This time around, he has to show the galaxy what he is made of. Will Touchdown bend against the wills of intergalactic assassins, or will he save the planet from invasion? Earn money, fight for your life, and save the planet with No More Heroes 3. You’ll also learn if it will be worth your time when it arrives.
What is No More Heroes 3?
What Kind of Game Is It?
After an 11-year break from No More Heroes 2, the third installment to the No More Heroes series is finally arriving. An upcoming action game with sci-fi elements, many are excited for what it brings to the table of 2021 releases. Reunite with Travis Touchdown, everyone’s favorite anti-hero in this hack-and-slash Nintendo Switch title. His journey from the bottom of the assassin barrel right up to the top is something many gamers enjoy reliving still. This time around, he is moving on from this narrative and facing a new threat: aliens. Watch as Travis may turn himself from anti-hero to hero as he tries to save the earth from an alien invasion. This classic set-up is seen in movies, TV shows, and other corners of pop culture. This time around, it is your pro-wrestling obsessed otaku who’s out to save the day. Come back to Santa Destroy and show intergalactic beings what Travis Touchdown is made of.
Developer
No More Heroes 3 is developed and produced by Grasshopper Manufacture Inc., a Japan-based game studio. Those who have been gamers since the late ’90s or early ’00s may know them for their work on The Silver Case; Flower, Sun, and Rain; and Killer 7. By 2007, the studio struck gold and released No More Heroes, the catalyst to a successful action series. The brand has gone on to make its art style known, guided by their CEO Goichi Suda. Later on in the article, we’ll discuss the graphics and art style of No More Heroes. For now, it is best to recognize Grasshopper Manufacture’s work for what it is: unique and inspired. Landscapes and scenarios for each game they have released look straight out of a vintage anime. According to the official Grasshopper Manufacture website, the company is inspired by punk music. Their games have a specific aesthetic and message. These converge into a celebration of the anti-heroes, the renegades, and those with just a bit of darkness in them.
Release Date
No More Heroes 3 will be released in 2021, making it one of the most awaited games of the year. Joining its ranks is God of War: Ragnarok, Resident Evil Village, Back 4 Blood, and many more. Specifically, this game will be released on August 27, 2021. This follows significant production delays since the game was supposed to be released in either 2019 or 2020.
Production Delays
As mentioned, it has been over a decade since the release of the last No More Heroes game. Still managing to pick up heat from its last release, No More Heroes 3 has faced a few production delays. Because of this, its release date kept being pushed back. For context, No More Heroes 3 materialized in gamers’ heads when it was announced at the 2019 E3 convention. However, gamers have had to wait longer than expected due to recent events. The coronavirus pandemic caused game developers to slow down production, thus delaying the release of No More Heroes 3. The studio has been working very hard in making sure the game meets its 2021 release.
Platforms
No More Heroes 3 will be a Nintendo Switch exclusive. You can pre-order the game on the Nintendo Switch store today.
Prices
As of now, there are no special or deluxe editions of No More Heroes 3 available. The price of the awaited game ranges from $50-$60. Other versions of the game may be announced as time goes on.
No More Heroes 3: Everything You Need to Know
Gameplay
No More Heroes 3 features single-player slash-‘em-up gameplay. While this has a stark difference from other upcoming action gameplays like Back 4 Blood, it makes sense with the game’s story. Playing as the ruthless Travis Touchdown, you will do whatever it takes to save the universe from a galactic invasion. Things are not so easy for him as this showdown is a full-on tournament, complete with an entrance fee. To pay for his dues, you will have to earn money along the way. This is not your typical action game in that sense. Take on different sidelines and jobs and build your way into the world-saving tournament. You can also expect to be thrust into different settings that put your assassination skills to the test. A Nintendo Switch exclusive, get used to your Joy-Cons’ “intuitive” features. You will need this when you switch up Travis Touchdown’s weapons, from his Beam Katana all up to his famous Death Glove. As an extra action punch, you will also have control over the Death Glove’s combinations. Think Tekken whenever you change up what button corresponds to which move. Customize your skill tree and grow Travis to the assassin you know he can be. Beyond the weapons, No More Heroes 3 even borrows pro-wrestling techniques for its gameplay. The game offers more than meets the eye, which is a No More Heroes technique from its conception.
Story
Travis Touchdown is on a mission to save the planet. To do this, he has to face 10 assassins from all over the galaxy. If this is not enough, these assassins are not even at the bottom of this. Prince FU is their ringmaster, and Touchdown has a circus to disrupt. When the previous games find Travis fighting to be a high-ranking assassin, No More Heroes 3 gives his greatest challenge yet. In this game, he has to climb his way up Galactic Superhero Rankings. Moreover, he can only do this if he has the money to join battles. Like any other human being, Travis Touchdown balances his main mission with different jobs for people around town. Earning money means more chances of entering fights. Once money fills up Travis’ ATM, you automatically get an invite for the ranked battle you have been working hard for. The catch is that you do your jobs well and win your fights because it takes a lot to even get a chance to start.
