Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition
- October 17, 2019
- GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamTravis is living the trailerpark dream in the rural South when Badman comes knocking to avenge his daughter, Bad Girl. It looks like Game Over for Travis when both of them are sucked into the legendary Death Drive Mk II games console. This time, the games are taking the fight to you! The characters of the Death Drive Mk II's diverse game library aren't going to go down without a fight! Slice your …
Reviews
- A love letter to indie games and Suda51's legacy, filled with references to his previous works.
- The writing is fantastic, with engaging dialogue and a unique narrative style that keeps players invested.
- The game offers a charming and quirky atmosphere, making it a fun experience for fans of the No More Heroes franchise.
- Gameplay can be repetitive and lacks depth, often leading to boredom during extended play sessions.
- Combat mechanics feel simplistic and can become monotonous, with limited enemy variety and strategies.
- The visual novel segments can drag on, and some levels are poorly designed, making them tedious to navigate.
- gameplay102 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Travis Strikes Again" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and shallow, particularly in combat mechanics that fail to evolve throughout the game. While some appreciate the fast-paced, arcade-style action and the variety of skills and mechanics introduced in each stage, others criticize the overall lack of depth and the tediousness of certain levels. Despite its artistic presentation and engaging writing, the gameplay often feels like a secondary focus, leading to a less satisfying experience for those seeking more complex mechanics.
“A fast-paced, arcade-style combat system that allows you to acquire a variety of skills to shake up the action, with each stage introducing new basic mechanics to keep the experience fresh throughout.”
“Intense and diverse gameplay filled with humor that may not appeal to everyone, yet remains enjoyable and engaging.”
“The gameplay is fun, albeit a little repetitive, but the unlockable characters and multitude of possible skill setups can lead to very creative gameplay.”
“The gameplay (specifically combat) is the weakest part, often repetitive and does very little to evolve over the course of the game.”
“The gameplay is monotonous and boring and gets repetitive insanely fast; it's difficult to tell where you are a lot of the time, and everything just takes way too long to do.”
“Garbage shallow gameplay, garbage ego-jerk writing.”
- story80 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of "Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its meta-commentary and character introspection, while others find it incoherent and lacking depth. It serves as a bridge between the second and third installments of the series, filled with references and a unique visual novel style, but many feel the gameplay detracts from the narrative experience. Overall, while the story has its merits, particularly for fans of Suda51's work, it may not be engaging enough to recommend for those unfamiliar with the franchise.
“The story itself is well-paced, engaging, emotional, and in classic Suda tradition, has some god-tier writing that's able to do so much for a player.”
“The music, the story, the characters, and the real meaning behind TSA is amazing and it all works together to make an extremely fun game.”
“Everything that is to like about Suda51 is present here and honestly I was surprised on the amount of story and character development Travis has in this game.”
“The gameplay sort of sucks a little bit, and the story really likes reminding you by breaking the fourth wall that it's just filler story to set up for NMH3 and that the game industry sucks.”
“The storyline is pretty basic: complete incoherence.”
“The story segments, which are told through a visual novel format circa 1989, are really bad.”
- music45 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in "Travis Strikes Again" is widely praised for its outstanding quality and variety, featuring a mix of genres that includes retro homages, remixes, and original tracks that enhance the game's charm and aesthetic. While some players noted that certain stage music can become repetitive, the overall soundtrack is considered a highlight, with many reviewers calling it a standout element of the game that complements its unique storytelling and character design. Overall, the soundtrack is described as energetic, engaging, and a significant factor in the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack is deserving of its own paragraph due to just how much variety, energy, and overall quality it is!”
“The music, the story, the characters, and the real meaning behind TSA is amazing and it all works together to make an extremely fun game.”
“The soundtrack for Travis Strikes Again is easily a personal favorite of mine with how experimental it gets, keeping myself up for 10 hours of gaming a day.”
“With the different tracks ranging from drum and bass to rap to heavily dramatic music pulled by the guitars demanding your full attention before bringing in your target.”
“Challenging boss fights with their own musical theme and moves and different phases.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been praised for their aesthetic appeal, with a unique art style and well-optimized performance, particularly in the PC port that offers uncapped framerate and various graphical options. Reviewers noted the visual diversity of environments and character designs, contributing to an engaging experience, although some mentioned that the graphics can suffer in later stages of the game. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's charm despite some gameplay criticisms.
“The aesthetic, characters, and OST all meet a Suda51 standard, which is pretty good.”
“It's all really interesting and, in my opinion, makes this game by far the most visually interesting one yet in the series. All of the enemies stand out from one another and are given their own introductions, player characters are highlighted to ensure you know who's who, and the levels are all starkly different both in visuals and gameplay.”
“Good PC port, nice graphics, good gameplay, and a sweet soundtrack.”
“As much as I love the aesthetics, this has been one of the worst games I've ever played.”
“Some cons are valid - the gameplay gets really repetitive and by the last area (the CIA area) it's way too tedious (+ the graphics have been obliterated).”
