No More Heroes

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,029 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
No More Heroes Game Cover
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No More Heroes is an action-packed third-person game set in a 3D sandbox universe. The story follows Travis Touchdown, an assassin on a quest to become the best in the world. Players will hack and slash their way through enemies using a variety of weapons and moves, while exploring the open world of Santa Destroy, California. The game features a unique scenario and stylish visuals, taking advantage of the Wii's motion controls for a thrilling experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Wii
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,029 reviews
story84 positive mentions
stability80 negative mentions
  • No More Heroes is a unique and entertaining game with a hilarious story and memorable characters.
  • The combat is fun and satisfying, with engaging boss battles that keep players hooked.
  • The game's quirky humor and self-aware narrative make it a standout title in the hack-and-slash genre.
  • The PC port is poorly optimized, with frequent crashes, audio issues, and a lack of keyboard and mouse support.
  • Many achievements are broken or unobtainable, which frustrates completionists.
  • The open world feels empty and tedious, requiring players to grind for money through repetitive side missions.
  • story436 mentions

    The story of "No More Heroes" is a quirky and absurd narrative centered around Travis Touchdown, a stereotypical otaku who aspires to become the world's top assassin. While the plot is often nonsensical and filled with bizarre characters, it is engaging and humorous, featuring unexpected twists and a self-aware tone that resonates with players. However, the gameplay loop requires grinding through repetitive side missions to progress, which can detract from the overall experience despite the captivating storytelling.

    • “However, even those who find the gameplay wanting may still enjoy its colorful characters and bizarre story.”
    • “The story here really is what's going to keep you wanting to play.”
    • “The story and dialogue are often off the rails and do not make much sense, but it somehow works fantastically.”
    • “The game doesn't have much of a plot but it doesn't try to pretend like it does; it's just silly fight after silly fight.”
    • “The story of the game is pretty basic, straightforward, and even predictable; the whole plot is just the main character wanting to seduce the woman that gives him jobs to assassinate other assassins so he can move up the ranks.”
  • gameplay187 mentions

    The gameplay in "No More Heroes" is characterized by its simple yet engaging hack-and-slash mechanics, featuring a unique combat system that includes high and low attacks, a slot machine mechanic for special abilities, and a variety of mini-games and side missions. While some players appreciate the addictive nature and distinct style, others criticize the dated mechanics, repetitive gameplay loop, and occasional bugs, particularly in the ported version. Overall, the game offers a fun experience bolstered by its quirky characters and offbeat story, though it may not appeal to those seeking deeper gameplay complexity.

    • “The gameplay is excellent, the characters are fun and interesting, and the whole aesthetic and style of the game is unique and badass.”
    • “The game's unique blend of hack-and-slash combat, open-world exploration, and outrageous boss battles creates a thrilling and unpredictable gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay has the right amount of depth to keep you engaged, but is still accessible enough and easy to get the hang of.”
    • “Worst handling motorcycle in the history of video games, emptiest open world since Assassin's Creed 1 to traverse on your worst motorcycle, teeth-grinding side missions (some of them broken due to being tailored to Wii's original motion stick inputs), some bugs here and there, pretty basic gameplay, and yet it's worth playing just for the wacky and weird main story and cast.”
    • “No More Heroes is a very fun concept with a delightful cast of characters which is brought down by its repetitive and outdated gameplay loop, nonsensical plot line, and, at least on Steam, glitched achievements.”
    • “Let me be clear: if you're looking for something deep, something thoughtful, something that requires a fine art of gameplay... go play something else.”
  • graphics151 mentions

    The graphics of "No More Heroes" have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the unique cel-shaded art style and vibrant colors, while others criticize the outdated visuals and lack of graphical options in the port. Users report frequent graphical glitches, limited settings (only anti-aliasing available), and performance issues, particularly in the PC version, which feels like a poorly executed port from the Switch. Overall, while the aesthetic can be captivating, the technical execution leaves much to be desired.