Graphics
From its trailer, it is safe to say that No More Heroes 3 will not stray away from what the series is known for. Complete with compelling action sequences and anime-like visuals, this third installment to the No More Heroes series looks beautiful already. Its boss characters were conceptualized and designed by Masanori Ushiki, who has experience in drawing for manga, animation, and other pop culture offerings. Joining him is Kenichiro Mizuno, another Japan-based artist. He leads the design for Damon, a high-ranking antagonist in the No More Heroes series who is set for a comeback in No More Heroes 3. Lastly, Yusuke Kozaki, the main character designer for the series, comes back for this third installment. He will be breathing new life into his characters, giving them the No More Heroes 3 treatment.
Features
It is no secret that No More Heroes 3 will give players access to different weapons and fight styles like never before. From the classic Death Glove all the way to pro-wrestling moves, action fans will enjoy No More Heroes 3’s latest offerings. Beyond these comes a great score by Nobuaki Kaneko. Much like anime, No More Heroes also thrives in its music because it complements its graphics and action.
Replayability
Since No More Heroes 3 is not out yet, not much is known about its replayability. However, based on previous titles, there is more to Travis Touchdown’s story than what you would expect. The first game, for example, featured hidden items for you to discover and interact with. By doing this, No More Heroes latches you in its world, piquing your interest every step of the way. This is also where Travis had to start paying for his battles, or at least have a shot at them. There is plenty to explore for No More Heroes, no matter what game it may be. Another example is the second game, which contrastingly does not require Travis Touchdown to pay for his battles. This title, however, does feature a handful of minigames that help Travis build his strength. These can range from puzzles to racing in a heartbeat. The second game also featured a Deathmatch mode, where you can literally keep replaying any of the boss levels of No More Heroes.
Value
It is rare for a game to have the longevity of No More Heroes. With over a decade under its belt, the anticipation for No More Heroes 3 goes to show how important the series has been to gamers around the world. While the specific values of the game are still under wraps, there is no denying that the excitement represents what the game has to show for. Play as Travis like you never have before.
Other No More Heroes Titles
No More Heroes
Released way back in 2008, No More Heroes was the debut game for Travis, who was then an aspiring assassin. He is quite young in this title and finds himself as one of society’s rejects. Because of this, he has the passion to prove his worth and the ferocity to challenge a long line of underground assassins. Each battle with one gets him up the ranks, making his name known to more people each time. As you can see, this is a toned-down version of what No More Heroes 3 will offer. Play as Travis and begin learning your way around a katana and driving motorcycles dangerously around town. Santa Destroy has a lot in store for one Travis Touchdown, and it takes a player as brave and ferocious as him to make him succeed. This action game was published by Ubisoft and released for the Wii. You can, however, play this game with Switch, too. It was remastered for a release last year.
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
The sequel to the well-received No More Heroes follows the punk-rock routes of the first game. This time around, Travis Touchdown has made a name for himself as an assassin. No worries about not being accomplished: he is already the #1 assassin in Santa Destroy. Set three years after the first game, Desperate Struggle finds Travis back with the United Assassin Association. Seeking vengeance, he is to face assassins yet again—51 people as ferocious as him, in fact. Drawn to the fire, Touchdown makes sure he builds his repertoire of wrestling moves and weapons. Bringing its A-game, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle has Travis battling in more boss battles than ever before. It also will challenge him to different types of combat, even having him face robot assassins. In its sequel, No More Heroes is more dangerous and quirkier than ever before. This keeps it true to its Japanese otaku form. No More Heroes 2 was also released for the Wii. It was released in 2010, just two years after the first game. This was also remastered for the Nintendo Switch. Re-released in 2020, you can get Desperate Struggle on the Nintendo store.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
The No More Heroes series’ official third installment is No More Heroes 3, but this is not their third game. Released in 2019, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes is a chance for Travis Touchdown to develop as a character. Set in Southern America, Travis finds himself hunted by Badman, who is out for revenge. Having killed his daughter, Bad Girl, Badman has every right to challenge Travis to a fight to the death. However, as things go south, the two are sucked into a video game console, Jumanji-style. Now, Travis Touchdown has more things to deal with. First, a father looking to exact revenge. Second, a video game that needs him to earn (and look for) Death Balls to escape. Third, of course, is himself, who has a lot of growing to do. This game debuted in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. You can get this game on Steam as well. Travis Strikes Again specifically differs from previous No More Heroes titles in that it falls under the “hack and slash” genre.
No More Heroes 3: What You Should Look Forward To
It has been over a decade since the last No More Heroes game. While Travis Strikes Again offered an experimental run for the series, fans are excited for an official comeback for Travis. With No More Heroes 3, you can look forward to new weapons, new fighting styles, and riveting plot development. Travis Touchdown has had his fair share of trouble, fighting tooth and nail to become one of the world’s best assassins. This time around, he has to prove himself to the entire galaxy. Not only that, Badman just isn’t done with him yet. This game gives fans every reason to look forward to Travis’ return.
