Video game fans of all ages worldwide are hotly anticipating various video games that are due to be launched in 2021. With this, here is a look at Grasshopper Manufacture’s No More Heroes III, one of the most eagerly awaited video games set to debut on various video game platforms next year.
Developed and published by Grasshopper Manufacture for Nintendo Switch, No More Heroes III, an upcoming action-adventure hack and slash video game, is the fourth installment in the franchise and the third entry in the mainline No More Heroes series.
Following an eleven-year hiatus since the last numbered entry, the game follows Travis Touchdown’s return to Santa Destroy, as he must defend the world from an alien invasion of an incredibly powerful army led by a galactic overlord prince.
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Grasshopper Manufacture
Directors: Goichi Suda, Ren Yamazaki, Nobutaka Ichiki
Designer: Goichi Suda
Artists: Yusuke Kozaki, Skan Srisuwan, Masanori Ushiki
Writer: Goichi Suda
Composers: Nobuaki Kaneko, Kazuhiro Abo
Series: No More Heroes
Engine: Unreal Engine 4
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action-adventure, hack and slash
Release: Single-player
Development
Prior to development, Grasshopper Manufacture developed and released Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, which was Goichi Suda’s first title in a directorial role since the original No More Heroes game.
While the title was made in part as a tribute to indie games, Suda had expressed long-term intentions for the title to be a stepping stone on the path to a proper numbered entry.
The ending of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes included a playable portion where Travis was controlled in third-person, similarly to previous No More Heroes titles, with a comment from Travis suggesting that development on a mainline sequel had properly commenced.
Suda explained in an interview following the game’s release that the playable segment was a prototype they used in development and that the intention behind its inclusion was to evoke a similar feeling that viewers get from the post-credits teasers in Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
No More Heroes III was announced at E3 2019 as part of the Nintendo Direct showcase, featuring a reveal trailer of Travis battling alien invaders.
Suda had previously explained that the foes which Travis will go up against would be “Avengers-scale” threats, using the recurring supervillain Thanos as a point of comparison.
He also made note that Travis’ “Death Glove” from Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes would make a return, in a bid to make Travis’ skill set more distinct as a video game protagonist, and that the skills he accumulated throughout the game would come into play.
In the reveal trailer, Travis uses the Death Glove to don powered armor, utilizing the signature catchphrase of Kamen Rider.
Unreal Engine 4 is once again being used as the development engine.
Suda will be assuming the role of director, writer, and designer, with Ren Yamazaki and Nobutaka Ichiki – co-director of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes and lead director of No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle respectively – returning to the franchise as co-directors.
While confirming that the game will be able to be played on a regular controller, Suda has stated the game is being heavily designed around the Joy-Con’s capabilities, both in and out of combat.
He also confirmed that the open world, which was absent from No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, is likely to make a return, along with side activities.
Compared to Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, which was largely designed around Suda wishing to commemorate indie games and Grasshopper Manufacture’s history, the development team designed No More Heroes III heavily around fan feedback and what they believe fans look for in a No More Heroes game.
On September 9, 2020, the game was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No More Heroes III headlined the Nintendo Direct Mini Partners Showcase on October 28, 2020, which showed off an unobscured representation of gameplay as well as the announcement of ports of No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle that would release the same day.
Thus far, here are few reactions of video game geeks to No More Heroes III: