The stereotype of the internally-focused Japanese developer has taken another blow with Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid overlord) telling Famitsu magazine about his three top picks for 2010 - and they're all Western-developed:
"I think there are three games that stand out above the rest of the pack in the remainder of this year. One is Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, one is Uncharted 2, and the third is Assassin's Creed II. Those three are just incredible."
Kojima reserved special praise for Assassin's Creed II:
On ACII designer Patrice Desilets:
"Assassin's Creed II has been watched since before it was made, what with the first game selling over 8 million copies worldwide. You have intense pressure from the publisher and from gamers, but you still have to keep your schedule and strive to improve on the last game. I think that pressure has crushed more than a few creators over the years, but Patrice overcame it and clawed his way to the end of the project. I think he's a genius for achieving that, and I'm really looking forward to what he does in the future."
On ACII the game:
"I think a lot of recent Western games concentrate on style and the 'you are there' feel, but Patrice's games are still focused squarely on game design. The graphics have improved, but the system itself is a definite improvement over the last game. I think there are very few sequels like that. Any sequel needs to take in feedback from users and try to do what couldn't be done last time, but with Assassin II, they worked really hard to advance the real core of the game, the way you assassinate people. It's really great."
We'd rather choke ourselves than use the term "bromance", but...
Kojima also hinted at a bit of a subversive streak - cop this explanation on why he is making Peace Walker on PSP:
With the PS3, you've got a whole range of middle- and high-school kids who can't play your game because their parents don't let them play video games at home. Those kids can whine at their parents all day about how the game's anti-war and anti-nukes, but they'll just respond 'Well, you're still killing people with guns, aren't you?' and brush it off. I wanted to go the extra mile for gamers in that sort of situation. That was one of the reasons I chose the PSP.
Hideo Kojima - giving firepower to those in need.
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