For the longest time, No More Heroes 3 seemed like a dream that Suda51 fans would never get to see in their lifetimes. Along with decent reviews, the original games garnered a niche following but they didn't quite explode the video game scene commercially. A spinoff sequel was attempted in 2019, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, but it wasn’t met with overwhelming praise.
Was that it for this mostly Nintendo franchise? Across all odds, Suda51 returned to make a proper, 3D action sequel with No More Heroes 3. It has been over a decade since the second game hit the Wii in 2010. The big question then is, was the wait worth it for this new Switch game?
10 Loved: Art Style
No More Heroes 3 simply oozes color and style. It’s one of the things that has always set this series apart. The opening anime cutscene alone should get players hooked. It was the same footage used for a teaser trailer a long time ago which was a fake-out to announce this game. This game may not push any technical boundaries on the Switch, but NMH3 still looks impressive and modern thanks to its aesthetic.
9 Didn’t Love: Graphics
While the art style is generally great, No More Heroes 3's graphics are not that impressive. It’s like an early-era HD game at best, albeit one saved by its artistic flair. Ultimately, this comes down to the power of the Switch, and some shortcomings are to be expected.
What the aesthetic can’t hide are the glitches and imperfections that go along with the graphics. Textures are blurry, people pass through objects like ghosts, and there are glitches that make the lip sync fall out of tune. Unfortunately, the list doesn't end there.
8 Loved: Boss Battles
This series has prided itself on creating unique bosses as characters and in turn as fights. The same is true with No More Heroes 3, with some of the best ones even being fake-outs. Let’s just say that this game is full of surprises.
One of the best parts about these boss battles is that they can be replayed via a time machine in Travis’ lab. This is a great option that more games should incorporate.
7 Didn’t Love: Filler Battles
No More Heroes 3 is padded out with a lot of filler content. Between boss battles, Travis has to fight preliminary matches with a random assortment of enemies on top of earning enough cash to pay his way into a match.
This is the same gameplay loop as the other entries in the series, so it is fitting to see this structure return. However, that doesn’t mean it also doesn’t become tedious. The longer the game goes on, the more problematic it becomes.
6 Loved: Deathman Opening
The game begins with Travis talking about an old game he used to play in his youth called Deathman. It surprisingly fits with his current situation, so it is very meta. Players get to actually fight through a boss in this memory, and the whole thing pays homage to retro-style brawlers.
This is just one example showcasing the great variety of mini-games and modes No More Heroes has. Not every mini-game is created equally, but the variety makes up for that.
5 Didn’t Love: Can’t Switch Difficulties
Players can select which difficulty they want at the beginning of No More Heroes 3. There are three levels, with the middle and final options presenting some decent challenges. Meanwhile, easy mode makes NMH3 very accessible as Travis will not take damage.
While most modern games allow players to change the difficulty on the fly, that option is present in NMH3. It is an odd omission.
4 Loved: Bigger Open-World
The main games have always taken place in Santa Destroy. No More Heroes featured an open-world that was quite polarizing, so its sequel removed that part entirely. No More Heroes 3 brings back the explorable city, and Travis now has multiple islands he can travel to and they’re all different in tone.
For example, one is a desert wasteland while another looks like it has a VHS filter over it. It’s not the biggest open-world game, but for this series, it is an improvement.
3 Didn’t Love: Still A Barren City
The downside to the city being more open-world is that it is barren. There are more NPCs and missions to do on each island compared to some other games but No More Heroes 3 still feels empty.
Imagine a game like Grand Theft Auto 5 being as big as it is but having 80% less stuff to do in it. That’s what this game feels like. The graphics, again, don’t help make it visually look that stunning either.
2 Loved: Humor
Travis Touchdown has a very particular edge to him that feels classic, but it may be a bit problematic with some gamers. Not every joke from Travis or the other characters in the game hits, but No More Heroes 3 is still overall funny.
It’s the type of humor that is not going to be for everyone. It may be cliche to say but fans of this series and Suda51 games, in general, are going to really dig the comedy in this game. Be prepared for a rap battle.
1 Didn’t Love: Battle Arenas
As mentioned earlier, the gameplay loop hasn't changed all that much from the previous entries. One of the biggest changes, though, is that bosses no longer reside in dungeons. Once the fee is paid, players can go to the boss without any more distractions.
Consequently, normal fights are fought in small arenas like random battles in typical action RPGs. This makes NMH3 feel small in scope and reduces the combat's impact.