This game made improvements that I wouldn't expect from a No More Heroes game, for example these are the best regular encounters in the whole series. They didn't have to do that because I don't particularly play these games for the combat but it was a welcome addition and worked out well even if the arenas themselves get a little plain, there is a surprising amount of encounter design and I like all the secret little encounters you can find like Space Sheath.

The map doesn't feel as cohesive as the first game but I do think it's trying to communicate something, there's definitely a theme of gentrification with the rundown Santa Destroy, the beautiful but nostalgia driven "Perfect World" and even Neo Brazil housing a huge stadium seemingly evoking the Brazil Olympics discussion.

The plot itself is the Achilles heel. It's a little nonsensical and I usually wouldn't hold that against a game too much, I think the first game did a good job at communicating a sense of growth and understanding in Travis through the ridiculous situations. This games plot is more "WHOA CRAZY SHIT KAMEN RIDER TAKESHI MIIKE WAHOO WACKY ALIENS" and sometimes it feels like just shit is happening.

But it's hard for me to entirely hate that because this is clearly the last No More Heroes game. They wanted to go balls out and they did, no regrets. It's still a game where I can't guess what'll happen next and that gives it a lotta points for me.

I know some of the fans disagree but I think something that can't be denied is that in spite of the technical issues and obvious unfinished content, this game feels to me like a lot of effort was put into it.

The Miike cutscenes are fine, don't be a bitch. Travis is the exact kinda guy to drone off about one guy like that, and we get to see a more normal down to Earth side of him which is good.

Fun game but I don't find the shield mechanic any more fun than just dodging shots and the backgrounds can be a little too ambiguous amongst all the detail so you crash into shit that looked normal.

It's one of those games where you are forced to take a hit if you don't have enough upgrades.

Beautiful game, I like the story too. The sound design is also really on point. The "Guard Gauge Max" never gets old

I think this game mostly fulfills its "one shot" premise though I have mixed feelings on the Solstice ending as some parts of it are a little too convenient for my taste, particularly being able to "replay" the game but as a recording. Seems like the bolder option would've just been to let me not play it again.

Fun little game though, interesting meta puzzles though repeats itself sometimes.

This game has really really good sound design. I could walk on the gated floors for hours.

Surprisingly decent game.

Skipped literally every cutscene

Being forced to use SAS powers all the time is cool
SAS powers are redundant sometimes and some barely change how you play. Clairvoyance is just "press A to see thing" and cloning just increases damage output which is what Fire basically already does

AND TOO MANY FUCKING POPS UPS! HOLY SHIT! I AM AT THE LAST HOUR OF THE GAME AND I AM STILL GETTING POP UPS EXPLAINING SHIT I ALREADY KNOW! AND MY PARTY WON'T SHUT THE HELL UP WITH THEIR CONSTANT INSIGHTS!

Kickass soundtrack

This will be my only half rating ever.
EVER!

I really really wanna give it 5 stars but the "every weapon but the knife sucks ass and if the RNG decides to toss a non knife weapon at you then you're fucked until the game decides to give you your knife back" problem happens too consistently for it to not be a major problem.

When I got the knife it feels like I'm playing a fantastic action platformer. When I don't have the knife I feel like I'm playing a completely different much worse game.


EDIT: It took a while but I have finally opened myself up to weapon switching upgrade. I have also learned the qualities of other weapons besides the knife, as such my biggest issues with this game have been mostly solved. No longer a half rating.