January 8th, 2008 by AlmightyMax
Going Mainstream
No More Heroes is the latest game from Suda51’s studio Grasshopper Manufacture. There’s a good chance that last sentence had pretty much no effect on you, and there’s a good reason why: up until now, Suda51’s releases have not been what you would call mainstream. Only two of his games have so far reached Western shores (the surreal shooter killer7 and the DS action RPG Contact) and neither would be what you would call accessible, with gameplay that was downright strange and offbeat, quirky plots. However, No More Heroes looks to break that mold, by creating more traditional gameplay elements while keeping Suda51’s senses of style and humor that made some gamers fall in love with his work in the first place.
Style over Substance
No More Heroes puts you in the shoes of Travis Touchdown, an otaku living in Santa Destroy, CA. After getting his hands on a beam katana and agreeing to assassinate ‘the drifter’ (an albino assassin named Helter Skelter), Travis finds himself ranked number 11 in the United States Assassins Association (UAA). With some urging by Sylvia, Travis’ mysterious contact at the UAA, Travis decides to reach for the top by getting rid of the ten killers above him.
It’s a rather generic and unoriginal setup but Suda51’s games have always been a lot more than meets the eye. No More Heroes seems no exception. Despite not being fairly complex, Travis’ world of Santa Destroy looks to be more engaging than those of any of its predecessors. Why? For one thing, the characters manage to be crazy and hilarious at the same time. Travis, for instance, decks out the motel room he calls home with anime toys from his favorite series – Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly – and finds time to play with his cat in between ruthlessly chopping thugs in two.
And the top ranked assassins... On his journey Travis will meet a cowboy/detective/karaoke enthusiast, a mailman who changes into a superhero with a laser firing crotch, and many more insane characters all with their own quirks. Couple this with lovable and humorous dialogue that range from intentionally cheesy action-movie one liners to the downright bizarre (Travis yells ‘Strawberry on the shortcake!’ during one of his Darkside modes... more on those later) and spot-on voice acting that spans numerous nationalities, and you’ve got one of the most engaging games on Wii.
Graphically No More Heroes keeps with the style of Suda51’s last games, which derived from the Jet Set Radio theme – not a bad thing, to be sure. All characters sport an anime flair, and their animations are detailed and fluid. And if you’re one of Jack Thompson’s supporters, this game is not for you – the game’s carnage makes even God of War or Manhunt pale in comparison. Enemies either slowly peel apart after being sliced in two (the long way) or have their heads pop off in a gushing geyser of blood. It’s violent, yes, but in such an incredibly stylized, almost comic-book style that it’s easier to accept. In some ways it’s the video game equivalent of playing some of Greg Miller’s or Quentin Tarantino’s work.
Like the other Suda51 titles, No More Heroes is definitely style over substance. But the difference this time around is that the substance is loads better.
|
