*The Geek Getaway received a review copy of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition for the PS4
**If you haven't read my first impressions of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition then I suggest you go check that out
here.
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| Each game has a unique opening, Life is Destroy using old school FMVs |
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition released for the
PlayStation 4 and PC via
Steam on October 17, 2019. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition was developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by XSEED and Marvelous. The games cost $39.99 on both platforms, with Steam offering a 10% discount until October 24, 2019. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition includes Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, which was released on the Nintendo Switch in January of 2019, and both previously released DLCs, Black Dandelion and Bubblegum Fatale. The game also offers couch co-op so if you're looking for a game to play with a friend or family member in the same room, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition has you covered.
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| Every game kicks off with this homage to Terminator |
The story of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition connects heavily to the No More Heroes franchise, and tangentially to other Suda 51 games, so if you're like me you may be confused about a few of the finer story points in the game. The basic plot is that Badman attacks Travis Touchdown in revenge for Travis having killed Badman's daughter, Badgirl. After the two are sucked into the Death Drive MKII due to Badman having a "Death Ball" in his possession they must complete the game, Electric Thunder Tiger II, contained on the death ball. The two then set off on an adventure to collect all 6 death balls and wish for Badgirl to be brought to life. Yes, that is a Dragonball reference. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition features references to many different games, movies, and anime properties. Trying to spot them all is almost a game in itself.
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| He really loves his coffee and donuts... |
Half of the game is a hack and slash beat-em up, while the other half is an old school PC adventure game like visual novel. Each of the Death Drive MKII's games are played in a very similar manner. You beat up computer bugs, defeat a mini boss, then beat up more computer bugs, then defeat a boss. Each world adds a few mechanics, puzzle solving or racing for example, that break up the action. You can equip various chips, each referencing a very famous anime franchise, to add new attacks and skills to your repertoire. Additionally, you can increase your levels to give yourself more HP and attack power. The game screen is a 4:3 format with the sides filled with your life bar, a silhouette of your character, your energy bar, and your skill list. This gives the game a real old school Atari feel and really drives home the point that the Death Drive MKII is suppose to be an old school console, despite its advance tech.
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| I hope you like looking at old school PC green... |
Collecting the death balls is done by completing the aforementioned Travis Strikes Back: No More Heroes visual novel. These sections are about ten minutes long each, assuming you read in an expeditious manner, and offer a lot of that quirky Suda 51 charm you've heard about. These sections never linger too long but they may annoy those who are just looking for an action game. The fact they can not be skipped is a slight annoyance but as I said they are not that long so it's not a deal breaker.
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| The Life is Destroy opening is probably my favorite of all the game openings |
This game is a love letter to old school Atari beat em ups with other genres sprinkled in for good measure. This could be a good thing or bad thing depending on your feelings for said games. The enemies, excluding the bosses, are all variations of the same 4 designs which makes the Death Drive MKII games all feel like disjointed parts of a larger game and not separate games as they are presented to be. The music also has a similar vibe across all the worlds, again making it seem like 1 game and not several different games. The last minor gripe I have is the fact you can buy various T shirts for your heroes to wear but they offer nothing more than a minor aesthetic change. Despite these minor flaws, the game plays very well and I enjoyed my time with Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition.
Final Verdict: Recommended!
*All images are owned by their respective copyright holders and are used under fair use guidelines
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