    • “It blends elements of horror and dark comedy with its beautiful cel-shaded art style and gory visuals to consistently grab your attention throughout the game.”
    • “Visually, No More Heroes presents a striking visual style that combines cel-shaded graphics, vibrant colors, and comic book-inspired cutscenes.”
    • “The game's art direction pays homage to various pop culture references and manga aesthetics, creating a visually captivating and dynamic world.”
    • “Very bad port, it shows me with a blue-tinted color screen, graphical glitches, and sometimes crashes when loading to a new map.”
    • “The PS2-era graphics and super clunky controls are too much for me now to enjoy it.”
    • “Terrible port, the graphics options are non-existent and the game stutters constantly. I have a 3090 and am running it off an SSD; this game originally came out on the Wii.”
  • humor126 mentions

    The humor in "No More Heroes" is characterized by its absurdity, irreverence, and self-awareness, often blending lowbrow jokes with quirky dialogue and bizarre scenarios that may not appeal to everyone but resonate with fans of Suda51's style. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance intense combat with comedic elements, creating memorable moments that are both hilarious and engaging. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, many agree that it adds a unique charm and depth to the overall experience.

    • “It's absurd, it's hilarious, and it gets so bizarre that it often doesn't make a lot of sense.”
    • “The game has hilariously corny dialogue and an undeniably lovable sense of self-aware humor.”
    • “Another thing I really enjoy about No More Heroes is that it doesn't take itself very seriously; the protagonist Travis Touchdown is really funny and loves to break the fourth wall, he's pretty much the Deadpool of video games in my opinion.”
  • music93 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and memorable soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience and complements the game's unique characters and story. Many reviewers highlight specific tracks and themes that resonate with the gameplay, making it a standout feature despite some technical issues with audio mixing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major draw, contributing significantly to the game's charm and nostalgia.

    • “The cheery on top is the kickass soundtrack that makes any part of the game instantly memorable and more enjoyable.”
    • “The music is fantastic, the gameplay feels amazing, and the bosses are some of the most fun I've seen in a long while.”
    • “The soundtrack is something that I really love and is probably one of my favorite things in the game.”
    • “Just to get it out of the way: combat is repetitive and can be completely brute forced (for the most part), grinding for money can get extremely tedious, the overworld is weirdly empty, and there's some technical issues like enemy dialogue and sound effects being extremely loud relative to the music.”
    • “Enemies' death yells almost break my speakers while the music is quiet.”
    • “The game has v-sync forced on without any way to disable it (as far as I'm aware), at least one song has been removed due to a lapse in licensing, the audio distorts often, and there's no way to change the resolution of the textures in-game, resulting in some pretty blurry and artifact-filled jpegs.”
  • stability86 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of graphical glitches, audio issues, and frequent crashes, particularly during key moments like boss fights and menu transitions. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these problems, many express frustration over the lack of polish and persistent bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the port is considered buggy and in need of significant updates to improve stability.

    • “It’s a pretty good port; one noticeable issue is excessive audio clipping (mainly when you kill more than one enemy), but it is playable and runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Also runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “A lot of people are complaining about the port being 'bare bones,' and yes, you could say that, but at the end of the day, the game still runs great and plays surprisingly well, especially for a game that originally released for the Nintendo Wii and its motion control attack system.”
    • “Very bad port; it shows me with a blue-tinted color screen, graphical glitches, and sometimes crashes when loading to a new map.”
    • “The port includes issues such as screen tearing at high FPS, freezes on the boss kill menu, crashes if you pause after loading, graphical pop-ups, subtitles turning on/off, incorrect button layouts if you aren't using joy-cons, and more.”
    • “The only issue I had is the fact that once I get gig 3 and 4 from the work center guy, the whole game becomes a buggy mess and it soft locks, crashes, and freezes.”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to engage in monotonous side missions to earn money for progression. While some players find enjoyment in the mini-games and quirky story, many express frustration over the excessive grinding needed to unlock bosses and upgrades, leading to a sense of unnecessary padding in gameplay. Overall, the grinding detracts from the experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging part of the game.

