No Straight Roads

 Switch
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 48
  3. Negative: 20 out of 48

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  1. RaigaPhantomX70
    Aug 29, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is pretty good, but for the Switch version, there are A LOT of problems here. Before I want to get to the negatives, I want to mention some positives here. First off, the music is AMAZING and there is no denying that. They put a lot of effort into that. The characters and their development are pretty fine as we explore and see who they are. Some of the gameplay is alright, especially going after various bosses and seems pretty fun. Especially doing things like hard/crazy/parry modes. So far, those are the only positives that I can see.

    Now for the negatives. First off, the graphics are not that good in the Switch version. Yes, I can understand they downgraded it to match the specs for it which I don't mind that much. Some of the character models and certain places were alright. However, it's very buggy and missing a lot of things and other features that the PS4 and PC versions have. One of them would be the missing healing items for DK West rap battles for the second and third part. I barely made it through the second part after around 30 or so attempts, but still can't get pass through the third part. The PS4 and PC versions have that, but not the Switch and from what I've heard the Xbox One versions. Also, with the graphics downgrade and again with the bugs that occurred, some of the colors. textures and other things were out of place. One example is in DJSS parry mode, the parry colors in his third phase where he traps and attacks you with the planets are red, not pink for parrying. Other examples include things like in the final boss against Tatiana where the camera sometimes keep going out of place at a certain phase where I can't tell if I'm attacking here or the pendulum thing or not.

    Another is that the performance is, at very places and other things in the game, tend to freeze up sometimes and goes really slow. One of them is when starting the game and when selecting Continue, it takes 15 seconds just to get to the next part of the screen. Another is that in the final part of the game, with Kliff and all the NSR robots as well as the part where you stop the satellite, the fps went down a lot. Plus, the characters' lips are not syncing from time to time.

    Overall, again, the music is really great and if anyone is interested in getting the soundtrack, I would highly recommend getting it if interested. Some of the bosses and gameplay were kind of alright even though some parts might have some bugs. Now in terms of graphics and performance as well as what I've mentioned above, they are not good. Along with that, and sorry if I'm repeating this again, there are a lot of missing things in the Switch version that the PS4 and PC doesn't have. There is no excuse for that and it seems that they were in a rush in releasing this game for the Switch. Aside from that, this was a good effort and definitely this game had a lot of potentials, especially being developed by former devs leads from Square Enix and Capcom, but this was not good enough. Especially when seeing the PS4 version that there are some things that are missing and that they should've released this game in all of the platforms at a later time in order to polish up and fix these major issues. If anyone is interested in playing NSR, don't get this for the Switch or Xbox One. If you have a PS4 or at least a PC that has the recommended specs for your own, I would suggest getting either one of those instead. Aside from that, hopefully, the devs can learn from this in the future and as far as I can see, the community seems pretty friendly and the devs are pretty transparent as they released a recent video admitting the bugs and issues in the Switch and are patching that up.    … Expand
  2. oklin
    Aug 27, 2020
    7
    Its easy to feel the experience dampened by combat system that feels mostly lackluster, a myriad of bugs and a general lack of polish, particularly in the Switch port. But once you get into the groove of its action infused larger-than-life boss battles and the journey of our two leads you'll be sure to walk away feeling as if you just experienced a cult classic with a soundtrack that won'tIts easy to feel the experience dampened by combat system that feels mostly lackluster, a myriad of bugs and a general lack of polish, particularly in the Switch port. But once you get into the groove of its action infused larger-than-life boss battles and the journey of our two leads you'll be sure to walk away feeling as if you just experienced a cult classic with a soundtrack that won't leave your head very easily.… Expand
  3. ApexRex
    Sep 9, 2020
    7
    This game is packed with charm and style, but it's not perfect. The characters were interesting enough to keep things moving, and the boss fights and their accompanying music are the highlights of the game. However, at least on switch, there are glaring bugs and glitches that sour the experience. The graphics quality wasn't the best either. They said a patch was coming, so I'd recommendThis game is packed with charm and style, but it's not perfect. The characters were interesting enough to keep things moving, and the boss fights and their accompanying music are the highlights of the game. However, at least on switch, there are glaring bugs and glitches that sour the experience. The graphics quality wasn't the best either. They said a patch was coming, so I'd recommend waiting for that before buying. Or get it on another platform that you can play on with headphones.… Expand
  4. Insecttrainer
    Sep 24, 2020
    5
    I wish I could speak for the whole game but after a month of playing, I cant get past the first boss. I appreciate a good challenge in games, but this one feels more like failed level design than fun challenge. It's not all bad..... The game gets a few things right:
    Fun soundtrack
    Good voice acting
    Has Co'op mode All in all the game just feels incomplete

