No More Heroes (Review)

No More Heroes (Nintendo Wii)

Rated “M” for “Mature”

Welcome to Santa Destroy.

Population: Dwindling.

In “No More Heroes,” you are Otaku turned assassin Travis Touchdown. Your job is to work your way up the ranks to become the number one assassin. And…that’s about it.

Suda 51 makes the life of an assassin fun. The ways in how you kill people in your way are very fluent with the Wii’s controls. Move Travis with the nunchuk and kill with the Wiimote. Even though you press the “A” button to swing your not-at-all-copyrighted-sword, you control whether you swing high or low by how you hold your Wiimote. And to top it all off, you will be prompted to swing your sword in a certain direction to deliver a deathblow to your foe.

There’s also a slot machine that plays after each kill. Like real slots, it’s all luck. Getting 3 of any symbol gives you an added effect ability that increases the fun factor in your assassinations. Who knew Strawberry On The Shortcake would be so unhealthy.

Not only do you inflict pain with your beam saber, but you can utilize a number of wrestling moves. Travis is a wrestling fan. You’ll find various luchador masks that teach you new maneuvers. You can also watch old videos to emulate what you see on TV. The wrestling cues are just like deathblow cues. Thrust your nunchuk and Wiimote as shown and you will drop your opponent to the ground. And for any wrestling fanatics, the directional cues actually feel like the hold you’re performing.

The style of “No More Heroes” is very much like Suda’s “Killer 7.” The game play is totally different, but the art style is the same; straight out of a comic book. Very colorful. Very graphic. Transitions and camera angles are pulled off well and very stylish to fit the theme of the game. The story…well, there’s not much of one. You work your way up to be the number one assassin and that’s what keeps the game going. It follows the same odd story progression of “Killer 7,” but has less of a story AND is less confusing.

This game very much deserves its “M” rating in every way possible. Things are very over-the-top. Cursing, sexual innuendos, the humor…it’s all there. And of course the most notable is the gallons of blood. Hope you like the color red because it explodes with every kill you make.

The few little complaints (short game length, not so clear map display, slow and mundane tasks to earn money) are far outweighed by the good that Suda 51 packs into “No More Heroes.” If you aren’t one for graphic edginess, confusing content, or just killing then this is obviously not for you. For the killers at heart, this game has everything you could want. The action is fast paced leaving you wanting it to never end. The pop culture humor is funny and not overused. The characters you interact with are all unique and over-the-top. It’s all over-the-top and it’s fun. An action filled stress reliever for your inner assassin.

5 out of 5


X-Play's Review

January 2008 Entry

- Intro -

Just in case there are new readers, I update this thing at least once a month. Kind of like a subscription to a magazine. But the once a month thing is to shed light on some personal going-ons, but nothing too personal. Obviously if I don’t want people to know, I’m not going to put it on a public internet blog. Anything else that goes on here are small little things like video game reviews or something I’m excited about that is going on or happening soon.

- Work -

So far in 2008, work has been more tolerable all around. I don’t know if we’ve all just gotten used to it or that we know that we need to communicate properly to get things done now. Maybe a mixture of both. While stupid projects and complaints still go around, at least we’re not afraid to voice ourselves (when acceptable) about how things are going. Ridiculous deadlines will be there, but we could side step those with better planning.

My stuff…very mundane. One computer to upload PPVs., one computer to capture video footage and make DVDs with., one computer to do important projects on and capture video and make DVDs with and be online with, and one computer to do any miscellaneous tasks it can handle. Yeah, I think my office is the only one that has a fan running even during this spell of cold weather we’ve been having lately.

But my attitude towards work is still on the blah side. I do my stuff and don’t need to be bothered by anyone. I’m always doing something. Even when I’m in the bathroom, my computers are all still doing something so there is almost never a time when I’m not working in some capacity. Do it, collect paycheck, repeat.

- New Year’s Resolutions -

I don’t normally take on any resolutions like most people do with the attitude that they’ll break it quickly. But I took on a couple of small ones.

1. Exercise more.

2. Reprogram myself to get rid of a few OCD habits.

3. Personal (some know of it already).

Doing well on all 3 so far.

- Recent Get-Togethers -

New Year’s Eve, fun like always, right? This was the first time in a few years that it was family and friends. Last couple years were just with friends. This was also the first New Year’s Eve in years without a performance. One was already done at AndyN’s Christmas Bash so no need to do another.

People got some late Christmas presents. “Rock Band” got a lot of people jamming. “Scenes From A Hat” was funny, but I think our try at it during Christmas was funnier. “Questions Only” was a fun time. Watching fireworks, chilling, relaxing, eating, being with close friends and family add up to “Good Way To Start The Year.”

Fun at the park. Don’t get to go to the park that often. Food, throwing of frisbees around, flag football, getting stuff stuck in trees (sorry for accidentally starting that), Twister, and picture taking all around.

Pizza and then back to AndyN’s. Speed Mafia was pretty fun. Ninja Mafia was also funny. Cranium of 2 kinds of course brings out our competitive/jerkoff sides. Monopoly with the credit cards was very high-rolling and somewhat more fun than normal Monopoly.

Happy Birthday, Kids.

- Cheon Sang Ji Hee -

I sure do love them! I’ve decided to track down and buy all their singles. Some tracks on their singles don’t get released on their full albums (like most Asian artists do). There aren’t many. I’m splitting up buying them so I could use up some coupons I have left on Yesasia. It won’t take long to get them all (2-3 more orders should complete it). Some came as CD+DVD packages so I’m getting the ones available. Some were limited edition and out of press so I just get the next best version of it. I’ve only bought one so far (and it came within a week’s time).

- Miscellaneous -

I bought a new belt.

I bought some new cologne.

I bought “The Secret World of Alex Mack” on DVD (LOVE!)

I lost a bet.

I left Xanga (no announcement, just don’t do anything on it anymore).

I think my eyesight is getting worse.

I keep waking up around 3AM on weekdays.

I have already used up 1 vacation/sick day at work.

I eat out at restaurants more (and NOT always 101…geez).

I listen to music on my Ipod all day at work.

I am getting used to my new car.

I had a really great dream not too long ago.

I love “No More Heroes!”

I love BoA*!

I love Cheon Sang Ji Hee!

And that’s 15 “I…” if you cared to count.

Take care.