No More Heroes 2 (PC) – Review
Our Rating: 8/10
No More Heroes 2 begins with Travis returning to Santa Destroy after three years as the city’s number one assassin. A man seeking vengeance, however, caught him off guard. After defeating him, you are thrust into a new murder competition, as that man was the current ranking’s 51st assassin.
Sylvia makes a well-known proposal to entice you to participate in this… Turn one of those nights into a win by becoming number one. Travis accepts the proposal, carried away by the lust of the moment. He wasn’t serious about it until a tragic event forced him to do so for a nobler cause.
In contrast to the first game, in which we had to defeat 10 assassins, we now have to contend with 50. Travis is fortunate in that he is not alone on this journey, and some compromises must be made. Also, compared to the previous game, the story is far better and less superficial.
Another plus is that NMH2 embraces the strange and meaningless, allowing for far more unusual moments and characters than before.
A much better predecessor
Fortunately, No More Heroes 2 discards that notion and instead creates a map with quick-access options, cutting down on time.
Furthermore, one of the first game’s flaws was that the stages were too long and repetitive. Here we have some that are extremely short and others that aren’t. They vary greatly in content and forcing the player to move at a fast pace. Moreover, boss battles are becoming increasingly inventive and innovative, utilizing game mechanics to great effect.
The part-time work missions have also been revamped, as they are now minigames in the retro game mold, allowing you to earn money through a variety of activities rather than missions that required you to pick something up off the ground by pressing a button or something similar to the first game.
Much more blood
Travis can now switch weapons during phases or boss fights, giving the player a lot more flexibility. There are also some specific scenes with Shinobu (who now regards Travis as his mentor) and Henri Cooldown, the protagonist’s fraternal twin brother, that we play.
The basic gameplay doesn’t change much, but each character has their quirks, such as Shinobu’s ability to jump and Henri’s dash.
Some boss fights are quite inventive, such as putting you in motorcycle combat or requiring you to pilot a massive mecha to fight another. The game was insanely fun.
Construction and Duration
The game’s graphics are much better than the previous ones, eschewing the cartoon aspect in favor of adding more details to the characters and scenarios, allowing you to better explore their unique characteristics in the models. They also chose the best songs from the previous game to be included in the Desperate Struggle soundtrack, as well as other themes from the same level.
Battles are now faster and more dynamic thanks to improved gameplay. There are still some glitches to be aware of, such as the dodge being available only when targeting an enemy and the camera not always assisting you. Aside from that, the game appears to be evolving.
Finally, No More Heroes 2 is a relatively brief title. You’ll have a game-time equivalent to 5 or 6 hours if you don’t enjoy the mini-games and don’t complete the secondary challenges. It’s a fun game to play on a dull Sunday.
Unfortunately, it’s still a lazy port
Similar to the first game, we’re dealing with a sluggish port that only works in windowed mode when using keyboard and mouse commands. Strangely, nothing will work if it is set to fullscreen. All of the buttons on the screens that the game asks you to press are Nintendo Switch buttons, which can be confusing for players who are using keyboards or a USB controller.
Final Thoughts
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is an excellent action game that corrects several flaws in the original. It’s far from perfect and has flaws. However, he now has a more assertive personality, and this was the title that firmly established the franchise.
Unfortunately, it’s still a sloppy port that didn’t pay attention to changing the command scenes to make it easier for players to play. If you have to choose between buying No More Heroes 1 and 2 (for the gameplay, not the story), No More Heroes 2 is without a doubt the better option!