What is so downright enjoyable about No More Heroes that it has caught my eye? There is nothing quite like it. There is this insane, downright hilarious and simple world waiting to be explored. Yet it is like everything else out there, too. It takes tropes from every other game and mishes and mashes them together to create something so outrageous that one cannot help but become absorbed into its world.
In case you didn’t know, the plot for No More Heroes is refreshingly simple: Travis won a beam katana in an online action and is now the 11th-ranked assassin in the United Assassins Association. So there are two options: He can die from another assassin, or he can rise to No. 1. Which would you choose?
The plot’s surreal and absurd nature is downright addictive as what is around each corner is a surprise. Whether it comes from the parodying of boss names or the advancement of the plot, it is just plain fun. But Travis is not just some superficial sociopath. He has a cat he deeply cares about. And he has no interest in murdering people whom he perceives as innocent.
Gameplay is a mixture of different types but is ultimately a hack-’n’-slash. Travis is free to explore the town of Santa Destroy on his motorcycle. There are various jobs to unlock as he rises in ranks and earns varying amounts of pounds (the town’s currency). This unlocks assassination jobs, which are ranked by difficulty. Each “round” consists of the following: Run around town and earn money for the next rank, spend time at the gym or a shop and then annihilate the competition. Lather, rinse and repeat.
The thing is, the game controls rather darn well. Locking onto opponents is easy, and hitting the A button allows you to whack to your heart’s content. Dodging is done by pressing left, right or down on the d-pad on the Wii-mote. After you’ve removed all of an enemy’s health, you will be then asked to move the Wii-mote in the proper direction for a gruesome and satisfying death move. Does it matter the direction? No, but that also seems to be the point. It seems to be mocking games that make an overly big deal about motions.
It is important to know there are jobs (minigames) to complete. Most of them are not worth a few playthroughs as they can be a little tricky at first, but they are also not as lucrative as the assassination sidequests. Some have you tilting the Wii-mote to influence the direction (lawn mowing) while others have you flipping it upward to pick up something.
The graphics certainly support this cycle. The game’s style is a mixture of retro-styling and cel-shaded world. The town itself is downright drab, with only the points of interest actually sporting some personality. Hotspots have their own symbol created out of pixels. The world itself comes off as surprisingly clean, yet underneath everything it is anything but “sanitary.” Loading times are frequent and a bit long, but it continues this clash between thoughts by changing the textures: Foreground will be nice and smooth while the background becomes another texture. And did I mention that it is dichromatic?
Sound wise, there isn’t much new to the table. The katanas sound electricfying, gunfire is heard and footsteps trace Travis’ journey. Music is simple and ranges from pianos to guitars and is downright catchy for its duration. And it all races back and forth between old-school bleeps and new-school aesthetics. Voice acting is downright awesome and helps sell each outrageous personality of the characters involved.
Is No More Heroes worth your time? My answer is “yes.” Behind the glitz and blood is a persistent question: Who is going to save you since there are no more heroes? Mom and Dad might be gone or busy with their lives. Allies might only be those with whom you have developed rapport at stores. Significant others may also be busy with their own lives but able to support you from the sidelines. Same is true for those in the afterlife. So the question remains: Who will save you?
Suffice to say, No More Heroes with its outrageous styling, satire and fun gameplay is a fun ride from start to finish. No wonder this is one of the games that helped put the Wii on the map. And I’m one of those people who find kiloliters of blood spilled a bit too much. You can find it for about $20. So, are you up to being a hero?
