As I mentioned in my No More Heroes HD review, Nintendo is really dragging their feet on providing any type of virtual console service on the Switch when it comes to backwards compatibility. With physical games for the GameCube Wii and Wii U starting to rise in price, its up to publishers to pick up the slack. With this in mind and to celebrate the impending release of No More Heroes 3 next year, Marvelous and XSEED have decided to release HD versions of No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2 Desperate Struggle for the Switch. Today we take a look No More Heroes 2 and see if its just as good as its original Wii release.
Story
It’s been about three years since the events of the first No More Heroes when Travis arrives back to Santa Destroy. As he arrives he is greeted by Skelter Helter, the brother of Helter Skelter who Travis killed in the last game. A fight ensues and as Travis wins his fight Sylvia and the UAA arrive. She congratulates Travis on being the 51th ranked assassin, to which Travis is confused. Sylvia explains that after he left, the “game” became so popular that more people got in on the action. Skelter, still alive, interrupts them and says even though he has lost he will have his revenge on Travis. Travis brushes this off and heads home. As he’s relaxing at home, a group of criminals drive by Travis’ place and toss in a package through his window. He opens it to reveal that its his best friend Bishop’s severed head. Now pissed off and full of rage, Travis is out to climb the ranks of the UAA leaderboards once again, but this time it’s personal.
Gameplay
Gameplay for No More Heroes 2 is similar to the first game but with some new additions. Firstly gone is the open world of the first game, now replaced with a central hub menu. There is no fee to pay to access the next showdown. The mini games have now become 8-bit versions of their original selves. Travis now has the ability to swap and wield different beam katanas. Depending on which bean katana he’s wielding, it changes his fighting style. For example the Peony is a large heavy sword that has a large range and power but is slow swing. There’s also the Rose Nasty which consist of two swords, letting Travis dual wield. The biggest change in gameplay is that at certain parts of the game the player will be able to control Shinobu, an assassin from the last game, and Henry, the final boss from the last game. Both have different move sets and are pretty fun to play as. Sadly their sections of the game are pretty short. In addition to the game’s main story campaign, there is an extra mode called Deathmatch that is unlocked after finishing the game. Deathmatch is basically a boss rush mode, as players are able to pick which boss to re-fight.
While the gameplay remains almost identical to the first game, the gameplay in No More Heroes 2 is just as fun. The different fighting styles with Travis and being able to play as Shinobu and Henry liven things up as well as the change of the mini games. The mini games have gone from 3D to being 8-bit style games which can be played at any time.
Graphics
Just like No More Heroes HD, No More Heroes 2 has also gotten a HD graphical update. Now that the open world has been replaced with a HUB map, character models look even more stylized and look even better in HD.
Music/sound
No More Heroes 2 is filled with new tracks this time with legendary composer Akira Yamaoka at the helm. This soundtrack is a bit more on the punk/metal/hard rock side than the first game’s jazzy soundtrack, which is a signature of Yamaoka’s style. Heavy and fast guitar riffs, pounding drums are the order of the day and it is awesome. And again it doesn’t hurt that its Akira Yamaoka composing the soundtrack to the game.
No More Heroes 2 Desperate Struggle HD is more of the same and then some. Gameplay is made even more fun with the expanded combat and two other playable character, though their time in the game is limited and short. Gone is the empty open world of the first game and in its place a more streamlined HUB map. Graphics have been updated and look even more stylized. And best of all, an Akira Yamaoka composed soundtrack. Only real issue that I had with the game is the motion controls. Much like the HD remaster of No More Heroes, motion controls for No More Heroes 2 are a bit janky, at least to me. With that being said, if you’re looking for a more slicing and dicing ahead of No More Heroes 3’s release next year, No More Heroes 2 Desperate Struggle HD will scratch that itch.
