Published: Wednesday, 26th March, 2008 12:00
No More Heroes
By Narin Bahar
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With its obsession with mini-game laden fun for the kids and sporting sims and the like, the one thing the Wii has been missing out on is the kind of iconic title for mature gamers which leaves you bemoaning where on earth your weekend went. Not any more.
Action RPG No More Heroes tells the story of Travis Touchdown, a wrestling-loving lightsabre swinging anime fan from California whose biggest wish is to be the best. Nothing unusual there, in fact it's the kind of thing parents try and encourage in their children all the time. It's just Travis wants to be the best assassin - by eliminating the rest of the top ten and thus getting a chance to have your way with the morally corrupt but still quite hot handler.
When you aren't moving your way up the rankings by slaughtering the opposition, you can cruise the streets looking for your next mission - although the environment isn't as rich as Grand Theft Auto for meandering about in so you're more than likely going to stick to the linear gameplay, especially since the combat system is so much fun. For the most parts you do your attacks by pressing combos of A and B, but your finishing moves involve ostentatious Wii-mote swings which end up being a stupid amount of fun.
Trust me when I tell you, this is the most bonkers - and surreal - game you're going to play this year. To buy the information on your competitors, you need money. And to get it you can do some sideline assassination jobs - or collect coconuts for the Santa Destroy's smoothie bar if that's more your bag. It's all cash after all - and these odd side quests are fun and don't outlast their welcome.
This is the Marmite of gaming - either you'll love its twisted quirkiness or you'll hate it. Personally, I loved it - but if bad language, violence and sexual innuendo turn you off then give this a wide berth.
Four stars.
* No More Heroes is out now, exclusively on the Wii
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