Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Over-the-top gory adventure suitable only for adults.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise
What's It About?
Based on the gory No More Heroes for Nintendo Wii, NO MORE HEROES: HEROES' PARADISE for PlayStation 3 is an over-the-top, stylized adventure about an ambitious assassin out to become the world's top professional killer. Despite support for the PlayStation Move motion controller, refreshed graphics, and a few bosses introduced in last year's No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, it's more or less a reboot of the original game, which was quite controversial for the kid-friendly Wii console. You play as Travis Touchdown (yes, that's his name) and armed with a "beam katana" -- which resembles a sword mixed with a Star Wars light saber -- you must slice, dice, and dropkick enemies to become the top killer in the United Assassins Association. Using the PlayStation Move (optional, but recommended), you'll take on silly-looking fighters, collect items strewn throughout each level, and navigate the game's colorful world on foot or via a futuristic motorcycle.
Is It Any Good?
This Japanese-made cel-shaded game is ridiculously gory and often quite bizarre, but it can be quite fun in a "guilty pleasure" sort of way. You'll tackle a number of main missions and side jobs, cut through waves of enemies by swiping your PlayStation Move controller around in front of your television, and partake in a few newly-added game modes, such as "Rebout," which lets you challenge previously defeated enemies and compare your scores on a global leaderboard.
Aside from HD graphics, also new in this PS3 version is the ability to watch over-the-top cut-scene sequences in "Viewer Mode", challenge bosses from Desperate Struggle (such as Skelter Helter and Kimmy Howell), and tweak your character's look and weapons with new and unlockable options. It may not be much different than its predecessor, but No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise is a great -- if gory -- game.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether games like this one would be as entertaining without the over-the-top violence and gore. Can shockingly brutal violence ever be legitimately funny?
Families can also talk about sexuality in games. Is your opinion of a game lessened if all of its female characters are presented as sexual objects? Why do you think this sort of exploitation occurs so much more in games than in most other media?
Game Details
- Platform : PlayStation 3
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Konami
- Release date : August 16, 2011
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 19, 2019
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