No More Heroes: First Impressions

We've played about 2 hours of the Japanese version of No More Heroes and so far the verdict is that No More Heroes is a lot of fun. There is no doubt that creator, Suda 51 is a fan of both Japanese and American pop culture. This shows in the overall tone and style of the game.

Main character, Travis, has a number of T-shirts and other available wardrobe selections that tell us that though he may be an otaku, he is not one of the Japanese kind. He is thin, athletic, and as his wardrobe suggests, aware of fashion. It's almost as if Travis is acting as Suda's own avatar, playing in a world he wants to be in. He's managed to create an environment where pro-wrestling items give you power ups, you are working to become an even more powerful everyman, and the women around you are all hot. Travis lounges around in his small apartment with all he needs: anime, food, TV and his cat, Jeane, which apparently shares its name with his former lover. As a bonus you can watch music videos of in game music on Travis's TV.

The story is wacky and there are plenty of old-school gaming elements to keep veteran gamers like myself happy. You get 8-bit style graphics and sounds interspersed throughout, as well as other references and basic play control. There is a lot to digest all at once in terms of the fighting system, but it's actually quite simple. The Wii remote was the perfect choice for this game, as it really keeps you involved in the battle. Once you get the hang of things, you'll want to keep hacking away on enemies for interactive fun.

If you have a Wii and have longed for a game that was for gamers and not a mini-game. Look no further. No More Heroes is a lot of fun.