No More Heroes III
No More Heroes III | |
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File:No More Heroes III Logo.jpg | |
Developer(s) | Grasshopper Manufacture |
Publisher(s) | Grasshopper Manufacture |
Director(s) |
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Designer(s) | Goichi Suda |
Artist(s) |
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Writer(s) | Goichi Suda |
Composer(s) | Nobuaki Kaneko |
Series | No More Heroes |
Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
Platform(s) | Nintendo Switch |
Release | 2020 |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure, hack and slash |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
No More Heroes III[a] is an upcoming action-adventure hack and slash video game developed and published by Grasshopper Manufacture for Nintendo Switch. It is the fourth installment in the franchise and the third entry in the mainline No More Heroes series. Following a ten-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.[1]
Premise
Eight years before the original No More Heroes, a young boy named Damon Riccitiello goes to launch his rocket in the air at night after a failed attempt when he sees something crash into the woods and encounters an injured small alien named FU. Damon decides to take care of FU while hiding him from government agents who are also searching for him. While searching for a way to return FU to its planet, Damon and FU become best friends, forming a strong connection. After discovering a piece of alien technology at FU's crash site, Damon is imbued with alien powers and assists FU in building a space ship. They say goodbye to each other, with FU promising to return in 20 years. FU finally goes home just as government agents attempt to capture him.
Twenty years later (nine years after the events of No More Heroes 2 and two years after the events of Travis Strikes Again), an adult Damon is now the CEO of Utopinia — an urban renewal company — utilizing FU's alien abilities and technology to become a powerful business magnate. A huge space ship shaped like a pyramid appears above the ship Damon is on, and group of nine aliens descend from it, one of them revealing to be FU. Expecting a happy reunion, Damon is horrified to find that FU, now a prince in a more humanoid adult form, was exiled to the Blackhole Prison for destroying a neighboring planet and is now intent on conquering the Earth with the help of eight other aliens and Damon. FU and his cronies decide they will utilize superheroism as their means of world domination and the "Galactic Superhero Rankings" are established. Former top-ranked assassin in the United Assassins Association (UAA) Travis Touchdown returns to Santa Destroy from his self-imposed exile. Learning of the current situation, he must take on this legion of super-powered beings from outer space who go under the persona of superheroes, and climb the rankings once more to save the world.[2]
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.[3] 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 release of the game 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. Suda also confirmed that he would be attending E3, and suggested he would be making an announcement at the event.[4]
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.[5] Suda had previously explained that the foes which Travis will go up against will 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.[6] In the reveal trailer, Travis uses the Death Glove to don powered armor, utilizing the signature catchphrase of Kamen Rider. Travis is once again voiced by Robin Atkin Downes, while Paula Tiso reprises her role as his wife, Sylvia Christel, who has abandoned the assassin world and is now an internet celebrity and influencer. Suda is unsure whether series mainstay Shinobu Jacobs will return, though he stressed that he would want Kimberly Brooks to reprise the role in the event that she does.[7][8] Suda later confirmed that Kimmy Howell from No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle would be returning and has been redesigned by Mari Shimazaki who is most known for her work on Bayonetta.[9] It was also confirmed that series recurring boss character Destroyman would make a return in multiple variations, designed by Skan Srisuwan of Studio HIVE.[10]
Development of the title began around the time of completion of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, with the core team of that game transitioning over to No More Heroes III, alongside the recruitment of external talent and former Grasshopper Manufacture staff, rounding out the development team at roughly 100 people. Unreal Engine 4 is once again being used as the development engine. Suda will be assuming the role as 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.[7][11][8]
As of November 2019, the game was estimated to be 35-45% complete. In detailing the open world, Suda emphasized that the size of the open world would be modest compared to productions by larger scale studios such as Ubisoft and Rockstar Games, though he also confirmed that while the game's budget isn't the biggest a Grasshopper Manufacture game has had, it is the biggest No More Heroes game in terms of scope and design. While minigames were confirmed to return, Suda expressed intentions of providing extra side activities that would be something "greater [and] different than your standard minigame."[12] 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.[13]
A new story trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2019, with CG co-production by animation studios Shirogumi and Kamikaze Douga.[14] Similar to Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, Nintendo will be distributing physical copies in NA and PAL regions.[15][16] During the 2020 New Game Plus Expo event, Suda humorously presented new gameplay combat footage of No More Heroes III partially obscured by his superimposed body giving out a mock interview unrelated to the upcoming title, discussing his plans to play other Nintendo Switch games during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine.[17]
