When you have a hidden bomb to try and defuse, it doesn't help that every mystery you try to solve in order to complete the task takes a more bizarre turn than the last. But that's what happens to Sumio Mondo, as he tries to get to grips with the seemingly endless problem ahead of him in Flower, Sun and Rain.
Taking a leaf out of the film Groundhog Day, this will be the first time gamers outside of Japan will get to play one of the earliest titles from SUDA51, the genius behind cult hits Killer7 and No More Heroes. The lead character, Mondo, is a detective who arrives on the island of Lospass to find a missing object. It doesn't take long before multiple questions are thrown in his face, and clues tend to lead to dead ends or even an even bigger conundrum.
One of the main quirks in the game, besides SUDA51's trademark art style and suggestive humour, lies within the suitcase that Mondo holds. Called Catherine (hey, it's a better name than Bob), it contains a memo pad which you can scrawl hints on using the touch screen, with a list of items encountered in the game and a jack port, which is used in conjunction with a combination lock to uncover people's secrets - Johnny Mnemonic style!
Originally released on the PlayStation 2, the Nintendo DS version offers alternative control using the touch screen, along with interactive guidebooks to aid you in your journey. Fans have been asking for an official release over here ever since Killer7, and the title has been faithfully ported to the handheld, which should make Flower, Sun and Rain another cult hit for Grasshopper Manufacture.