No More Heroes

F...ing awesome.

No More Heroes delivers two things the Wii is desperately lacking: top-tier mature gaming and pitch-perfect swordplay for a peripheral practically tailor-made for the purpose. Throw in infectiously fun gameplay, incomparable style, a wicked sense of humor, and a level of unhinged wackiness that makes Britney Spears look like the poster child for normalcy, and you've got a sure-fire Wii winner.

Like the Wii, none of it should work, but like the Wii, everything does. Brilliantly... No More Heroes is a love letter to videogames that never grows old, tired, or dull. All games deserve to be designed with such lunacy. [JPN Import; Feb 2008, p.56]

A truly satisfying adult game on the Wii—which is a true rarity. This game may not be everyone’s cup of tea with the violence, language and mature subject matter that hits you from everywhere, but despite the rated R subject matter, there is no denying that this is one of the best games available on the system.

This is a rough game, but it's also funny and self-deprecating, inventive and massively rewarding. If more games had personality and style like No More Heroes does, the world of games would be a much more interesting place. [Issue#18, p.76]

It can be a little basic in places, and it isn’t a ‘paradigm shift’ in any sense, but it is proof that games can love their roots and use the quality of being a ‘game’ to give form to their stories – and excel at it. [Feb 2008, p.90]

SUDA-51 has delivered a game that can match its absurd premise with equally stimulating gameplay, making for one of the most unique and satisfying action games in recent memory.

No More Heroes easily ranks among the Wii's finest titles, busting a bunch of myths along the way. You say sword-based combat peaked with Twilight Princess? Wait until you slice a suit-wearing crony in half. The Wii can't do mature games? This game does it without the dark dreariness of just about every other violence-laden M-rated title. It could use a bit less filler, but No More Heroes is still a fine fight from the first blow to the last strike.

The narrow appeal of its surreal setting won't make fans out of everyone, but if MIDI music brings a misty tear in your eye and you find yourself fencing against your shadow while watching Ninja Scroll, then No More Heroes could be what your inner swordsman is craving.

The first time I heard about No More Heroes I was figuring I would get something similar to Killer 7 and that I would absolutely love it. Turns out I was right, I do love No More Heroes, despite the flaws it exhibits it still gets key things right, a strong story, memorable characters, style, and fun combat that doesn’t get boring.

It's derivative, stark, and brash. But the game succeeds because of its swagger. [Mar 2008, p.54]

A tad rough around the edges, but this is as daring and original as Wii gaming gets. [Mar 2008, p.80]

We’re tempted to say that there are few Wii games as deserving of your attention as No More Heroes but then there are few games as good as this on any platform. [Mar 2008, p.124]

The characters are engaging, fun, quirky, messed up, and easy to either fall in love with or hate. Santa Destroy itself is full of so many nooks and crannies that any player anal about that kind of thing will easily be able to spend several hours searching for hidden back alleys for dumpsters and lovikov balls. The game is fun, easy to grasp, has a lot of replay value (trust me), and tells an engaging story.

The best feature of NMH has got to be the visceral combat system.

There can be no more complaints from gamers looking for a unique experience when gems such as this are out there to be sampled. Miss it at your peril.

Faults do exist, but the core gameplay more than makes up for it and finally confirms that Nintendo aren’t the only development studio who can make a stellar Wii game.

No More Heroes is like nothing else.

Despite adhering to a stiff game plan, gathering money through jobs and assassinations in order to enter the association's assassin's ranking matches, No More Heroes manages to always leave the player on his toes, both on account of its mature humor and satire and its solid gameplay.

The more you invest in exploring No More Heroes’s minutiae, the more you’ll get out of its singular mode of story telling – there’s barely a lump of on-screen furniture or intentionally duff moment here that doesn’t have some relevance to proceedings.

A great adult-oriented game for the Wii that takes the genre the farthest it can go on the console.

Its style and sense of humour turn a simple slash 'em up into something genuinely enjoyable. [Mar 2008, p.64]

No More Heroes is a punk video game: it’s loud, violent and actively rebellious, and it’s so goddamned fresh and fun it shames every other Wii game aimed at mature gamers – and even more that aren’t.

Sure there are a couple Star Wars rip offs such as the beam sword and some of your enemies looking like they wear storm trooper helmets, but all-in-all this is a unique game, with just the right amount of motion controls that gives enough in cast, speech, game-play, and story to keep you wanting more.

It seems at long last, Suda 51 was finally able to take his vision for video gaming and put it in a form that's actually unquestionably fun to play.

While the plot may be simple in theory, for example, the dialogue is wonderfully eccentric, and always keeps you glued to the screen.

One cannot play through the game without noticing its various flaws, but by the time you’ve simultaneously decapitated four bad guys in one glorious, motion-controlled sword slash, those flaws will be all but forgotten in the flood of gruesome, wacky fun which No More Heroes has to offer.

There's nothing else like it.

There are issues with the sensitivity of the motion controls – as there are in almost every Wii title, and the overworld is a vacuous waste of memory with some terrible pop-in, but when you excise that from the combat scenarios, the humour, the style and the creativity that seeps out of most elements in No More Heroes, we can't help but get enthused about this game.

We definitely need more games like No More Heroes, able to shake mentalities and exist beyond the simple definition of "videogame".

This is an experience people been waiting to have on the Wii for a long time - heart-pounding, sword-slashing, sword-parrying, suplex-flailing motions with a light saber, sorry, beam katana in hand. It may not be 1:1 ratio motion, but the experience can be just as exhaustingly fun.

Simple, stupid, silly, and easily the most fun I’ve had on the console.

