Honestly, most people looked at the top-down camera and just checked out. When Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes first dropped back in 2019, the vibe was weirdly hostile. Fans had been waiting nine years for a sequel to No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, and instead of a high-budget 3D action game, Suda51 handed them a punk-rock indie experiment. People called it a "mini-game collection" or a "cheap spin-off."
They were wrong.
Basically, this game is the most "Suda" thing Goichi Suda has ever made. It’s not just a bridge to No More Heroes 3; it’s a direct transmission from the brain of a creator who was clearly feeling burnt out by the AAA industry. It’s a game about the love of making games, even when the process is a nightmare.
The Setup: Trailer Living and Death Drives
The story starts in a trailer in Texas. Travis Touchdown is older, jaded, and living in exile. He’s retired from the assassin life, spending his time playing video games on a mythical console called the Death Drive Mk II. Then Badman shows up.
Badman is the father of Bad Girl—the girl Travis killed in the first game. He wants revenge. But before they can kill each other, the console sucks them both inside. To get out, they have to beat six legendary "Death Ball" games. If they win, they get one wish. Badman wants his daughter back. Travis? He just wants to survive.
Why the Gameplay Feels Different
If you’re expecting the high-low stance combat from the Wii days, you won't find it here. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes shifts to an isometric perspective. You’ve still got the beam katana, and you still have to shake the controller (or mash a button) to "recharge" it, but the flow is more like an arcade brawler.
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You’ve got a light attack, a heavy attack, and—crucially—skill chips. These chips are where the real strategy lives. You can equip four at a time, allowing for things like:
- Slowing down time in a specific area.
- Firing off a massive electric railgun blast.
- A "Death Glow" that heals you while you stand in it.
- Telekinetic throws that toss enemies into each other.
It’s fast. It’s twitchy. And on higher difficulties, it’s actually kind of brutal. You can’t just mash. You have to learn the telegraphs of the "bugs" (the game’s enemies) and time your dodges.
It’s a Love Letter to Indie Development
You’ve probably noticed Travis wears a lot of t-shirts in this game. There are literally dozens of them, and they all feature real indie games. Hotline Miami, Hollow Knight, Shovel Knight, The Messenger—they’re all there. Suda51 didn’t just do this for aesthetic; he did it because he spent years feeling like a "small" developer trapped in a big corporate machine.
Building Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes with a core team of only about 13 people was a reset for Grasshopper Manufacture. It was a way to get back to the "punk" roots of their early days, like when they made The Silver Case.
The Visual Novel Segments: Travis Strikes Back
One of the most polarizing parts of the game is "Travis Strikes Back." These are long, text-heavy visual novel segments where Travis travels the world on a motorcycle to find the Death Balls. There’s no action. Just green text on a black screen, some retro sound effects, and some of the best writing in the series.
You get to see Travis being a massive nerd. You see him interacting with characters from Suda’s other games, like Dan Smith from killer7 or Kamui from The Silver Case. It builds a "Grasshopper Universe" in a way that feels organic. These segments are where the game’s heart is. It’s where Suda rants about the industry, the "viciousness of development," and the pain of lost ideas.
The DLC and the Road to No More Heroes 3
If you play the base game and stop, you’re missing the ending. Seriously. The DLC, particularly Bubblegum Fatale, is mandatory for the lore. It brings Bad Girl back to life—not as a ghost, but as a playable character.
The story in Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes isn't just a side quest. It introduces the "Death Glove," which becomes a major mechanic in No More Heroes 3. It also sets up the villain, Damon Riccitiello, and explains why Travis is suddenly fighting aliens in the next game. Without this "spin-off," the plot of the third game makes absolutely zero sense.
A Masterclass in Voice Acting
Robin Atkin Downes returns as Travis, and honestly, he’s never been better. He plays Travis with a weariness that wasn't there in the earlier games. He’s still a loudmouth, but he’s a loudmouth who has seen too much. Steve Blum joins as Badman, and his chemistry with Travis is gold. They start as enemies and end as... well, coworkers who hate each other a little bit less.
Is It Worth Playing Today?
Yes. But you have to go into it with the right mindset. It’s not a $70 AAA spectacle. It’s an art house game disguised as an arcade brawler.
Some of the levels are, admittedly, a bit too long. The "Life is Destroy" level—a suburban horror game where you have to rotate houses to progress—can feel like a slog if you aren't into the atmosphere. The "Killer Marathon" level is literally a race through a vector-style grid that might make your eyes bleed.
But the bosses? The bosses are classic Suda. They have personality, weird backstories, and killer soundtracks. Dealing with Electro Triple Star or Brian Buster Jr. feels just as intense as the ranked battles in the older games, even with the zoomed-out camera.
Actionable Insights for New Players
If you’re going to jump in, don’t play it like a mindless hack-and-slash.
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- Read the digital manuals. Each "game" inside the Death Drive has its own fake magazine/manual. They’re hilarious and filled with lore that explains the world.
- Experiment with Co-op. This is the only No More Heroes game with proper local co-op. Playing as Travis and Badman together makes the grindy sections much more fun.
- Check the Ramen. Travis can eat ramen at various stalls to get buffs and read reviews. It’s a small detail, but it’s peak world-building.
- Don't skip the text. If you skip the "Travis Strikes Back" segments, you're throwing away 50% of the game's value.
Ultimately, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes is a game for people who love the medium of video games—warts and all. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it doesn't care if you like it. Which is exactly why it’s great.
If you’re ready to dive in, your best bet is to pick up the Complete Edition on PS4 or PC, which includes all the DLC from the start. On Nintendo Switch, make sure you grab the Season Pass. You'll need it to see the full transformation of Travis from a lonely otaku into the man who can take on an alien prince. Focus on finding the hidden "K-N-E" characters in each level; they provide the currency you need to buy those sweet indie shirts. After you finish the main story, go back and play on "Bitter" difficulty—it forces you to actually use those skill chips you've been collecting.