No More Heroes Hands On

I’d like to start this off with telling you readers that I’ve been hyped for this game for some time. Well, since the game existed in the form of Suda’s Revolution Project (then the hype boosted when it became “Heroes”). As a huge fan of Killer7, this was probably to be expected, but the game has finally released stateside, and I have to say…

It’s a darn good game. From the beginning you can tell that it’s going to be interesting with it’s first few cutscenes. You’ve probably seen them before, but in case you haven’t, there are a few decapitations mixed with some profanity and insane amounts of blood. Now, that right there will probably turn a few people away, but if they so choose, they’ll be missing out on one of the best action games in years.

Alright, lets start it off with the storyline. So you’re some anime nerd who buys a beam katana on an online auction. You go to the video store (Beef Head Videos, of course) and you don’t have enough money to buy a videogame. So, you hit the bar and hit on a chick,Sylvia Christel. She makes you kill some drifter, which you do, and then you’re in a mess where assassins kill each other off to be the best one. First on your hit list is Death Metal, whom you can find info on in my Hype Center. After that, take on the rest to become number 1…and maybe Travis will get to “score” with Sylvia.

Really, the story isn’t that complicated, but it still is very enjoyable thus far. Every main character (assassins in this case) really has their own distinct personality coupled with fantastic voice-work. Add that to the strange supporting roles and you have some very strange conversations, that quite frankly, will actually make you laugh out loud. Meeting Thunder Ryu (a personal trainer) for the first time is hilarious because of the things that come out of his mouth. I suppose the same can be said for a few others though too.

If you haven’t been keeping up on how to play this game, it’s pretty easy to learn. Pressing A will slash your beam katana, B will punch or kick them. Pointing the Wii remote up or down determines if you’ll hit high or low (high is fast, low is strong) with either attack. After a few slashes, you’ll be met with an arrow telling you which way to move your Wii remote, and chances are soon after the enemy will either lose his head or be cut in half…vertically. It’s a bloodbath really. It doesn’t HAVE to be though, as enemies are sometimes stunned, and then you can perform a wrestling move with the Wii remote and nunchuck after pressing B. These always leave a sliver of health left for you to just finish them off while they’re still on the ground. Occasionally the slot machine device on the bottom will hit the right icons and you’ll have a crazy powerup too. Something to note though, I’m about 5 hours in, and it hasn’t gotten old at all. Heck, it’s even fun to watch a friend play!

Assassin fights are probably the best part of the entire game. They all have a unique style of fighting, and in a way it follows a bit of the Punch Out!! formula. Waiting for the key moment and then striking with the right barrage of attacks. It feels great, and they’re finished with over-the-top deaths. I don’t want to spoil anything, but thus far, none of them have been the same. Different tactics, different moves, different fight. Good stuff.

To get to the assassin’s you’ll have to go do odd jobs such as collecting coconuts or mowing lawns. They’re basically 2-3 minute long minigames that get you money and a way into K-ENTERTAINMENT, a shady business that pays you to assassinate others. Whether it’s the CEO of Pizza Butt or just 100 people some guy doesn’t like, since they incorporate the game’s combat, they’re a blast.

To get to them is another story. You may have heard about the free roaming world of Santa Destroy, California from other reviews. Chances are, they weren’t so positive. Essentially you can basically check out your mini-map to find the icon telling you where to go, and then hop on your motorcycle to get there. Along the way you’ll notice textures pop in, trees appear in front of you (not RIGHT in front of you, but you can see them appear), and a stuttering framerate throughout. Really, it isn’t as polished as the rest of the game, but at the same time, it isn’t really something that should keep you away from the game.

The rest of the game is visually a mixed bag. It has a great sense of style, and unlike most Wii games, it actually has shadows (shocker). The framerate doesn’t get in the way at all, but it can range from roughy 25-60 fps…which is a pretty huge scale. In fact, sometimes when it dips, it somehow enhances the crazy carnage going on screen. Really just makes it seem like even more is going on at times, though it’s usually pretty crazy anyway. Overall, I’d say it looks pretty darn good, if you can forgive a few framerate hiccups.

The music and voice acting rules…just going to say it now It’s cheesy, it can be 8-bit, and it’s awesome. Definitely adds to the experience, and it’s a game that instead of making you cringe at the voice acting, you’ll laugh because it’s so over-the-top. It’s meant to be funny, and it pulls it off nicely.

Alright, so those are my impressions from the first 5-6 hours of the game or so. I wrote more than I thought I would, and right now I’ll tell you that this is the type of game to buy, not rent. We’re planning on having a full review later, so, until then, definitely check it out.