No More Heroes

Memorable opponents give the climb a strong identity, though earning the right to meet them repeatedly slows the journey.

Its strongest moments come when the next opponent gives the action a particular face and attitude. Fighting toward a named rival makes the ranking feel more personal than a succession of anonymous stages, while the collision of combat and absurd characterisation gives the journey an identifiable rhythm. The difficulty is sustaining that interest between confrontations. Funding the next battle and travelling through the city create a repeated interruption, and the activities used to earn that money do not always provide equally satisfying play. The inspected Switch account finds the button-and-stick alternative comfortable throughout a handheld playthrough, which helps the action fit ordinary portable sessions. It does not remove the underlying need to alternate exciting confrontations with less engaging preparation. Players who enjoy the personalities and theatrical exaggeration will have more reason to accept that uneven distribution.

Who it is for: Players interested in eccentric characters, exaggerated action and named boss confrontations.

Play notes: OriginalSwitch evidence: Nintendo World Report,AlexCulafi,November1,2020;10–12h full handheld playthrough,no mandatory motion input. Hardwaremodel/patch undisclosed; smoothness qualitative,notFPS/latency measurement or a current-build retest.