No More Heroes is one of Suda51's best games and by far his most popular one compared to his previous games such as Killer7, The Silver Case, and Flower, Sun, and Rain. Two of which were not released outside of Japan when this game came out. No More Heroes was a game deserving of its popularity not just because it was one of the few mature games released on the Wii, but also because of its simple but fun gameplay, creativity, and good story.

The game starts off with a badass introduction to Travis Touchdown and a first level & boss that give you a feel for how to use Travis's beam katana in combat and some of the game's other mechanics like the quickstep you can do by dodging at the right time or managing & charging your battery for the beam katana. It's a fantastic introduction as not only do you get straight into the action almost immediately, but also is a fantastic setup for the game's main story.

In contrast to just about every other game by Grasshopper, this game's plot while not completely devoid of serious moments is mostly pretty goofy. Up until the fantastic twist at the end of the game, No More Heroes is about a broke dork who enters a tournament where he kills people for money to buy the typical things an otaku would buy and to get laid. However, in order to progress in the tournament, he still needs to earn money by taking jobs around the town of Santa Destroy.

The open world of Santa Destroy might not be the best hub world to exist, but with the odd jobs around town you'll need to do to get money or the places you'll need to visit to get various items and enhancements it still is successful in getting you immersed in the world of No More Heroes. There are a handful of different jobs including lawn mowing, collecting coconuts, or filling up cars with gas. Some of these are more enjoyable than others, but they are all a unique, alternative way to earn money besides just killing goons.

Over the course of Travis's battles, we get a look at who Travis is as a character and how he grows in his journey to becoming the assassin he is. One primary example is when Travis expresses regret for not killing Holly Summers after she berated him for his hesitation. It adds a level of realism and depth to his character that I enjoyed seeing unfold.

Over the years No More Heroes has become a successful franchise with a handful of games. The series even managed to get representation in Smash in the form of a Mii costume for Travis in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Given the amount of creativity and care that went into making this game, it is very much deserving of the success it has received. It is a fantastic hack-and-slash that is more than worth your time and money.

NMH Is one of the most annoying games I've ever played. Its one of my favorite games ever made.

That sentiment is really hard to explain without experiencing it for yourself. This games flow between its hack and slash gameplay into menial part time jobs is jarring. I hated it. I hated that I couldn't fast travel, that I had to ride this horrible feeling motorcycle, that I couldn't even sprint without finding the lovikov balls that are literally marked on the map so it's not even hard to find them. It's insane to me that SUDA51 did all of this, and made me miss it all when it was over.

Throughout my play through I had so much to say about how the game could be better. After finishing it, I wouldn't change a damn thing.

Mixed feelings. This game has 2 sides, one is a flashy hack-and-slash style action game where you're mowing down hordes of enemies with executions and hilarious wrestling moves, the other is an exercise in patience as you wade through no-hit challenge fights, grit your teeth through horrendous boss fights designed to test your patience, and even be punished for buying clothes and upgrades with repetitive mission grinding that gets worse the more you go on. Overall though, the game's personality, presentation, and characters are strong enough to keep you playing even though why the fuck do I have to wait for this boss to let me hit it three times and why does it have so much health.

Side note: suda needs to make one of those gta5 ripoff mobile games where you just drive around the city on travis' bike and hit people with realistic physics

7/10 Such a lovable mess of a game . I loved the setting and cell shaded comic book art style. It feels like something you’d wake up to randomly while adult swim is on. I will say I wasn’t really a fan of the boss fights. The ones I enjoyed were Holly , Shinobu , and Harvey and while most others were ok I think bad girl’s is just plain bad with all the waiting between her cycles of invincibility and spawning enemies. Again this game is fun and definitely playable but at the same time I don’t want to ever replay it for some odd reason I can’t pinpoint. Absolutely nothing about it feels like it’ll make me want to come back

I actively hate some parts of this game but really loved other parts. I'm glad I played it and I think it was really memorable! I don't think I'd recommend it to most people though.

I've heard some people say that the horrible grindy "open world" helps build a contrast with the exciting and ultraviolent showdowns that you're constantly working towards. I think that's the game's intent, to an extent. I'm not a stranger to praising games for designing in metaphors like this, it's a key aspect of one of my favorite games, Shadow of the Colossus. I just really don't buy it here.

The game seems to have interesting ideas, I just have a hard time taking it seriously when it doesn't seem to be taking itself seriously either. It feels like a joke at the expense of the player, but not one that I find very funny. "Look at this poor bastard! He looooves anime and jerking off. The only thing that brings him joy is horrific violence! He's such a sucker! He's just like you haha. Now run along and do some boring ass work. Just like real life isn't that clever?" Yeah I really do feel like a sucker for slogging through the worst bits of this game while being made fun of the whole time. You really got me. Wow. I get what it was trying to say, I just don't really think it said it in a way that was interesting. I'm all for making fun of gamers, I just don't think you need to make a good chunk of your game shitty in order to do that.

Anyways despite all that, when it's good it's good. It does a great job of being goofy and stylish! I like the combat system, motion controls and all! Probably one of the best examples of a game being designed specifically for the Wii and pulling it off well without feeling dragged down as a result. I'd recommend it for that alone to anyone that cares about that sort of thing. Not much reason to go back to this beyond that though, even if I would say it's good overall.

"Succession" is an extraordinary video game that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling and gameplay. From its captivating storyline to its stunning visuals and immersive sound design, this game truly stands out. The developers have done a phenomenal job in creating a rich and engaging world filled with memorable characters and challenging gameplay mechanics.

I would rate "Succession" a solid 9 out of 10. The game's intricate narrative, combined with its seamless blend of action and exploration, keeps players hooked from start to finish. The attention to detail in the game world is commendable, and the level of polish is evident in every aspect of the gameplay experience.

While "Succession" excels in many areas, there are a few minor issues that prevent it from achieving a perfect score. Some players have reported occasional glitches and technical hiccups, but these are overshadowed by the game's overall brilliance.

In conclusion, "Succession" is a must-play for any avid gamer looking for a captivating and immersive experience. Its engrossing storyline, stunning visuals, and well-crafted gameplay make it a standout title in the gaming industry.

Not the most complex hack and slash you can play, but the amount of style and character put into this classic is enough to make you wanna come back. The infuriating menial tasks really do compliment this gem.

Edit after recent replay: No More heroes was a game that lived in my mind for years before playing it, I remember seeing it on the shelf of a local video rental store when I was a kid and I always thought it looked so cool, years later I watched some videos on it and eventually picked it up when the switch release came out. I thought it was neat at the time, but come me playing it again with a friend I was really able to relish in its wacky absurdity. It is a wonderful deconstruction of nerd culture and the violence that permeates the art we love. It's a game that wastes your time and infuriates you but I honestly would not have it any other way.