No More Heroes 3

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 360 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
No More Heroes 3 Game Cover
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"No More Heroes 3" is an action-adventure game where players control Travis Touchdown, a professional assassin, in his quest to become the number one ranked fighter in the world. The game features hack-and-slash combat, open-world exploration, and humorous pop culture references. In this installment, Travis faces off against a group of alien assassins who have taken over Santa Destroy.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 360 reviews
story22 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • The combat system is the best in the series, offering a satisfying and engaging experience.
  • The game features a quirky and entertaining story with memorable characters and humor.
  • The visuals and soundtrack are impressive, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
  • The open world feels empty and lacks meaningful content, with many areas blocked off.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and bugs, particularly in the PC port.
  • Many features from previous entries, such as multiple beam katanas and pre-boss levels, have been removed or simplified.
  • story106 mentions

    The story of "No More Heroes 3" is a polarizing aspect, with some praising its emotional depth and character development, while others criticize it for being convoluted and inconsistent. Many reviewers noted that the narrative is more focused than in previous entries, incorporating absurd humor and references to other Suda51 games, but it often leaves plot holes and underutilizes certain characters. Overall, while the story may not be the main draw for all players, it offers a unique blend of wackiness and charm that fans of the series may appreciate.

    • “The story is the most focused it's been up to this point, not just having Travis aimlessly climb ranks until story beats hit. We are constantly being clued in as the story progresses outside of Travis' point of view, which doesn't happen in previous games.”
    • “The story is insane but Travis is more of a character than ever before, and the gameplay is the best of the three.”
    • “While people don't necessarily go looking into these games for the story, for a No More Heroes game, this game in my opinion rivals TSA and 1 in terms of the quality of the story. It's sort of a combination of the games, with NMH1 and 2's same get to rank #1 structure, with a revenge plot just like in NMH2.”
    • “The story is bland and empty.”
    • “The story doesn't feel as wacky or deep as the previous games, and the combat took a major hit.”
    • “The interconnected plot of all Suda51 games is also wack, since for 25 years he couldn't do anything with any previous characters; there might as well be zero plot relevance.”
  • gameplay63 mentions

    The gameplay in "No More Heroes 3" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fun and engaging hack-and-slash mechanics while others criticize its repetitive structure and lack of polish. While the combat is considered the best in the series, many players found the open-world exploration and shopping mechanics lacking, leading to a sense of stagnation as the game progresses. Overall, the gameplay offers a blend of nostalgia and innovation, but it struggles with pacing and memorable boss encounters.

    • “Gameplay is an absolute marvel of modern game design.”
    • “Wacky absurd story is traditionally the cherry on top of the super-dynamic and challenging gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay shines really hard for me.”
    • “This has one of the worst shopping mechanics I've ever seen.”
    • “But gameplay-wise, I think they went backwards with this.”
    • “Gameplay is dull and repetitive.”
  • graphics44 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the colorful visuals and character designs while others criticize the lack of artistic direction and technical issues. Many players noted that while the game shows improvements over its Switch version, it still feels limited by its origins, and some recommend using mods to enhance the visual experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but not fully utilizing the potential of Unreal Engine 4, leading to a somewhat disappointing visual presentation.

    • “10/10 aesthetic”
    • “Visually stunning graphics, refined gameplay, and incredible storytelling makes this entry in the series praiseworthy.”
    • “Overall, for a Switch game turned PC port, the graphics definitely got an upgrade.”
    • “Overall, I was just really disappointed in this game, which sucks because, like I said before, there was clearly a lot of time and effort put into its audio and visuals.”
    • “It seems the general visuals lack artistic direction, so simply turning the graphic settings to the max doesn't really save the game.”
    • “Not only can you fix some of the problems by just editing an ini file to fix the graphics, but also the PS5 and Xbox Series versions suffer from other glitches which do not exist here.”
  • music33 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as one of its strongest elements, often describing it as "fantastic" and filled with "certified bangers." Composed primarily by Red Orca, the original soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, making it a highlight even amidst criticisms of other aspects like combat and story. However, a few users noted that while the music is good, it may not always stand out, indicating a mixed reception in that regard.

    • “The music is fantastic, and the way everything is presented is just so damn cool.”
    • “Nmh3 is a must play if you enjoy the KTP series; the story is interesting and fun, the OST slaps hard.”
    • “The plot is fantastic, the music amazing, and all the boss battles are fun and engaging.”
    • “It's hugely disappointing, especially since the presentation and soundtrack is really strong at times.”
    • “The soundtrack is okay for the most part; there were a few songs I did like, but nothing really stood out to me.”
    • “Also, no Masafumi Takada on the soundtrack this time around, so you better like the one track you listen to every time you're in said arenas.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the funny dialogue and character interactions typical of the series, while others find some attempts at humor repetitive or annoying. The self-referential and pop culture-inspired jokes resonate well with fans, though some feel the overall execution lacks polish and can detract from the experience. Despite these criticisms, the humor remains a significant draw, contributing to the game's charm and entertainment value.