Music
The soundtrack of the game is written and produced by Nobuaki Kaneko, drummer of Japanese alternative metal band Rize. While having had experience composing music for film before, No More Heroes III is his first time making music for a video game, and described the experience as requiring a different mindset, having to emphasize consistent tension and making sure tracks can loop. The process would involve sending Suda a variety of different tracks, and letting him decide if they are suited for any of the game's specific moments. The experience making music for the game inspired Kaneko to create his own band; Red Orca. The band's debut single "Orca Force", which released October 2019, was originally made for No More Heroes III, and an alternate version of the track called "Dead Orca Force" is featured in the game as a boss track.[18][19][20] Kazuhiro Abo, lead composer of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, is also providing additional music contributions for the game.[21]
Notes
References
- ^ No More Heroes 3 - The Return, retrieved 2019-12-13
- ^ Grasshopper Manufacture PR (11 June 2019). "No More Heroes 3 official announcement". Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Casey (September 6, 2017). "Suda51 Says He Would Like To Make No More Heroes 3 If Travis Strikes Again Does Well". Siliconera. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- ^ David Caballero (25 January 2019). "SUDA51 habla de la demo de No More Heroes 3 y avisa: "Iré al E3"". Gamereactor. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ @NintendoAmerica (June 11, 2019). "Travis Touchdown returns to Santa Destroy after a ten-year absence in the latest numbered entry in the No More Heroes series... No More Heroes 3 for #NintendoSwitch is coming in 2020! #NMH3" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Tom Regan (14 December 2018). "Suda51 Says 'No More Heroes 3' Will be "Bigger..Bloodier" and Like The Avengers". Wikia. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b Suriel Vasquez (12 June 2019). "Suda51 Tells Us What To Expect From No More Heroes III". Gameinformer. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b CJ Andriessen (12 June 2019). "Suda51 talks fan input, the return of Shinobu, and the assassin he wishes could return in No More Heroes 3". Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVHorwh3GA0
- ^ Sal Romano (23 October 2019). "No More Heroes III – Kimmy Howell and Destroyman artworks". Gematasu. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ Gamexplain (11 June 2019). "Brand New No More Heroes 3 Details! - Suda 51 Interview". Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Nathan Birch (4 November 2019). "Suda 51 Interview: No More Heroes 3 Boss Fuses Thanos, Venom, Joker, Open World Confirmed". Wccftech. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ TJ Denzer (14 January 2020). "Suda51 talks No More Heroes 3, expectations, & experimentation". Shacknews. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ @NintendoAmerica (13 December 2019). "The #1 ranked assassin Travis Touchdown returns to the Garden of Insanity once more when No More Heroes 3 arrives on #NintendoSwitch in 2020! Check out an extended cut of the trailer from the #TheGameAwards. #NMH3 https://youtu.be/g2nPg42xsXg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Heroes-Nintendo-Switch-Standard/dp/B07SL77MHX/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=no+more+heroes+3&qid=1577944046&sr=8-1
- ^ https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-More-Heroes-Nintendo-Standard/dp/B07SLM8XVM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BCXPBQCBNQBE&keywords=no+more+heroes+3&qid=1577944078&sprefix=no+more+heroes+3%2Caps%2C244&sr=8-1
- ^ Kim, Matt. "No More Heroes 3 Gameplay Reveal Hidden by Suda 51's Head". IGN. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ @Grasshopper_EN (January 30, 2020). "It's Kaneko-san's first time making a game soundtrack, though he's made movie soundtracks before. They're different though; games need to maintain tension and loop, etc. He made TONS of tracks, and told Grasshopper to throw away what they don't want to use!#GhM #DOMMUNE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @Grasshopper_EN (January 30, 2020). "Suda51's 1st impression after hearing the songs Kaneko-san sent: "They're all awesome!" Creating music for NMH also inspired Kaneko-san to form a band, too. His band's debut song: Orca Force! (It's playing now!)#GhM #DOMMUNE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @Grasshopper_EN (January 30, 2020). "The music & game development is happening in parallel, so Kaneko-san makes a song, passes it to Grasshopper, who figure out where they want to use it. Suda51: "Dead Orca Force's gotta be a boss fight."#GhM #DOMMUNE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @Grasshopper_EN (January 30, 2020). "DJ ABO is going to be helping out with the music for NMH3! And the other artists performing here tonight? Just maybe... #GhM #DOMMUNE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
- Upcoming video games scheduled for 2020
- Action-adventure games
- Alien invasions in video games
- Dystopian video games
- Grasshopper Manufacture games
- Hack and slash games
- Marvelous Entertainment
- Nintendo Switch games
- Nintendo Switch-only games
- No More Heroes (series)
- Single-player video games
- Unreal Engine games
- Video game sequels
- Video games developed in Japan
- Video games directed by Goichi Suda