Product Review: “No More Heroes” for Nintendo Wii.

A Wii-exclusive title not made by Nintendo? Yes, it’s true! (And yes, there will be many, many more thanks to Wii sales)

No More Heroes places you into the action as Travis Touchdown, a young thug from Santa Destroy, who’s out to raise his rating on the list of top assassins. Seriously, this game really keeps a list.

At first glance, the game may seem like one to pass up. But the art design, the controls, and (amazingly) the story make this game a must-have for any Wii owner.

Graphics

There have been many claims as to the Wii’s actual graphics prowess, and, to be sure, we won’t really know what Nintendo’s little white wonder can do until developers stop porting PS2 titles. While No More Heroes certainly doesn’t use all of the little console’s power, it does look better than many other games on the system.

Artistically, the game is a wonder, with a clean, cell shaded world and strong shadows. Framerates are generally excellent, with the exception of gameplay involving Travis’ motorcycle; in these situations, there can be a bit of a stutter, but nothing unplayable.

Gameplay / Controls

The controls are where No More Heroes really shines. They are simple enough that the learning curve is almost moot, and yet complex enough to keep the game interesting as time goes on. Basic attacks are done with a quick tap of the A button, but, depending on the position of the Wiimote, that attack will be high or low. B is used for leg attacks, and the gameplay is rife with so-called “end moves,” during which an arrow appears on the screen. Move the Wiimote in the direction of the arrow, and your opponent goes down in a shower of blood (did I mention that the blood in the game is over the top?). There’s lots of motion-based controlling in the game, but none of it feels “tacked on” like a lot of Wii games; everything is intuitive and works extremely well.

Story

Certainly, it may seem corny, but there is enough to keep the interest of even the most hardcore of gamers. Also, the game relies on the player collecting enough money to proceed to the next mission. To collect that money? Get a job. I fancy collecting coconuts or mowing lawns, all motion controlled mini-games.

The game also features an open world à la “Grand Theft Auto,” but the story is much more restricted in No More Heroes, in that your actions do not dictate the availability of the next mission. Still, the game feels more open than a basic mission-to-mission title.

Verdict

No More Heroes is amazingly violent, amazingly profane, and does much to earn its Mature rating. Still, it also does much to make itself a great game, from the design to the story to the implementation. If you’re feeling left out of the whole Grand Theft Auto IV debacle with your Wii, No More Heroes is as violent as you’re going to get on Nintendo’s white wonder for a while.

Graphics: 7 / 10
Gameplay: 8.5 / 10
Story: 8 / 10
Value for money: 7 / 10
OVERALL: 7.5 / 10