The game boldly wears both its heart and its punk rock attitude on its sleeve, and manages a totally playable action control scheme for the Wii that uses the Wiimote without abusing it. The game is in some ways covers a narrow range and could definitely push farther with its open world concept, but the killer vibe and amazing moments make this heroic effort worth checking out.

One of the most gleefully "WTF" experiences you'll have in gaming this year. How many games offer you shadowy agency figures named after porn stars, obsessions with masked pro wrestlers, and a violent weapon that borders on copyright infringement, all while "Heavenly Star" from Lumines II plays sporadically throughout the game's shopping locales?

The best way to approach No More Heroes for the Nintendo Wii is with an open mind. It's a mesmerizing game with lots of blood-spilling action, but it's far from mindless.

In a fight between games as metaphor and games as entertainment, we need to feel like the winners. There are times in No More Heroes when we don't, but there are enough occasions when we do, and by the time you're the best assassin in town you'll either be glad that the destination was always worth it or arguing that it deserves another mark. Either way, you do at least win.

For all of its hiccups and its bloody personality, Heroes is the most fun you can have with a lightsaber without using the Force. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that the Wii's creative potential is broad, and that there are developers out there who are not afraid to play rough and get a little crazy.

Travis' journey upwards in the ranks of the UAA provided some of the quickest, most viscerally charged gameplay made available across the board. Its only faults lie in its decision to focus more on the luridly uncomplicated gameplay than further expansive depth.

No More Heroes joins the ranks of other video games that were too smart and/or bizarre for their own good. Gamers who enjoyed the head trips that were "Metal Gear Solid," "Katamari Damacy," and "Persona" will feel right at home with No More Heroes.

It’s too bad the open-world element wasn’t fleshed out more, because this game could have been spectacular. NMH is the Wii’s first third-party classic and anyone with a Wii should seek it out.

It’s not the best game on the system – but it’s the most original.

Hardcore action gamers shouldn't let this one sit on the shelves. [Mar 2008, p.85]

No More Heroes is the weird result of a Japanese man obsessed with American culture who has created an American hero obsessed with Japanese culture. It's a reflection of a reflection, and both mirrors are distorted and covered with graffiti.

There's a rare occurrence with most games that are so unique that their shortcomings are heavily outweighed by their strong points. No More Heroes could likely be at the Mecca of a root of examples of this, as it's glaring technical problems of framerate issues and repetitious play are heavily overshadowed by the sheer fun you'll have chopping people in half with your beam sword.

It may not be perfect, but No More Heroes is a great game that every action-loving Wii owner should experience.

No More Heroes isn't an amazing game, but the experience of playing it can be described as such. From beginning to end it maintains its humor and will consistently surprise you with a new plot twist and imaginative characters.

Since the announcement of No More Heroes it was clear that this is a special game. Good humour, nice fights and a great graphic style makes this game a real quality product. Although the game has some minor points, it's a 'must-have' for everyone who likes the genre.

Would have scored higher if the PAL version had been the complete version, but still a must buy for any 18+ year old Wii owners with half a brain cell.

No More Heroes exclusively takes over the Wii being one of the only Mature rated third party game that is worth picking up besides Resident Evil. Even if you’re not sure how you’ll like the Travis and the gang, it’s worth a rental to see.

No More Heroes is like the kid you went to high school with who had his own style, and he didn't care what anyone else thought.

A game that stirs up mixed feelings. The sword fighting is fun and the quirky originality of the dialogue, style and atmosphere make a lot for the negatives, namely the boring side jobs and the dead GTA style city. Also the visuals are a mixed bag. The cartoony characters look good and the retro touches are wonderful. On the other hand many places are bland and down right ugly. The bloodless European version feels neutered. Still overall, No More Heroes is a positive and refreshing experience. [May 2008]

It’s hilarious, completely matchless in its design, and hands-down one of the most passionate projects we’ve seen for Nintendo’s console. On the other hand, it’s obvious that open world designs aren’t Grasshopper’s strong suit, and while you wont be actually fighting or experiencing any “pure action” moments in the world, it’s a pain to trek through, and a painfully low-tech visual offering. Pop-in is everywhere, control is irritating at best, and the frame rate is all over the charts. It’s an absolute mess.

You'll find way more pimp than punk here. [Apr 2008, p.72]

Many games become constrained and overridden by technical flaws and design problems, but No More Heroes breaks through with a cast of characters and story that exudes style and imagination.

No More Heroes is practically two entirely different games mashed together. One is a funny, smart, stylish action game that never fails to entertain. The other is an open-world game that fails so completely in every regard that, despite all appearances, it's easier to question the developer's intent than it is to accept that it's what they were going for. Fortunately, you barely have to play that second game to enjoy the first one.

The least you can say is that this is a unique title with some genius moments. But the open world sections do more harm than good and the levels leading up to the assassins seem to lack some inspiration. But it’s still a unique experience that all Wii players should consider. [March 2008]

No More Heroes is a very good game with some very disappointing glitches and let downs. You will enjoy this game for at least one time if you manage to survive the dull mini games.

A funky, fun third-person hack and slash marred by some boring open world side-missions. It's no more simple, or complicated, than that.

If you squint past the explosions of blood, forget about being forced to earn money, and ignore the brainless enemies waiting their turn to be slaughtered, it's hard not to admire the cackle and curled lip of a creator who's got big ideas and isn't afraid to use them.

Heroes alternates these exciting, frenetic assassin hunts with painfully tedious sections in which you must raise a battle entry fee by performing chores like wiping out a nest of thugs or, quite oddly, mowing lawns and picking up garbage.

Somehow, in spite of this laundry list of faults, No More Heroes has some mystic element about it that makes it worth playing.

The story, characters, combat system, theme and the overall weird factor of the game are the main reason to check it out. However, that you must face a very poorly designed hub world to progress into No More Heroes and experience these things is unfortunate.