    • “The hack and slash is decent, but in order to progress, you have to grind a lot of cash doing tedious and repetitive side missions.”
    • “Just to get it out of the way: combat is repetitive and can be completely brute forced (for the most part), grinding for money can get extremely tedious, the overworld is weirdly empty, and there are some technical issues like enemy dialogue and sound effects being extremely loud relative to the music.”
    • “Doing jobs or assassination missions to farm money for each story mission or buy upgrades is also tedious as it requires you to drive to each job, which can be all the way across the map, then drive all the way back to the job center to repeat the mission.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting performance issues such as micro-stuttering, crashes, and poor resolution options, even on high-end systems. While some players noted that the game runs better on PC compared to its original Wii version, the overall consensus is that it remains a poorly optimized port that requires patches or a complete re-release to address its shortcomings. Despite these issues, some players still found enjoyment in the game itself, suggesting that it may be worth playing if one can overlook the technical flaws.

    • “Great game, no issues regarding performance or quality.”
    • “There isn't really much else to say about this port, it's the Wii game ported straight to PC with a control scheme that works pretty damn well and with solid performance.”
    • “Only performance drops I had in 4K were when I was killing multiple goons with one death blow.”
    • “Like everyone else has said, do not buy this game because it's poorly optimized, even 4-5 years after release.”
    • “I love Suda51 and his games, but this game is horribly optimized. I suggest the publishers patch it or even fully pull the plug and re-release a proper version.”
    • “The LOD is pretty terrible; the game will run at your native resolution only. It runs like garbage on lower-end systems when I tried this on my laptop (this is a Wii game, it should run on a toaster), and while it's 60fps locked, there's a decent amount of micro-stuttering even if you use a decent rig (I have a GTX 1080 home rig).”
  • character development18 mentions

    The game excels in character development through imaginative and memorable designs that showcase distinct personalities and styles. The writing is praised for its humor and engaging storytelling, which enhances the overall experience and keeps players invested. Despite some technical issues, the unique character designs and vibrant presentation contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The character designs are imaginative and memorable, each boasting their own distinct personality and style.”
    • “No More Heroes also shines in its storytelling and character development.”
    • “The real drive for me to get to the end was the unique character designs.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with reviewers expressing disappointment over what they perceive as a lazy port and a lack of support for bugs and crashes. Many fans of the developer, Suda51, feel disillusioned and are unwilling to invest in the series until significant improvements are made.

    • “An abandoned cash grab; I'll wait another decade before I buy from this series. Maybe by then a fan will fix the crashes and bugs for them.”
    • “I love Suda51 and his games, but cash grabs like this, I don't support.”
    • “To me, this looks like a quick cash grab with a lazy port.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its engaging characters, stylish visuals, and a quirky, playful tone that enhances the overall experience. The inclusion of various mini-games and side activities adds depth and variety, offering players enjoyable breaks from the main storyline while preserving the game's vibrant ambiance.

    • “Additionally, the inclusion of various mini-games and side activities adds depth and variety to the gameplay experience, providing a welcome break from the main storyline while maintaining the game's quirky and playful atmosphere.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Players note that the game offers decent replayability, especially after recent updates that resolved controller issues, enhancing overall playability. However, some minor issues still persist.

    • “The game offers decent replayability, keeping players engaged for multiple playthroughs.”
    • “The recent update fixed the controller issue, making the game much more playable and enhancing the overall replayability.”
    • “With the improvements made, the game now has much better replayability, allowing for a more enjoyable experience.”
    • “Decent replayability.”
    • “Decent replayability.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a disjointed blend of themes, including absurdity, humor, and intense drama, which creates a chaotic yet engaging experience. However, this lack of cohesion may leave players feeling disconnected from the overall narrative and tone.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

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Play time

20hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
11hMain story
20hCompletionist
12-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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