This review contains spoilers
NOTE:EMULATED ON DOLPHIN. THE PC PORT IS A FUCKING DISASTER DO NOT RECOMMEND.
While it is messy in a lot of places, No More Heroes 1 is an entertaining enough time thanks to its unique style and entertaining premise.
For a game that released on the Wii I was shocked as to just how well the game held up graphically. This is mainly because of how unique it looks for the console, featuring a lot of impressive shadow work and characters that really pop (though the open world can look a bit dull). Speaking of characters that's another spot where the game absolutely shines, with Travis Touchdown being a fun protagonist (who's also an absolute fucking dork) and each of the assassins being entertaining encounters (my favorite being Dr Peace). The engaging combat definitely helps in this regard, never getting repetitive due to just how satisfying it becomes, with the combination of the Katana stances and wrestling moves creating an experience that I can say is truly unique (also getting those multi kills is satisfying as all hell). Last thing to mention is the absolute banger of an OST, with special mention going to the phenomenal main theme N.M.H.
As fun as general combat can be, it's ironic to say that NMH1s biggest issue IS the bosses themselves. While they're all oozing charm and remain a highlight, actually fighting them is a mess. A combination of way too much health and some truly abysmal gimmicks (I fucking despise Holly Summers) makes getting to these bosses more a letdown than an actual reward. Out of the 10 bosses I only really enjoyed Shinobu (a satisfying duel with an amazing setting) and the true final boss Henry (an even better duel which really tests your knowledge of the game). Not helping manners is just how fucking GRINDY the game is, with a majority of the game being spent grinding money to even access these fights. In a shocking twist the actual shitty jobs weren't an issue, as most of them are really easy and don't waste much time (besides Bomb Collecting and Scorpion hunting). The bigger issue is the assassination jobs having dogshit payouts until super late in the game alongside an open world that feels absolutely terrible to navigate (get sprint ASAP). Combine that with all the upgrades and you will be forced to grind for a solid chunk of the 12 hour runtime (I would estimate about half my time was spent grinding). Last thing to note is the actual story, or moreso a lack thereof. Travis for sure grows as a character and his relationship with Sylvia does get pretty interesting near the end but besides that you are left with crumbs for a good majority. Not until the literal LAST TWO BOSSES does the game decide to dump a truckload of backstory that I honestly did not care for because of how late it occurred.
Despite those myriad of issues the first No More Heroes is still a decent time all around. Suda 51 isn't a creator I absolutely adore but I do understand why so many flock to him because of this game (and also Killer 7). A solid start to a cult franchise.
7/10
While it is messy in a lot of places, No More Heroes 1 is an entertaining enough time thanks to its unique style and entertaining premise.
For a game that released on the Wii I was shocked as to just how well the game held up graphically. This is mainly because of how unique it looks for the console, featuring a lot of impressive shadow work and characters that really pop (though the open world can look a bit dull). Speaking of characters that's another spot where the game absolutely shines, with Travis Touchdown being a fun protagonist (who's also an absolute fucking dork) and each of the assassins being entertaining encounters (my favorite being Dr Peace). The engaging combat definitely helps in this regard, never getting repetitive due to just how satisfying it becomes, with the combination of the Katana stances and wrestling moves creating an experience that I can say is truly unique (also getting those multi kills is satisfying as all hell). Last thing to mention is the absolute banger of an OST, with special mention going to the phenomenal main theme N.M.H.
