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TGS 2007: No More Heroes hands-on photo

On a game console where pixls, toadstools, and bobble headed caricatures rule, it seems like it's becoming more difficult to find some good, clean action and fighting. We did not find that in Marvelous Entertainment's stylistic brawler No More Heroes. Instead, we found light sabers, slot machine play, brain busting finishing moves, and even crotch lasers. While it's not exactly what we were looking for, No More Heroes did not disappoint.

The stylistic, cell-shaded brawler is a breath of fresh air on the Wii. While it would be considered a great looking game on any console, its appeal has more to do with style than technical details, and No More Heroes definitely stands out among other Wii titles here at TGS. Taking control of a spiky-haired badass sporting jeans, sunglasses, and a light blade has its appeals, and the enemies and stages all have a similar gritty cell-shaded look.

Hit the jump to read more on No More Heroes

While the console's controllers are different things to different people, pummeling baddies seems like a more natural use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, and No More Heroes puts them to good use. The Nunchuck's analog stick takes care of movement, and the Nunchuck buttons allow enemy lock-on. On the Wii Remote, the A button takes care of most of the attack action, and the d-pad is assigned to various moves during battle.

As you encounter enemies, mashing the A button swings your sword for continued attacks, much like any other beat 'em up. The motion sensing comes into play as you wear these enemies down. Near the end of enemies' life bars, players are quickly prompted to complete a directional gesture with the Wii Remote, and a successful swing initiates a brutal and satisfying finishing move to that enemy.

Players continue to fend off varied enemies in a similar manner until coming across the demo's boss, who seems to be an angry American postal worker turned super villain. After a transformation, this boss provokes a fight by blasting what could only be described as a crotch laser at you, and of course, you don't just blow off a crotch laser attack.

The battle proved to be pretty challenging as the boss had long-range distance attacks, close combat moves, blocking ability, and eventually even took to the air. While locked-on, players can use evasive moves by hitting left or right on the d-pad. Instead of just bashing away, I had to look for openings, use smart dodging, and follow up to eventually wear the boss down, and after all of that work, you can't help but be satisfied.

While we love our Super Paper Marios and Zeldas, they don't fill the need for an instantly accessible and simply fun brawler like No More Heroes does. Not many third-party developers seem to be aiming for original, creative Wii titles, and so No More Heroes seems to be a hero of sorts, and we hope that we'll eventually see more titles that break out of the Wii mold.

LAUNCH GALLERY (6 IMAGES)
Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo
 

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32 comments | showing # 1 to 32

mackisawesome's Avatar
mackisawesome at 09/25/2007 12:49
beautiful
Nyteshade's Avatar
Nyteshade at 09/25/2007 12:49
Want so bad! This game will grace my Wii upon release and won't leave for a long time.
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar
AngelsDontBurn at 09/25/2007 12:51
Looks nice!
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 09/25/2007 12:51
So glad to see it's living up to my reasonable expectations.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 09/25/2007 12:51
This game looks amazing and I want it. Badly.
Anthony Burch's Avatar
Anthony Burch at 09/25/2007 13:06
That sounds incredibly disappointing. Using the A button to attack and only utilizing gestures for a finishing move? Barely sounds like a Wii title at all.
Tristero's Avatar
Tristero at 09/25/2007 13:08
I feel like knowing someone who played this, is just one step away from me actually playing it myself. This is a good day for me.
Dale North's Avatar
Dale North at 09/25/2007 13:09
Rev. Anthony - I felt the same way when the Marvelous rep was explaining game play to me - then I tried it, and it works. When you see how frantic the game play can get, you'll find that swinging the Wiimote for attacks would make for an incredibly tiring game.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar
Justin Villasenor at 09/25/2007 13:13
I'm glad to see its shaping up well.
Fanatism's Avatar
Fanatism at 09/25/2007 13:18
Weren't there some kind of stance-changing depending on the angle/height of the controller? that's kinda wii-specific
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 09/25/2007 13:18
Rev Ant is funny.

Dale North is gullible.

BUT I LOVE THEM BOTH!
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 09/25/2007 13:19
The controls do sound a little less flamboyant than what I was expecting, but this fluorescent light tube fighter looks awesome.
Papapishu's Avatar
Papapishu at 09/25/2007 13:27
Less flamboyant? I hear that when you recharge it he puts his light saber between his legs and starts masturbating it. Confirm/deny Dale?

I also heard some people got a real GTA meets Zelda Feel from it.
A New Challenger's Avatar
A New Challenger at 09/25/2007 13:30
If this does well, maybe God Hand will get a port!

Or maybe I should just finally get around to buying a PS2 since my sister took hers with her to college and I own all these games I can no longer play.
Cowzilla3's Avatar
Cowzilla3 at 09/25/2007 13:55
Wait there was no description of masturbation gameplay? Isn't that the most rewarding part of all Dale?
ShawnKelfonne's Avatar
ShawnKelfonne at 09/25/2007 14:05
So from what I hear, it sounds like the Wii's God Hand. Excellent.
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 09/25/2007 14:07
Do want so fucking bad
Tino's Avatar
Tino at 09/25/2007 14:25
Delicious. I simply can't wait. Not at all.

Also;
@Papapishu: How did VH1 go?
h3lios's Avatar
h3lios at 09/25/2007 15:54
When is it out?
Johnny Blaze's Avatar
Johnny Blaze at 09/25/2007 16:05
Hey Dale can you tell me what the Tiger in the upper right corner is all about? I am curious..
Tron Knotts's Avatar
Tron Knotts at 09/25/2007 16:23
The tiger is a a sort of meter for super moves. When the tiger is "full", you can do supers, probably in the same vien as God Hand.
Def JM's Avatar
Def JM at 09/25/2007 17:16
GOD HAND. Jesus the last stage is working me. And yes No More Heroes, if i owned a wii, would be a must buy.
Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 09/25/2007 18:56
Sweet.
Aughndibi's Avatar
Aughndibi at 09/25/2007 19:00
I would buy a Wii for this game. Seriously. Speaking as someone who already owns a PS3 and DS, this game looks so very unique and entertaining that I am perfectly willing to spend $300+ to play it.
Super Cool Guest from the Future's Avatar
Super Cool Guest from the Future at 09/25/2007 19:25
Boner get.
lubczyk's Avatar
lubczyk at 09/25/2007 21:10
Wait, so does this game have the promised 1:1 saber controls or not? I don't want to shake my Wiimote to substitute button presses or do button presses on a "motion-sensing" controller.

So does it replicate anywhere close to where I swing?
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 09/25/2007 21:55
Sounds promising, but I'm still concerned about whether there's enough substance to go along with the style.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 09/25/2007 21:55
Sounds promising, but I'm still concerned about whether there's enough substance to go along with the style.
DGX Goggles's Avatar
DGX Goggles at 09/25/2007 22:19
Now this is a Wii title I actually want.
RJG's Avatar
RJG at 09/25/2007 22:38
I'm glad they didn't go the crazy ass control route they went with in Killer 7. A straight up beat em up with waggle finishing moves and shit loads of crazy style is just what my Wii needs to stop feeling so awful about itself.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 09/25/2007 22:47
It's a Suda 51 game, so the answer is no. In that same vein, it's still worth playing though.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 09/25/2007 23:50
Controls sound better than I hoped, nice. Can't wait to try it myself.
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