The Silver Case Remake
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 3:21 pm
I know a few will wet themselves over this:
OL wrote: Mainly, it's that it's Suda before he almost entirely lost his artistic edge. I would have named him as one of the few legitimate artists working in games back when he did Killer 7 and Flower, Sun, and Rain (the Silver Case precedes those).
But then he did No More Heroes, which was really just silliness for silliness' sake; a good game, but none of it meant anything. And ever after, his games seem to have leaned closer to NMH in style; crazy and WTF-inspiring (which is fun, don't get me wrong), but totally lacking in narrative depth. They're mainly just dick jokes and fourth-wall-breaking now.
So the excitement over the Silver Case, for me at least, comes from the hope that it'll have the same kind of unique depth to it that Killer 7 and FSR had. Not to mention that the Silver Case apparently takes place in the same universe as FSR.
■ Introduction
1999: Japan, the “24 Wards”.
A string of serial murders is terrorizing the nation.
All clues that the detectives have uncovered so far, point to one well known perpetrator, Kamui Uehara, the deranged criminal at the center of the infamous “The Silver Case” murders many years prior. But Kamui Uehara is no longer around…
With the string of mysteries, pointing to an impossible suspect, just what is really going on?
■ Gameplay
Combining elements of adventure games and visual novels to create a new and unique experience, The Silver Case invites the player to solve puzzles and experience the story in first-person perspective as a member of the Public Safety Department’s “Republic” Special Forces unit.
Features
Unconventional and unexpected storylines
Characters with vivid personalities
Two scenarios:
Transmitter: the detectives hunt down the truth
Placebo: a freelance writer explores the story
Complete graphic enhancement
The unique Film Window System
In English for the first time ever
■ Film Window System
The Silver Case will be bringing back the Film Window, the system developed by SUDA51 to bring a more dramatic display of text & imagery to players of adventure games.
By displaying game graphics and text in moveable windows, the location of on-screen elements can be adjusted for dramatic purposes and keep the player interested.
Testugoro Kusabi
Detective previously assigned to the original “Silver Case”. Currently working as a special agent for Heinous Crimes Unit 2.
Sumio Kodai
Detective and current partner to Kusabi.
Kamui Uehara
Criminal responsible for the original “Silver Case” murders. Recently escaped from a psychiatric hospital.
Daigo Natsume
Detective that was previously involved in the original “Silver Case”. Now leads the Public Safety Department’s Special Forces unit, “Republic”.
Chizuru Hachisuka
Daughter of the mayor of the 24 Wards. Works in the Heinous Crimes Unit with Kusabi and Kodai.
■ Specs
Original Staff:
Director: Goichi “Suda 51” Suda
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
PC Version Staff:
Producer: Goichi “Suda 51” Suda
Active Gaming Media
Playism
Release Date: Fall 2016 (estimated)
Platform: PC
Languages: Japanese, English
Supported Peripherals: Gamepad, Keyboard and Mouse
I am happy to announce that the long-awaited Silver Case HD remastered version will finally be available as promised.
This title was originally released in 1999, but was never released outside of Japan until today.
The English version will also be available, another promise made to you and will be on Steam, Playism, and other platforms.
Silver Case is returning in Fall 2016.
In the year 2016, please give support for Let It Die and Silver Case.
—SUDA51
When asked why it was coming only to PC, Suda said that he "wanted to make sure that there would be a large number of people that can play it." Developing it in the multiplatform Unity engine could also allow Grasshopper to bring it to other platforms later, he said.
The Silver Case's remake is also related to Suda's broader desire to keep old games playable. He lamented that there are many young gamers who can't experience The Silver Case, for example.
"Since these games can't be played anymore, something must be done," he said.
Suda wants younger gamers to experience Grasshoppper's catalog. He also wants to address a burden for veteran gamers. In either case, anyone who wanted to play The Silver Case today would need both the software and the hardware. That's difficult, he said, and remaking The Silver Case for modern hardware could help both.