    • “Like all of these games had me laughing and smiling from beginning to finish.”
    • “It should be illegal that a banger of a soundtrack is on a funny dialogue game with fluid combat.”
    • “Hilarious and fun dialogue that Suda51 is known for.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting significant glitches and performance issues on the PC version, including poor textures and crashes. While the Steam Deck version performs relatively well at 720p, some users experienced frame rate drops and bugs following updates, indicating that optimization varies across platforms. Overall, despite these issues, many players still found the game enjoyable.

    • “Despite some optimization issues, this was a great time from start to finish and the best the combat has ever been.”
    • “It also helps that it's a very nicely optimized port, minus some FPS drops in the overworld when driving around and a few crashes that happened during my playthrough of the game.”
    • “Performance at 720p is pretty smooth on the Steam Deck, setting aside some video playback problems, and it's a far cry from the Switch release's abysmal performance at times.”
    • “Overall, it's a great game with some glaring glitchy issues on the PC version (poor textures, bad performance, crashes that can literally steal the game away from you), but if it's all that you have, then I say give it a shot.”
    • “The Muteki versions have those visual enhancements mentioned earlier, but it just does not feel as optimized as the Bee Tribe release.”
    • “Whereas the original release ran smoothly without any dips whatsoever even on the highest settings, the Muteki patch makes the game feel a bit less optimized, even on the lowest settings.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while combat can be enjoyable, the grinding aspect of the game is often seen as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the open world and side content. Players note that grinding for resources, such as money for boss battles, detracts from the overall experience, making completion feel like a chore despite a love for the series. Overall, the grind is viewed as a necessary but unenjoyable part of the gameplay.

    • “The grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
    • “I love how the grind feels meaningful, as it leads to real progress and exciting rewards.”
    • “Grinding in this game is a satisfying experience that enhances my overall enjoyment.”
    • “Combat is fun and satisfying, but the open world part of the game is tedious and repetitive.”
    • “This time around, the combat is extremely tedious and boring; the dialogue makes no sense, and the environments feel completely dead and empty.”
    • “The main game objective is grinding money to access boss battles by mainly fighting enemies in small arenas completely unrelated to said boss battles.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game's stability is notably poor, with users reporting numerous bugs and crashes, particularly in the console ports. While some issues can be mitigated through ini file adjustments, players are advised to use the 144 fps option to avoid additional glitches associated with higher frame rates. Overall, the game is considered the most unstable version in the series.

    • “Beware: a common thread with this game is that it does not have native controller support. The game is a port of the Switch version, which is the buggiest version.”
    • “It's way too buggy and crashing.”
    • “Great finale to the Touchdown trilogy; however, make sure to use the 144 fps option instead of the unlimited option, as a few things are buggy when your framerate goes above 300+.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development is praised for its strong design and engaging plot twists, with users highlighting the appealing aesthetics of both returning and new characters. The humor and references to Takashi Miike's filmography further enrich the character experience, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “Not a single character design is bad; they all look great, and it has those classic NMH plot twists.”
    • “Play it for the humor, character designs, and learning all about the filmography of Takashi Miike.”
    • “Outside of the actual graphics, the character designs (for both the returning cast and the new characters), environments, and effects are all really good.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
    • “While the character designs are visually appealing, the actual growth and evolution of the characters throughout the game is disappointing.”
    • “I expected more from the character arcs; they seem to follow predictable patterns without any real surprises or emotional impact.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwrenching narrative, which rivals previous entries in the series, particularly in its unexpected twists and character development. While the story may not be the primary focus for all players, it effectively combines elements from earlier games, offering a gripping revenge plot and unique boss encounters that deepen the emotional experience. Overall, the game expands on the lore and emotional stakes of the No More Heroes universe, providing a satisfying and thought-provoking journey.

    • “A heart-wrenching story about how Travis should have been in Smash Bros as a full fighter.”
    • “While people don't necessarily go looking into these games for the story, for a No More Heroes game, this game, in my opinion, rivals TSA and 1 in terms of the quality of the story. It's sort of a combination of the games, with NMH1 and 2's same get-to-rank #1 structure, with a revenge plot just like in NMH2. The story leads you to all sorts of abstract locations, each with their own unique bosses and gimmicks, making it an emotional journey.”
    • “The ending at least is neat and goes against expectations like a Suda-written game would, expanding on the world of No More Heroes and other games too.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers note a significant decline in the atmosphere compared to its predecessor, indicating that the immersive qualities and overall ambiance have not met expectations.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world like never before.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, making exploration feel both rewarding and eerie.”
    • “There's a huge gap in the atmosphere when compared to the previous installment.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that I expected.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of immersive elements in the atmosphere; it just didn't draw me in.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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