The Japanese console game software market is much, much smaller than the North American console game software market. Look at vgchartz sales stats. In Americas, total gaming software sales are 5.5 times the size of Japanese gaming software sales. So that 14,674 for the PS3 is the equivalent of doing 80k first week in Americas.
So the whole "No More Heroes is more popular in the west" mantra is a myth. It only appears that way because North America is a much larger market than Japan. No More Heroes 2 is sitting at 90k in North America and it's been almost 3 months already. I think it's safe to say that No More Heroes is probably equally niche in both Japan and the west these days. With Japan being more front-loaded and the west probably having more legs (assuming that NMH2 sees a boost when it's down to $30 and under).
That all said, it's hard to say whether NMH has more appeal with the HD audience.
Things working in favor of HD versions
- Japanese VAs for Heroes Paradise, no such option with the original version on the Wii (though I suspect that most Japanese will be playing Heroes Paradise with the English VAs. For authenticity sake. The Japanese voice overs seem out of place. The game is based in California, stars an American otaku for a protagonist and features a western cast of characters.)
- NMH chicks in bikinis and such
- Xbox 360 version is uncensored, Wii version is censored
- Reduced price for release
Things working against HD versions
- 2+ year port
While the 2+ year port delay hurts the HD versions, the HD versions have a lot working towards their favor as well.
Whether you feel the Wii or the HD consoles are more suited, I will say this: The Xbox 360 sales are damn impressive for such a small install base. But it doesn't surprise me. And it's nost just because it's uncensored. That's not the only reason. Why would almost half of this game's HD console audience even has an Xbox 360 to begin with when the Xbox 360's "HD market share" is only 20% in Japan? It's because No More Heroes is a niche game and niche gamers are a heck of a lot more likely to own a 360 over there than mainstream gamers. So I'd say it's a combination of uncensored content AND the niche hardcore demographic of the game that played into the Xbox 360's advantage.
Anywho, I hope Heroes Paradise gets brought over to North America. No More Heroes isn't the same without motion controls but I wouldn't mind playing it again with the gamepad for the achievements.
Here's a clip of Minowaman (Japanese mixed martial artist) playing Heroes Paradise. ROFL. I love Minowaman. One of my favorite Japanese fighters.
