I wasn’t sure if I was going to run out and buy this, but who was I kidding!?  I’m a big fan of the first game, and have been anxious for the 2nd.

No More Heroes is a game with an insane 4th wall breaking story, but one that I can follow, and is told well enough; a stark contrast to coming off Bayonetta.  Despite its vulgarity, the first NMH showed off some real thought behind its madness; and I’m expecting the same on this go.  The VO is sometimes hammy, but somehow feels appropriate.  Travis still has the same voice actor, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m only about 2 hours in, but there is a much better pace to the game already.  Some technical flaws here and there with the camera, but the absurd, meta story is in full effect, and the combat is still fun with a few new surprises thrown in, and I’m sure many more to come.

I don’t miss the open world at all, and the 8bit mini games that replace the tedious jobs of the first game are fantastic!  They are much more developed than expected.  There are plenty of distractions in Travis’s apartment as well, though I feel a bit weird playing with Travis’s cat when my sleepy one is across the couch from me.

The first level feels shorter than the ones in the original, they seem to have trimmed the fat, and focused more on the boss fights.  This is a plus, as the fodder in each level is more of an appetizer to the main course at the end.

The animation and character models, especially Travis, all seem to be updated, and have a little more care towards detail.  A few technical issues still hold over, but its already clear that Suda51 listened to people’s complaints and really delivered for his fans.