Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes - Complete Edition

Ultimately, the Complete Edition is the best way to experience this spin-off, as it is a solid game in its own right and serves as an excellent, if different, primer for No More Heroes 3.

Travis Strikes Again delivers a meaningful experience through meaningless actions. Its hyperactive changes of style and fun combat do plenty to curb some intentionally frustrating design.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes brings on PS4 the same, solid hack & slash experience of the Nintendo Switch version, packed with crazy characters and bosses.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes is an appetizer for the main course that is sure to be No More Heroes III. Indeed, it is best served in short, bite-sized chunks, which its short levels are perfect for consuming in such a way. As a whole, this isn’t the strongest entry in the series, but then it doesn’t feel like it was intended that way. Sitting down with a buddy in local co-op is a fun first for Travis, and a decent smattering of extra game modes helps to stretch play time a bit.

Suda51 is nothing if not subtle. His games always feel outrageous and over-the-top in ways that can be difficult to hold onto some measure of appeal. I love his stuff solely because I can never expect what he’s going to do. Travis Strikes Again was a huge disappointment because it doesn’t have the same high energy or memorable experiences of its predecessors. I do like all of the weird mixed media stuff going on but if you strip the presentation away, there isn’t anything left worth sticking around for.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes Complete Edition might be a limited experience with repetitive gameplay, but long time series fans will find plenty to enjoy in the narrative.

Travis Strikes Again is more of an appetizer for No More Heroes 3, and it’s hard to consider it a full fledged title. But if you are a die hard fan of the series, maybe it’s not a bad idea to give it a try.

To its credit, there’s so much off-the-wall content here that you’ll be willing to push through its drier segments just to see what oddity the developer has in store next. Whether it’s reviewing ramen recipes or watching on dumbfounded as the title tosses out a completely unconnected FMV sequence, this is a real rollercoaster of ridiculousness that needs to be seen to be believed. But it’s a three or four hour experience which lasts more than double that, and no amount of Boneface designed bossfights are going to prevent you from getting bored at points.

Some jokes land, and some moments shine, but most of No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again Complete Edition relies on heavy-handed doses of breaking fourth walls and common game modes. There's an audience for this franchise, but this game doesn't offer much for anyone else.