    I regret buying this one
  5. Citrusrobot
    Aug 28, 2020
    6
    You will spend this game doing three things:
    - Exploring a boring pointless hub world.
    - Fighting three repetitive enemies over and over again in boring levels. - And fighting really cool, interesting, but poorly built boss levels. I really want to finish this game because I love the style, the music, and all the VA work, it really has this fresh charm! But it's not fun gameplay,    You will spend this game doing three things:
    - Exploring a boring pointless hub world.

    - Fighting three repetitive enemies over and over again in boring levels.

    - And fighting really cool, interesting, but poorly built boss levels.

    I really want to finish this game because I love the style, the music, and all the VA work, it really has this fresh charm! But it's not fun gameplay, I spent the whole game hoping the next boss would be cooler then the last but it peaks really early.

    The camera is so poor I have to squint to see anything when docked, and there is so much happening on screen that I can't help but get hit by attacks. I feel like the games trying to enforce that you can dodge to the rhythm but it quickly stops feeling like it lines up at all. Over all the gameplay just really drags everything else down.

    All this said, I can't get Sayu's theme out my head.    … Expand
  6. OldMcBrother
    Jan 21, 2022
    7
    This is an...alright game I suppose. My favorite part is the whole bit with 1010, because it was just hilarious and has good music. Kliff is honestly one of not the worst twist villian in any media I've experienced. If they put more time and effort into this it could've been something truly special, but as it stands it's a good game with a buttload of flaws.

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 23
  3. Negative: 1 out of 23
  1. KeenGamer
    Nov 17, 2022
    95
    Part rhythm game, part platformer, part boss rush, No Straight Roads takes the best parts of these genres and forms a fun, groovy whole that'll have your ears tingling, heart pumping, fingers twitching, and feet tapping. For Metronomik’s first game, you wouldn’t think it given how much of a blast No Straight Roads is. In fact, in this author’s opinion, the only major downside to it is that it feels too short. But even if that’s the case, the game doesn’t drag on to the point of fatigue, each little collectible or side mission or story beat sitting comfortably where it needs to be. I picked this game up for the premise alone, but the bosses and music definitely helped me stay.
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  2. Ninty Fresh Magazine
    Dec 21, 2020
    50
    They’ve sold all the tickets but forgot to wake the lead singer up. No Straight Roads is only for those that enjoy half a performance. [Issue #2, p.63]
  3. Hey Poor Player
    Oct 29, 2020
    70
    In some ways, No Straight Roads felt like the second coming of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. It had all the right ingredients to be the perfect blend of rhythm and action into one phenomenal package. And while it does plenty right, it’s a little too off-key where it counts. Some fine-tuning on the combat would certainly help sync the boss battles with the aesthetics and exploration aspects, as that mechanic carries way too much weight to ignore. Still, I can’t lie — I’ve absolutely fallen in love with No Straight Roads for what it does offer, which is an explosively intense experience that will punch your teeth right out of your face. If you favor adventure over rhythm, there’s no reason not to pick up No Straight Roads; if beats are more important than battles to you, perhaps wait for tickets to go on sale.
    Read full review
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