No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle -- Final Opinion.

Twelve hours and change later and I have completed No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. How does No More Heroes 2 shape up in the end? Well, it's an all around good game that falls short of expectations. It's hard to explain what's at issue with No More Heroes 2. The original No More Heroes was an inspired vision. A burning fever dream of an experience. No More Heroes 2 feels like a paint-by-numbers knockoff of the original. Still rather impressive, but somehow feeling soulless by comparison. The story is probably the biggest culprit. It's rather focused and straightforward and pretty lackluster. The bosses are a real mixed bag. There are fifteen bosses in the game. The first few are unremarkable. I rather liked the final five or so. I do miss the boss introductions from the first game. I also think the game's bosses rely a little too heavily on one hit kills. Graphically No More Heroes 2 looks on par with the original. Which is to say it technically looks like crap, but looks great aesthetically. The Wii just isn't going to ever win where pushing polygons are concerned. However, No More Heroes' heavily stylized aesthetic goes a long way. The voice acting is great. The music is also great. A good use of J-pop. It fits perfectly. It's probably not J-pop, but it's the closest term available to me. The final bosses help bring out some satisfaction in the gameplay. It probably sounds like I'm hating No More Heroes more than I actually do. I enjoyed the game. It just feels like they were trying too hard, you know? I'm giving No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle a 7.5. I'm still more than willing to return to Santa Destroy for No More Heroes 3.