No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle: Bigger, Badder, Better

Travis Touchdown is back in No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, and things are bigger, and badder than ever. Three years have gone by since the first title in the series, and during that time, the city of Santa Destroy had changed - for the worst.

With positive review 1998, Ubisoft published No More Heroes for the Wii. The game was applauded for it's story, style, satire, and soundtrack. The question is, how do you take what is already good and improve upon it? Raise the bar. Everything in NMH2 has been modified. With refined graphics, tweaked battle sequences, upgraded environments, and improved free roam of missions; the game offers an even bigger punch than its predecessor.

In NMH2, the player once again takes the role of protagonist, Travis Touchdown. Touchdown, who had left the ranks of the assassin fights, has returned to the scene (with a little arm twisting from a friend) to avenge the death of, Bishop. As Touchdown, the player climbs through the ranks of the United Assassins' Association. Armed with a beam katana, Touchdown must fight one opponent after another, in order to reach the highest honor of top assassin. The combat sequences in the game are based on third person, offering a motion control combat system that isn't tiring, but can be a bit repetitive and lengthy from wave to wave. Boss levels have the added strategy of having to find the opponent's weakness, and are enjoyable and challenging. As a bonus, get ready to wield weapons and fight as some of Touchdown's old friends.

Mini-games mix things up. If fighting isn't enough, then you are in luck. Skill training, cash earning mini games are back, old school style. With retro 8 bit detail, they are on par with a basic time killing casual game, not overly challenging or complex, yet fun and essential for the progress of the player character.

A must buy. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle should be a welcome title in any gamers library (note ESRB rating below). An improvement over an already successful first title, players will find increasingly challenging fights with progression of the game, an enjoyable soundtrack, and an all around edgy but fun experience.

Parents beware. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is rated "M (17+)" for mature, due to intense violence, sexual themes, partial nudity, and strong language. The title is available for the Nintendo Wii (Nunchuck required) with an estimated retail price of $49.99.

Sources/Resources:

Official product website.