As fun as general combat can be, it's ironic to say that NMH1s biggest issue IS the bosses themselves. While they're all oozing charm and remain a highlight, actually fighting them is a mess. A combination of way too much health and some truly abysmal gimmicks (I fucking despise Holly Summers) makes getting to these bosses more a letdown than an actual reward. Out of the 10 bosses I only really enjoyed Shinobu (a satisfying duel with an amazing setting) and the true final boss Henry (an even better duel which really tests your knowledge of the game). Not helping manners is just how fucking GRINDY the game is, with a majority of the game being spent grinding money to even access these fights. In a shocking twist the actual shitty jobs weren't an issue, as most of them are really easy and don't waste much time (besides Bomb Collecting and Scorpion hunting). The bigger issue is the assassination jobs having dogshit payouts until super late in the game alongside an open world that feels absolutely terrible to navigate (get sprint ASAP). Combine that with all the upgrades and you will be forced to grind for a solid chunk of the 12 hour runtime (I would estimate about half my time was spent grinding). Last thing to note is the actual story, or moreso a lack thereof. Travis for sure grows as a character and his relationship with Sylvia does get pretty interesting near the end but besides that you are left with crumbs for a good majority. Not until the literal LAST TWO BOSSES does the game decide to dump a truckload of backstory that I honestly did not care for because of how late it occurred.
Despite those myriad of issues the first No More Heroes is still a decent time all around. Suda 51 isn't a creator I absolutely adore but I do understand why so many flock to him because of this game (and also Killer 7). A solid start to a cult franchise.
7/10
the biggest blast i had on the wii, and although i don't think playing it on a newer gen console hits the same, the comedy, travis touchdown is an amazing main character that i absolutely worship. genuinely peak videogame
We must pay tribute, the game about an otaku assassin turned out to be too good and I fell in love with it at first sight.
Нужно отдать должное, игра про отаку ассасина оказались слишком годной и полюбилась мною с первого взгляда.
Нужно отдать должное, игра про отаку ассасина оказались слишком годной и полюбилась мною с первого взгляда.
A mostly decent hack-and-slash that's attached to one of the worst open-worlds I've ever had the displeasure of experiencing in a video game, and a progression system that requires LITERAL busywork.
This game inadvertently makes the strongest case for why AI should take over manual labour jobs.
A critique of geek culture and the overall "persona" of the gamer, and the gaming medium itself. No more heroes is a great game, even with its basic gameplay and janky minigames and hub world, it's story and themes elevates it to be a game everyone should play at least once in their lives.
Wouldnt recommend it to people that havent played a lot of games, not because of an elitist sentiment, but because the more involved you are in the medium the better the game transmits its message.
Wouldnt recommend it to people that havent played a lot of games, not because of an elitist sentiment, but because the more involved you are in the medium the better the game transmits its message.
Love Suda's asthetic but the actual gameplay leaves much to be desired. Repetitive, dull and a lot of guesswork when facing off against bosses. Hopefully the sequels are better.
Lá vou eu querer jogar tudo do suda agr, aonde fui me meter.
If you don't look into that much this title can seem pretty underwhelming. But if you look into the story a bit you can read into a great satire on video games as a whole.
Not very interesting.
The gameplay was serviceable, but not very fun, and the story is quite forgettable. Would almost consider this a waste of time.
The gameplay was serviceable, but not very fun, and the story is quite forgettable. Would almost consider this a waste of time.
A lower budget game that benefits from kickass art direction, writing, and music. Travis Touchdown is an all-time video game protagonist. I genuinely love the boring ass city where you just do mundane jobs to make cash. For me at least the gameplay when you're running around Santa Destroy does a great job of emulating the feeling of being a bored teenager during the summer while living in a town that is culturally insignificant.
man so much charm in this game. Suda51 truely is a goat. I love its story it's so fucking weird and so good
Can't find the exit, can't find the exit...
I feel like Suda games are hard to review because so often their good qualities are tied intrinsically to their bad ones. The gameplay is so clunky in places but in a way that feels intentional and not in a cop-out kind of way. There is a depth to the way mechanics and storytelling interact to keep reinforcing that you and Travis are both weird losers doing busywork just because you're told to do so, but it's also so superficial about this theming that you can't help but feel like Suda is just fucking with you for his own amusement. Laser swords are cool though.
really makes you feel like an incel
What zero pussy does to a mf