US, February 17, 2009 - "It's certainly true that Jack is a man of many mysteries," says MadWorld director Shigenori Nishikawa. "What I can say is that he isn't someone that you could call a hero in the typical sense."
We're forced to agree. After all, we can't recall any heroes who unflinchingly chainsaw their enemies in half, slam them anus-first onto rusty spikes or lock their heads to the ground with a firm foot and then swing away with a golf club. But Jack is a hero all the same -- one who finds himself competing in a gruesome sport whose roots stretch back thousands of years.
Varrigan City has been taken over by a secret organization. All exits have been blocked off -- there's no way in or out. And when the local police department tries to intervene, its helicopters are shot down in a bold show of force. In a public speech, the President addresses the issue, saying only that operatives have been made aware of the situation and that actions have been taken, but with no specifics and seemingly no immediate help on the horizon, the innocent civilians of Varrigan City are left to fend for themselves.
To make matters worse, the city's new keepers have no pity for those left stranded. They talk of a game called Death Watch -- a fight to the very end for all inhabitants. They encourage all residents to take arms and begin murdering those around them for notoriety. Family members and close friends, they add, are good starting points. And why should anybody take part in such reprehensible acts of violence? Well, because they'll have to if they want to live. Death Watch organizers reveal that they have released a deadly virus into the city and that everybody is infected. Only those who compete in the game will be given the antidote.
"The Death Watch show has a long history, but it is a shady underground event much like back-room wrestling. The organizer's identity has not been revealed," says Nishikawa.
Jack emerges from the darkness, a cigarette in his mouth, and punches out a potential game participant without a second's hesitation. It's here that he meets XIII, who represents the sponsor of the same number. Nothing is known about XIII or his backers, but he knows the rules of Death Watch and sets the musclebound Jack on his way.
Meanwhile, crude commentators details Jack's every move, adding color and humor whenever possible. Who are these commentators and will Jack ever encounter them?
"The commentators will not meet with Jack directly," says Nishikawa. "Why? Because the commentators are viewing the show at a different location via network feeds. For that reason, Jack has no idea what people are saying about him, nor does he care."
As we've played through MadWorld, we've found ourselves continually surprised by the storyline, which is more layered and complex than we had suspected it might be. And according to Nishikawa, there are more twists to come.
"With any story, one should expect the unexpected," he says. "The theme for MadWorld is to challenge the limits, and that challenge extends to our story. Count on it!"
