No More Heroes is an action-adventurehack and slash video game series developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and was created by Goichi Suda, also known by his nickname Suda51. The series' title comes from the album title No More Heroes, which was released by the British punk band The Stranglers. The games follows Travis Touchdown, a fan of video games and anime who wins a beam katana in an auction, from which he inadvertently becomes involved in the United Assassins Association and forced to kill assassins higher in rank to prevent other assassins from targeting him. Four No More Heroes titles have been released worldwide with a fifth scheduled to be released in 2020.
Gameplay
Throughout the game, the player controls the character Travis Touchdown. The first game has a free roaming world, allowing Travis to move around on foot or on his modified scooter, the "Schpeltiger". Gameplay is open-ended, with the condition that the player must kill the top ten assassins to make the storyline progress. There are numerous part-time jobside quests to earn money which can be spent on weapons, training sessions, clothes and video tapes. Money is also required to compete in a Ranking fight. In '. the minigames that Travis can do to gain money and become stronger are 8-bit style games, in genres including action, puzzle, and racing. Control is handled through the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment, with the Remote controlling his weapon, the beam katana, and the Nunchuk moving Travis. Most attacks are performed using the "A" button, with certain other moves, including the "death blow" and sword lock struggles, executed by following on-screen instructions. Further, since the beam katanas run on batteries, they must be charged from time to time by pressing the "1" button on the remote and shaking it. Travis's beam katana can also be upgraded and replaced throughout the game by visiting Dr. Naomi. While the katana does not follow the exact position of the remote, it is able to distinguish between a "high" and "low" position which varies the character stance and the attacks done. In addition to attacks with the beam katana Travis can kick and punch, and when enemies are stunned he can throw them with a number of professional wrestling maneuvers, done by manipulating both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Introduced in ', is the ability to equip "Skill Chips" that allow the player to utilize an array of special attacks, ranging from a scattergun-type blast to an orbital laser.
Games
Main series
''No More Heroes'' (2007)
Released on Wii in 2007, the story follows Travis Touchdown, who is a stereotypical otaku – his motel room decorated with professional wrestling and anime collectibles – living in near poverty in the No More Heroes motel of the fictional town of Santa Destroy, California. After winning a beam katana in an internet auction, he runs out of money to buy video games and wrestling videos. After meeting with Sylvia Christel, he accepts a job to kill Helter Skelter, also known as "the Drifter", which earns him rank 11 by the United Assassins Association, a governing body of assassins. Realizing that he has the opportunity to make it to the top, he sets out to secure himself the coveted position of number one assassin in the UAA. An enhanced port, , was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2010.
''No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle'' (2010)
Released on Wii in 2010, set three years after Travis Touchdown became the top assassin in the United Assassins Association and walked away. Travis has returned to Santa Destroy and fights Skelter Helter, who seeks revenge on Travis for killing his older brother Helter Skelter prior to the first game. After winning the battle, he meets Sylvia Christel, who informs him he is ranked as the 51st best assassin. The nearly-dead Skelter Helter interrupts them and warns Travis that he and his co-conspirators will still have their revenge.
''Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes'' (2019)
Released on Nintendo Switch in 2019, the game is primarily viewed from a top-down perspective as opposed to the third person view of main series. Travis Touchdown fights Badman, the father of Bad Girl, an assassin Travis previously killed. The two are drawn into a possessed video game console, and must fight through its various games. As the first title Suda has directed since the first No More Heroes, Suda has collaborated with several indie developers to feature elements from their games in Travis Strikes Again. While part of the No More Heroes story, Suda does not consider the game a direct sequel to the previous title , but a fresh start for the character Travis.
''No More Heroes III'' (2020)
To be released on Nintendo Switch in 2020, No More Heroes III takes place 9 years after and 2 years after Travis Strikes Again, and has Travis return to his hometown of Santa Destroy from his exile. He encounters a huge artificial metropolis floating in the sea, and a mysterious flying object high above the city. Travis now has to defend the world from a super powerful army of aliens.
Spin-offs
''No More Heroes: World Ranker'' (2012)
Released on Android and iOS in 2012 in Japan only, players can create their own assassin and complete missions, killing assassins to move up in rank. It featured touchscreen controls and multiplayer/social elements. The game has been since removed from servers.