“Let's start with the visuals:”
- humor14 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as intense, diverse, and often meta, appealing to fans of Suda51's unique style while potentially alienating others. Reviewers appreciate the witty writing, crass jokes, and clever references to pop culture and other games, though some criticize certain aspects as corny or unoriginal. Overall, the humor is a defining feature that adds depth and charm, resonating well with dedicated fans while being hit-or-miss for newcomers.
“Overall, just like NMH1, this one was overly violent, extremely funny, super meta, and a wonderful addition to the NMH world.”
“The writing is funny and well balanced, featuring characters from other Suda games, retro sprites, thoughts about game development, and serious moments that are sure to sober you up after a flurry of meta jokes.”
“I love the art style of 'Travis Strikes Back' that shows you how Travis gets each individual death ball, with the witty humor and always breaking the fourth wall.”
“It's not funny, it's not witty, it's not interesting, and it's not worth the price of admission.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players finding the leveling process unfulfilling and the gameplay lacking in variety. While some appreciate the special moves and callbacks to previous titles, the overall experience is marred by monotonous mechanics and anticlimactic elements, leading to a perception of poor game design.
“Leveling characters can be a grind, and there aren't enough good levels to make it worth grinding (unless you're achievement hunting).”
“The gameplay gets really repetitive and by the last area (the CIA area) it's way too tedious.”
“It's so tedious and boring it honestly belongs in a masterclass of bad game design, and the final boss and ending are so anticlimactic it's insulting.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-paced and engaging story, which features heartfelt writing and a personal redemption arc for both the protagonist and the creator. While some players felt let down by the overall content, those who appreciate deeper themes and Suda51's unique style found it to be a meaningful exploration of introspection and past works. However, the game may primarily resonate with dedicated fans of Suda51.
“The story itself is well-paced, engaging, emotional, and in classic Suda tradition, has some god-tier writing that's able to do so much for a player.”
“Tsa is a myriad of references, introspections, observations, and jabs at Suda's past work and his participation in the creation of those, constructing a surprisingly heartfelt and personal redemption arc for both Travis Touchdown and Suda.”
“Do you like to actually look deeper into video games and see that they're a really big message and a very heartfelt, personal one at that?”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The character development in "Travis Strikes Again" is highlighted as a strong point, particularly for the protagonist Travis and the introduction of the character Badman, who is noted as a standout addition. The writing and character design are praised for their charm and creativity, contributing to a rich narrative experience, although some players find the core gameplay to be repetitive. Overall, the game showcases Suda51's signature style with significant character depth and engaging storytelling.
“It has a lot of essential character development for Travis and introduces the second best character in the series, Badman.”
“Great soundtrack, fun story, charming writing, and just a ton of really noteworthy art and character designs from player characters, bosses, and the plethora of enemy types you end up fighting.”
“The writing, character design, boss fights, music, and variety are all great to fantastic, but the core gameplay of Travis Strikes Again is simply too repetitive to last the whole ride.”
“Everything that is to like about Suda51 is present here, and honestly, I was surprised by the amount of story and character development Travis has in this game.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally positive, with most users noting that it runs well on PC and looks good. However, there are reports of random glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, requiring players to redo levels. Overall, while minor issues exist, the game is considered a solid port.
“Runs great on PC.”
“It's nice to see NMH making a comeback, but the gameplay is pretty bland and there were too many random glitches that made me have to redo a level.”
“Okay, let me start off by saying this game does have problems; it has glitches and bugs, and not the intentional ones.”
“Overall good port, runs well and looks good, but there are minor glitches that affect the experience.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers fair replayability, featuring multiple difficulty levels and score ratings that encourage players to improve their performance. With unique enemies, challenging boss battles, and a captivating soundtrack, it provides a delightful experience that invites repeated playthroughs.
“The game is brimming with personality and charm, with unique enemies, actual challenge (if you had your first playthrough on bitter), immensely replayable boss battles and levels, fantastic soundtrack, and an overall good time for everyone!”
“Good replayability with 4 difficulty levels and score rating, aim for the moon!”
“Fair replayability value.”
“The game offers very limited replayability, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as the side quests feel repetitive.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its unique and quirky qualities, successfully carrying over the distinctive vibe from the first installment, despite some mixed feelings about the sequel.
“Good, weird atmosphere as these guys are known for.”
“This game really carried over that atmosphere from the first game (NMH2 was kind of meh, to be honest).”
“This game really carried over that atmosphere from the first game; NMH2 was kind of meh, to be honest.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization on PC, featuring uncapped FPS and a variety of graphics options, making it a standout port compared to other titles made with the same engine. Users express hope that future ports, like that of No More Heroes 3, will maintain this high standard of optimization.
“Excellently optimized for PC.”
“Oh, and it helps that this port is awesome: uncapped FPS, plenty of graphics options, and it's already well-optimized for being a competently made UE4 game, unlike the janky ports for No More Heroes 1 & 2. Let's really hope that since this game and No More Heroes 3 were made in the exact same engine, 3's port will be just as solid as this game's.”
“The optimization in this game is a mixed bag; while it has some good features, there are still significant performance issues that need to be addressed.”
“Despite having a lot of graphics options, the game still struggles with frame drops and stuttering, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“I expected better optimization given the engine it's built on, but the performance is inconsistent and often frustrating.”
