Goichi Suda, not only have you become synonymous with just plain awesome games, your name has become one of the greatest and longest-standing puns for an adoring gaming population. (For those who don’t know: his name, “Goichi,” can be broken down into the Japanese “go” (five) and “ichi” (one). Hence, Suda51.) 

Why would I devote time from my amazingly busy and important schedule to write you an ode? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because your games have made such huge impacts not only on my life, but in the gaming community as a whole. 

Just recently I beat Lollipop Chainsaw after a friend of mine recommended I pick it up with the GameStop gift card my Reddit Secret Santa sent me. I walked away from it pretty pleased. The game had a very different premise and main character from the other games Suda has overseen, but it still had that same attitude and feel I’ve become accustomed to. Just like with No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, I found my large, phallic weapon of destruction ripping through hordes of baddies, all in anticipation of the big boss fights that would soon follow.

Anything Suda51 gets involved with seems to call out to me. Whenever I hear about a new project he’s involved in, my ears perk up and I take notice. I’ve been meaning to get Liberation Maiden and Shadows on the Damned for a while and now that I’ve put Lollipop Chainsaw under my belt I think I might be able to once some funds come along.  

But back to the the Suda of it all. This man creates these absurd, comical, and almost satirical worlds with classic gaming throwbacks galore. Whether it’s Lollipop Chainsaw’s levels set inside arcade games or the 8-bit mini-games in NMH2, there’s always a bit of classic mayhem among all the beautiful modern mayhem that fills the screen. And when I’m facing any boss in a Suda51 game, there are TONS of mayhem. Bosses each have a different feel and personality that helps make them memorable. Honestly, I could name all 10 bosses in the first No More Heroes, and probably most of those in the sequel because that’s how good this guy is at creating characters. Even if you’re just going to tear through them in the next 10 minutes, that’s no excuse for not getting to know them. 

I know, I know, I’ve been ranting about my love for a man who is unaware of my existence. But isn’t that what most odes are? 

“Suda51, you have jumped much higher 

than a grasshopper racing towards its mate. 

Your influence will continue to spread like a fire

giving your name increasing weight. 

And although you and I may never meet

I do have but one request. 

If you accept, I promise to be discreet...

Would you please sign my chest?”