"CAUTION: Review In Progress": No More Heroes

[beanstheclown]

Alrighty in this topic Ima do somethin sorta newish. Instead of reviewing a game that I have played I'm going to review a game as I play it. After each level/Hour/session/whatever I'll be posting my thoughts and reactions just like a normal review. The point being that hopefully the review will show more of a flow to the game than an overall view of it. I've seen many a game start slow and get good later and many others start rockin and then get bogged down after the first few levels.

So the first game in this series is going to be No More Heroes for the nintendo wii.

note I will keep plot spoilers to a minimum but there will most likely be a number of gameplay spoilers. You have been warned.

So the first thing I can say for this game is that it's got style bursting out it's pores. What that style is is kinda hard to say. It's kinda like if you mixed your average anime with a bunch of street punk and then washed the entire thing without color saving bleach. Basically it's unique.

I have to give the game a ton of credit for it's opening sequence. You basically get what littel back story there is in a quick inner monologue and then jump straight into the action. So what is your motivation? Simple out assassin the top ten assassins in the assassin leagues and become num
ber one. And that's about all the motivation you need for this game.

SO now that you know your assasinating peoples you have the option of going through a tutorial or just jumping straight into the fight. First time playin this so I opted for the former option. SO you get a quick rundown of the battle system. BAsically it goes like this.

You have a lightsaber or um energy sword....thing. You tilt the remote up for high stance down for low stance and press a to swing. It's a bit of a bumber that yet again we don't get full motion control but at this point you can't really get your hopes up anymore so....meh

SO you wail on the um other guys until you've beaten them down to near dead. Then you get a little arrow on the screen. Swing the rmote that direction and you get to do the uber mega splatter kill. This is an attack that esentially destroys the enemy and sends wonderful red geysers all over the screen. Did I mention this game is M for mature? And as if this wasn't enough to sate your thirst for godlike destrucive power, every time you pull of this finisher you get a lil roullete wheel match up three simbols and you get an uber power ranging from super speed to one hit kills. If ever a game catered to the destructive impulse in humanity this game is it.

Of course if going all jedi on mafia member butts isn't your thing you can also go the rout of the wrestler. It's harder to pull of but you can kick your opents into stunnd submission then grab em and suplex, back break, and generally live out your WWF fantasies in general.

SO you bust through the other baddies until you reach asassin number ten. Of course before you bust his butt you get a call from your agent on the wii remote/celphone explaining the restroom....literally. In one of the strangest ideas ever to be put in a videao game you save your game by sitting on the john.

THe first boss is pretty easy as would be expected but he's anything but boring. I'll keep the particulars mum and all but needles to say he pulls a move that you normally see in later levels on most games. After beating him and taking his title you get a small reward and a new challenge from your agent and go home to the local motel.


Alrighty so final thoughts....

SO far the crazy style and over the top mutilation definately makes for an interesting feel. ALmost like B movie meets slasher film where you're the slasher. The story is pretty bare bones but the characters more than make up for it. It's hard to explainwithout giving more detail than I feel I should but needless to say they did an exelent job. Theres not a whole lot to say so far but it definately has a lot of potential. Plus it's a bit refreshing to see such a darkly humorous game on the "kiddy" wii. Oh and I always love a game that can talk directly to the player with a straight face.

Story/ambiance gets an 8.5 out of 10

The games controls move fairly smooothly, no noticable lag. and the gameplay leaves plenty of room for strategy galore between the various stances, gaurding, gaurd breaks, brawl moves, and whatnot. Plus there's something satisfying about splitting open three enemies in one blow and knowing they are definately dead. Call me sick or whatever but i enjoy killing imaginary things.

Gameplay gets a 9 out of ten

I'm not much of a sound guy myself. I don't notice the background music in games much etc. However No more heroes does some pretty nifty things. First off everything is voice acted so far. Every line of dialogue. Of course it's B movieish but not nearly as bad as say Resident Evil. Overal it fits the game. THe other thing that really piqued my interest is the unexpected phonecall that emenates from the wii remote. Sure it's a bit gimmicky but it really does draw you in.

Sound gets a 4 out of five

Finally graphics. As I've already said this game oozes with style. However other than the boss there has been little to no noticable difference in enemy models. They all are the same suited mobster goon. Which isn't so bad considering but frankly it could have been a little better. Maybe give one of them a nose ring or something...
The environments are allso sort of hit and miss. Several areas are frankly beautiful but the majority of the first fight is in pretty barren coridors and rooms in a mansion. nothing too spectacular.

Graphics gets a 7 out of 10

SO there you have it first impressions of No More Heroes. More to come after I beat #2....

[Foxy Dude]

Great review!