Hmm. I actually feel like the biggest fool in the world right now. I mean, making Suda51's studio and the horror genre come together with EA as their sugardaddy is just... genious. Really think about it. for a minute, anyone that has played a Grasshopper labeled game knows what I'm talking about.

*Warning: Spoilers on Killer 7*

Lets take their most influential game in the west: Killer 7, right? (Haven't played No More Heroes yet) Even tough that game wasn't really trying to be a dedicated horror game, like the Silent Hill or Resident Evil series, and was going more for a shooter on rails experience... MAN! was that game friggin creepy. The Heaven Smiles where like the result of what would have happened if The Joker had his way with the T-Virus. The barrier breaking was done by some lady who had a spirit that slit her wrist and the blood would disintegrate the barriers. Their were themes in the missions of dudes kidnapping little kids and sold their organs in the black market, plus since the main antagonist in that mission liked "little boys", he would stuff the little girls like if they were teddy bears, your victims would be bound yo serve you in the after life and an anorexice dude in a ball gag and S&M red suit is your faithful companion. The setting where as normal as they come i.e. houses, theme parks, schools, etc. but they were creepy scary and not cliche post apocaliptic or silent hill foggy scary, even when some settings where in bright daylight, their was something so creepy that got under your skin.

Not only does Grasshopper creep you out with settings and mild antagonists but also the boss fights, I love those boss fight... sure they  are frustrating at first but they are so friggin creative and rewarding (sometimes in a good yet creepy way). The duel with the pedophile, the marksmanship with the little anime maid girl, the 5 on five duel with the Beautiful Men, the train "cat and mouse" strategy against Almeyda... it was so awsome. Now just imagine getting all that creepiness inside a dedicated horror game. I think I would never play another one of those games ever again, or probably get so desensetised after playing it that RE and Silent Hill would be like: "Whatever" when I play them. Maybe it will up the ante and horror games will start getting creative and not just rely on their past i.e. RE5, no strifying? Bad form!

Of course, it's fair to say that even though I admire their sense of style or whatever creativeness that bubbles inside the risk taking / middle finger showing Grasshopper studio, they can get a bit over the top or nonsensical with there themes... just a bit... a tinsy bit that borders alot in some aspects of their games. Which is where EA comes in, and they will be the dude giving the thumbs up or down on the final results and what needs to be changed, because that at times the gameplay and maybe concept of what GH tries to put out is over the top to the point where many of the people just like the games because of the risk they take or because it looks weird and I bet they would really like the game even more if it had a more solid gameplay and people could understand most of what is trying to be said through themes and symbolism in the games. Its like when an artist makes a figure of clay and he might see friggin "Desperation" and "Sorrow" hugging humankind and people who go see his work in a gallery just see a ball.
Plus, EA's "The Watchers" type of aproximation to developers is very friendly and non interferal in nature so they will not cramp GH's style but rather based on the up coming results maybe suggest and if necesary strongly advise some twicking and smoothness around the corners. Then again, I'm very very afraid of some kind of Need For Speed ProStreet or Battlfield: Bad Company DLC product placing / marketing hell scenario to occur which is a very very strong possibility with any publisher and EA's track record. Oh, well as long as the game comes out great overall... afterall nothing is perfect.


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