One thing you can always count on in No More Heroes, whether that be during combat or cruising around Santa Destroy, is toe-tapping tunes. Every situation In No More Heroes sports just the right music to get you in the appropriate mood. Whilst fighting, there is an increase in tempo as a direct effect of the rise in hostile forces; the swirl of electronic instruments gives you the necessary adrenaline boost for the battle ahead. During your downtime exploring the shops and environment of Santa Destroy, the music takes more a “complimenting” role. Driving on your bike kickstarts an easy-going 50’s-60’s guitar lick, and the clothing/upgrade shops will follow a musical tone that matches the atmosphere or theme of the store. The only time music will not be present is while free-roaming on foot. In it’s stead: a soothing ambiance of passing cars and wind blowing through trees, or waters washing up on the sun-bathed beach of Santa Destroy. And while we’re on the subject of sound, No More Heroes excels in both the SFX and voice-over department.
Every NPC, besides the pedestrians, has spoken dialogue of some form in the game. The shopkeeps normally have one or two lines and are done by Japanese actors attempting to speak English. While it is obvious at times, it fits right in with the lighthearted nature of the game. The assassins (and of course Travis and Sylvia) are all acted out brilliantly and many may recognize their voices from other games, but I won’t spoil anything. While going toe-to-toe with the assassins’ hired goons, you’ll hear silly, nonsensical one liners from them. Although they are all singularly voiced, you have to remember that the goons only purpose is to prolong Travis from reaching the end, so, as I’ve said allot, I did not consider it a downside. On the sound effects end, everything is perfect. The slices, clashes, and bloody explosions of combat to the 8/16-bit bleeps and bloops of picking up power ups and recharging your sword fit the games presentation perfectly.
Like I stated earlier, if there is ever a point during your play time in No More Heroes where the hardships of being an assassin get the better of you, players can join Travis in a stroll or drive around Santa Destroy by bike to let off some steam. While walking is considerably slower, the bike controls and sloppy handling can be hard to get a hang of and may detract from some of the enjoyment of driving around. You’ll eventually learn how to get past the sloppy handling, but it’s still a minor annoyance that could have used some fine tuning. But, the thunderous roar of it’s engine and squeal of burning rubber while cruising can be quite satisfying. Something else that could affect players experience is the frame-rate inconsistency while free roaming, especially while speeding down the road by bike.
In its defense, the game’s gorgeous cell-shaded graphics are worth the frame-rate dips. Mainly because Grasshopper Manufacturer presents them in such an idiomatic fashion, unparalleled by anything I had ever seen during that time. I mean, No More Heroes knows it is a game, and is damn proud of it. The colorful 8-bit HUD and consumables, flashy sword clashes, and references made throughout are proof enough. Now remember, this title debuted before the huge indie-kick that spawned several retro-revival titles. So now a-days there is a bit of a competition, but back then No More Heroes was, once again, unparalleled and I still believe it holds up quite nicely.
Back to the topic at hand, littered throughout the city are various collectibles, shops, and opportunities to upgrade Travis. For anybody searching for an aesthetic change to his normal appearance, paying a visit to Area 51 allows the option to buy some fresh threads, complimented by some nice J-pop playing in the back ground. For any combat upgrades, you can train at The Office of Thunder Dragon, buy wrestling videos at Beef Head, and purchase/upgrade beam katanas at Naomi’s Laboratory. Better yet, upon completion of the game, everything purchased in your first playthrough will be carried over thanks to new game plus. Believe me, this helps out big time with the brutal “Bitter” difficulty that becomes available once No More Heroes has been beaten. One last thing : always remember folks, it isn’t over til the credits roll.
Speaking of credits rolling, I have personally seen them three times all the way through. Ever since my first foray with No More Heroes, I’ve been hooked. Everything from the silky smooth combat and cell-shaded graphics to the marvelous boss battles, and the pitch-perfect way the game is designed just hits all of the sweet spots within me. By the time the last bit of text scrolled, prompting the end of the credits, preparations for a play through on the “Bitter” difficulty began.
When I look at Travis Touchdown, I’m transported back to my younger self. While not a spitting image of my physical appearance, the otaku mindset/lifestyle was one I adopted during the time of my first playthrough. I was craving adventure, excitement, and a general escape from the hellacious times summer had proven to be. And thankfully, No More Heroes did just that and so much more. To this day I still hold it, and its gorgeous sequel No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, in my top 10 favorite titles of all time. Even though its a six year old title, it can still be snagged for around 20 bucks, and I highly recommend you experience this piece of gaming gold. You owe it to yourself.
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