"No More Heroes 3 feels like a punk band playing on busted amps duct-taped to hell" - 6/10 IGN
I feel like you have to start with the presentation when talking about this game. I have, no exaggeration, never seen anything like it. The only way I can describe it is throwing everything at the wall and somehow having it all stick. In an era where games feel so designed by committee, where all UI values being sleek over having any personality, this game feels like a example of how worthwhile it is to say fuck all that. It's a delight!
The actual technical side of things does leave a lot to be desired. I don't envy Grasshopper basically trying to do an open world while on a budget, on UE4, and on Switch, which is probably the worst combo you could imagine for one. But yeah, it's exceedingly ugly and the open world performance is bad. The open world performance I find less acceptable (though it's actually a pretty solid 60fps in combat which is remarkable) but the crusty visual quality... it's maybe a bit lame to excuse it, I would like it to be better, but it does feel kinda punk, doesn't it? Busted amps and duct taped to hell.
The combat is the best in the series hands down, at least when it comes to actually being engaging. Enemies do get pretty spongy late game which I found to slow the pace too much for me but that's really my only big complaint. Enemy variety is solid and the enemies themselves are well designed/considered. Enemies are just as aggressive when off screen as on, which will probably cause some debate but I found the game throws them at you in small enough numbers that it never felt unmanageable. The combat is still simplistic in comparison to the action game greats but it nails exactly what it needs to nail which is that visceral, blood pumping feeling.
The story has me a bit mixed. I think it's definitely a step down from Travis Strikes Again, which felt so personal and like it actually had some big themes it wanted to explore. There might be some more depth beneath the surface in NMHIII than I'm giving it credit for but the game definitely feels less like it has something to say than TSA or NMH1. That said man if it isn't a fun time. More about character moments than grander themes but it managed to surprise me constantly on top of being genuinely funny.
I've got a lot more thoughts but don't know if I could get them all out right now. I'll just say I spent most of this game really enjoying the ride and even if it doesn't reach the storytelling heights of the other NMH games Suda wrote (so, not 2) it still knows how to get you hyped as fuck and to genuinely laugh out loud. Really just glad he got to make this game and excited to see where the studio goes next now that it feels like Suda is more willing to go hands on again. Now lets get that spirit hunting horror game starring Yuki, Midori, and Tokio!
I feel like you have to start with the presentation when talking about this game. I have, no exaggeration, never seen anything like it. The only way I can describe it is throwing everything at the wall and somehow having it all stick. In an era where games feel so designed by committee, where all UI values being sleek over having any personality, this game feels like a example of how worthwhile it is to say fuck all that. It's a delight!
The actual technical side of things does leave a lot to be desired. I don't envy Grasshopper basically trying to do an open world while on a budget, on UE4, and on Switch, which is probably the worst combo you could imagine for one. But yeah, it's exceedingly ugly and the open world performance is bad. The open world performance I find less acceptable (though it's actually a pretty solid 60fps in combat which is remarkable) but the crusty visual quality... it's maybe a bit lame to excuse it, I would like it to be better, but it does feel kinda punk, doesn't it? Busted amps and duct taped to hell.
The combat is the best in the series hands down, at least when it comes to actually being engaging. Enemies do get pretty spongy late game which I found to slow the pace too much for me but that's really my only big complaint. Enemy variety is solid and the enemies themselves are well designed/considered. Enemies are just as aggressive when off screen as on, which will probably cause some debate but I found the game throws them at you in small enough numbers that it never felt unmanageable. The combat is still simplistic in comparison to the action game greats but it nails exactly what it needs to nail which is that visceral, blood pumping feeling.
The story has me a bit mixed. I think it's definitely a step down from Travis Strikes Again, which felt so personal and like it actually had some big themes it wanted to explore. There might be some more depth beneath the surface in NMHIII than I'm giving it credit for but the game definitely feels less like it has something to say than TSA or NMH1. That said man if it isn't a fun time. More about character moments than grander themes but it managed to surprise me constantly on top of being genuinely funny.
I've got a lot more thoughts but don't know if I could get them all out right now. I'll just say I spent most of this game really enjoying the ride and even if it doesn't reach the storytelling heights of the other NMH games Suda wrote (so, not 2) it still knows how to get you hyped as fuck and to genuinely laugh out loud. Really just glad he got to make this game and excited to see where the studio goes next now that it feels like Suda is more willing to go hands on again. Now lets get that spirit hunting horror game starring Yuki, Midori, and Tokio!