After announcing that No More Heroes 3 would be coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch during its E3 2019 digital event, many fans new to Grasshopper Manufacturer's No More Heroes series began to ask series creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda about the possibility of the first two titles in the series coming to the Switch. Fans do not have to wait any longer as, announced during the latest Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase presentation, No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle are available now on Nintendo Switch via the eShop.
No More Heroes first released on Nintendo Wii in Japan in 2007 and North America and Europe in 2008. The game follows Travis Touchdown, an otaku-turned-assassin climbing the ranks of the United Assassin's Association wielding a "beam katana" (essentially a lightsaber) after meeting a representative named Sylvia Christel. The game is an open-world action game with hack-n-slash combat and a bombastic sense of humor, infamously requiring the player to use Nintendo Wii remote for a number of suggestive animations. The game's sequel, which was not directed by Suda51, continues Travis' story but lacks the open-world from the original game.
The first No More Heroes game was remastered in 2010 for the PlayStation 3 as No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise, utilizing the PlayStation Move controller. This remaster was published by Konami and changed the game's art style from the Nintendo Wii version. Barring this remaster, this release of No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle brings the entire No More Heroes franchise to Nintendo Switch, joining Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes and the upcoming No More Heroes 3, which is slated to be released in 2021.
Alongside the announcement of No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle for Nintendo Switch was the release of the first gameplay trailer for No More Heroes 3 (or, at least the first one that Suda51's head was not obscuring). The trailer features the first glimpse of Travis Touchdown facing the alien villain FU, first introduced in the game's The Game Awards 2019 animated trailer, as well as the new design for Sylvia Christel.
Originally planned to be released in 2020, the game was delayed to 2021 following development issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Suda51 has also been outspoken about his disdain for crunch culture in the video game industry, ensuring that his team maintains a healthy work ethic. Upon the game's delay, Suda51 also announced that The Boys comic book artist Darick Robertson would be providing artwork for the game's promotional material.
No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle are available on Nintendo Switch now. No More Heroes 3 will release exclusively on Nintendo Switch in 2021.