then some unknown power group out to kill ya, and man the way they made the bossfights more into in line in their personality?? godlike.
i agree we would probably never have a game like this(still hoping Killer is Dead is close to this kind of style)
i recommend this game for those who want to be mind fucked and want something new.
the first few levels could be tedious but once you past that your in for a trip
I discovered this game in the first semester of a games degree in 2007. I bought it for myself immediately, completed it ASAP, found myself utterly confused and went to read that encyclopedic plot summary over on gamefaqs.
Even though the plot is pretty impenetrable, i think it's one of the best stories i've experienced in a videogame hands down.
Alright. So, the forums are down atm and I might as well post some crazy shit here until somebody fixes that.
~ SPOILER ALERT JUST IN CASE ANY OF THIS IS CORRECT ~
The old man was a retired super assassin with PTSD and multiple personality disorder. As it so happens he was the only man on earth mentally qualified to face down the inherent inhumanity of the Heaven's Smile virus. So most of the game took place inside this insane old man's head, as he sat crippled in his wheelchair. The guy with the Scorpion mask? Didn't even exist. Just another daydream.
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Contest:
10:30 AM on 07.09.2012 | 
I love Killer 7, I hope Capcom surprises us with an HD collection or something like that for its 10th anniversary... but an annoucement right now would be just fine, and fitting to the game's name.
HAJIME!!
Such a wierd little game. There were a couple of really stand out chapters that I still remember very well. Maybe I'll pop it into the Wii and dust off a Wavebird. The sad thing is, this game has probably aged better than more than half of the HD games I have.
Where's Prince and SayWord so we can celebrate by pretending Killer 7 had any kind of online functionality.
I would die for a sequel, but I'd buy a re-release as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJf2rMQCXlE
We are in a tight spot.
@tuoman
Maaaan, i loved the fight with Ayame Blackburn.
Still gets me that the game is mildly about the never-ending battle between U.S. and Japan, with China as the instigating force between these two superpowers.
Also, the Internet is outlawed to prevent cyber-terrorism. What other story has done that?
Instead, what I found was the first game to truly challenge the way I thought and showed me how video games could ascend to an art form. I found a game so twisted, so enthralling, and so unique that its narrative and characters have stuck with me for years. From the absurd dialogue to the great music, Killer 7 was one of my favorite games on the gamecube, and truly unlike anything else I had ever played on it.
It's what makes me a little sad that Suda 51 has yet to revisit such deep themes in years. No More Heroes was close and at many moments, was just as poignant as its predecessor. But Shadows of the Damned and Lollipop Chainsaw, while fun, simply don't challenge my mentality like Killer 7 did.
To this day, I shudder when I hear the Heaven's Smiles' laughter.
Right, but you can go over to Good Old Games and get the game right now, probably for cheaper then Capcom will ever sell it digitally over a console service.
I bought it this past Christmas when GoG had that awesome half off everything sale and just installed it (and every game I got that night, and the Humble Bundle V games) this past Friday. Now, I see this as as good a reason to play this first as any.
I admit that I never bought Killer7. I wanted it, but lost most of my interest during the extra year or so of delay that was added when they decided to not only port it to the PS2, but to do a simultaneous platform release. That was enough time for my interest to shift to other games.
whatever... RAVE ON! BEST BOSS GATEWAY INTRO MUSIC EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No excuse not to play Killer 7 though, not even comparable games in terms of story of gameplay or...anything.
Everything wrong with this cunting industry in a nut shell.
hell yeah you should join in as well as Scrappy Doo and Grethiwha(the other Dan guy)
we should play who should who.
of course i want Dan Smith :D
for me Killer 7 is one of the grandest games ever, i played this game last year and i was mind fucked on how this game played.
i mean even the opening alone is just wtf O___O
and yes i could understand that some people are not into this.
i mean even the controls at first were weird but after awhile i have gotten used to it.
what i like about this game is just those little clues and bits they presented like the head guy in every corner(even in the washing machine wtf) the puzzles were genius and creative, not to mention the cutscenes man. one minute We're talkin' guys who beat off FOUR TIMES A DAY! the next thing your playing some russian roulette then some unknown power group out to kill ya, and man the way they made the bossfights more into in line in their personality?? godlike.
i agree we would probably never have a game like this(still hoping Killer is Dead is close to this kind of style)
i recommend this game for those who want to be mind fucked and want something new.
the first few levels could be tedious but once you past that your in for a trip
a Suda 50 FUCKING one trip.
you don't know how long i stayed in that place just to hear the music.
truly a mind fucking game :P
i already know you have no plans on making a new game or anything related in the series name.
just because this game doesn't sell "COD Millions" like how you love to brag.
i wish Suda 51 could have this IP, you can't imagine the story and the lore suda 51 would follow up in this series.
and im pretty sure you won't be putting them on UMVC3 since the series is too violent :P
oh and a message from Dan Smith to capcom.
"Yeah, you've changed a lot too, into an old man! I went to see the devil, now it's your turn!"
a big FUCK YOU from Dan Smith
Even though the plot is pretty impenetrable, i think it's one of the best stories i've experienced in a videogame hands down.
I was introduced to Suda via No More Heroes. I still need to play The Silver Case; 3DS remake? Anyone?
~ SPOILER ALERT JUST IN CASE ANY OF THIS IS CORRECT ~
The old man was a retired super assassin with PTSD and multiple personality disorder. As it so happens he was the only man on earth mentally qualified to face down the inherent inhumanity of the Heaven's Smile virus. So most of the game took place inside this insane old man's head, as he sat crippled in his wheelchair. The guy with the Scorpion mask? Didn't even exist. Just another daydream.
Made me a Suda fan, been loyal ever since.