[hyouko]

The last boss...

Wow. His third form is quite a pain; when he chains the teleport move three times in a row, I just shake my head and give up. The windows, at least, I can sort of account for, by keeping myself away from them or on the other side of Batt. That works until he's down to a quarter of his health (assuming I don't get particularly unlucky with the teleports), and then all bets are off... I've got him down to a single point, but he always gets me. I'm going to sleep on it, try again, and (if all else fails) head for an earlier save to boost my stamina/muscle some more.

I'm fine with the stamina challenge, but I can't do the muscle ones past four worth a damn. It's basically a rhythm game, and I suck at those. Some of the other mini-games are quite clever - did Tile in Style fake anybody else out into thinking it was Tetris from the title screen?

Also - somebody mentioned that Shinobu serves as a 'skill check' for the original game. I'd suggest that the Ryuji fight serves that role in the sequel; it's certainly the first one I died on a significant number of times.

[RobotRocker]

[Adilegian]

[RobotRocker]

I heard theres a bonus fight with that school girl in the trailers, how do I get it? And none of the revenge missions have popped up for me yet. Do I need to beat all the job mini games?

[Persona-sama]

You go back to your motel after beating up the football player boss and it'll show up as a fax. You have to manually return home on the world map, not just come home after a boss fight or something like that.
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[Dracko]

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[RobotRocker]

[hyouko]

Finished on mild. Spoilers ahoy:

Guess I was erroneously calling the second form of Batt his third form. I had zero trouble with the third form - didn't get hit once. The second form, however, probably took this from a 12-hour game to a 15-hour game for me.

Reflecting on the game as a whole - it had some memorable fights, the minigames were fun and imaginative this time, and I got Jeanne to lose about 13 pounds. They could have done more interesting stuff with the story (I was hoping they'd have the balls to go through with the three-major-characters-are-dead trick, but no dice), and there were infrequent moments of sheer frustration (Batt's second form and Shinobu's jumping puzzle), but overall it was a pretty enjoyable romp.

Judging from Skelter Helter's difficulty on Bitter, I should probably avoid attempting the rest of the game on that difficulty level.

[Adilegian]

[Cocaine Socialist]

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select button
the last-ditch spergin' of a madman

[Adilegian]

[Persona-sama]

[Adilegian]

[EU03]

I finally just beasted Batt Jr. yesterday morning with the Peony. Even though I couldn't get an opportunity to go into Darkside mode 1/3rds in, I found out that if you keep spamming low slashes, then he'll definitely go dizzy, even on separate combos. This prevents him from unleashing his brutal combos by a lot.

I definitely love the Peony because it just builds up Ecstacy so fast and it forces you to not get hit. I don't even need to recharge with it normally because when I'm nearly out, I'll have enough to use Darkside and bring it back up 100%. It takes some readjusting for bosses since you are not ever getting the chance for a full combo, but the increased range and power make up for it.
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[Adilegian]

EU03, I am totally looking forward to trying this on Deathmatch mode when I get home tonight.
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[RobotRocker]

I think I fucked up by not getting the Peony and going into the final fight with no save at the motel. Again, its bull that there is no option to go back and re-train but since I think I screwed up, I guess I have to start the game again. Nice to see even Suda can commit game design atrocities.

[Sniper Honeyviper]

[Persona-sama]

[hyouko]

Another last boss tip (though maybe this is obvious):

In his second form, if you get knocked down by his triple-teleport attack, consider playing dead for a moment rather that trying to get back up. If he telegraphs that he's about to do the teleport again, or his charged-up punch, it's not worth trying to get back up; just sit it out and hope he doesn't chain a third attack.

I had some success with both the Camellia and the Peony, if I remember right, though I ultimately killed him with the Peony.

Also: couldn't consistently darkstep at any point in the game, though I randomly pulled it off at least once on most bosses. What's the trick to it this time 'round?

[Dracko]

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[EU03]

[MOAI]

[Baines]

I was kind of saddened when I read the GameFAQs thread about known and speculated game changes during development. There is some decent argument about things that were cut during development, such as more bosses and more use of Henry. It reminds me a bit of Wind Waker.
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=954479&topic=53292254

[RobotRocker]

[thesycophant]

I've played through 2 boss battles (after the tutorial). I'm not sure I'm feeling this game. The story has completely failed to engage me so far. I'm waiting for the big joke that makes it all worth it, but I'm also worried it's not gonna come.

I miss almost everything the first game did that this one doesn't do. Namely (and this may be unique to me), I miss making money by doing side-job assassination missions. The don't-get-hit missions from the first game did get tiresome, but there were a couple (like this kill-as-many-people-as-you-can-in-three-minutes mission that opened up near hte end of the game) that were pretty much as enjoyable as any other part of the first game for me.

Really miss feeling like Santa Destroy is a (lonely) city.

Not being able to walk around Santa Destroy, but being able to walk around inside other places I couldn't walk around before (like Travis's motel room) is kinda weird.

Combat feels pretty good, though. Is it better than the first game? I can't tell. I think it's just slightly different.

You never need money in this game, do you? Unless you want to futz with Travis's wardrobe (which I do) or I guess buy new katanas.

This game is so a sequel. Not sure exactly how involved Goichi Suda was with this game (executive director and writer, but how much does that mean? video game credits are kind of obtuse), but it feels like this is either largely someone else doing a Suda imitation or Suda really not caring too much.

[Adilegian]

NMH2, as a final product, reminds me of one of the poems I included in my Masters Thesis.

About 40% of it was problematic for one reason or another, but I had already gone a few weeks over the deadline for thesis submission if I wanted to graduate on time, so I took the problem spots, cut them out, and stuck the parts that were more or less solid in the thesis.

Looking back, the poem is okay for what it is, but it's pretty clearly incomplete.

And that's what NMH2 feels like. A series of polished sequences stuck together yet lacking the material necessary in between those sequences to make the game an experience that feels complete on its own terms. I'd rank NMH1 higher than NMH2 because, despite the absence of intended features in the NMH1 overworld, the released game seems structurally closer to its intended identity than NMH2 feels.

Also wondering when we're going to have a game that objectifies codpieces, broad masculine backs, and ripped abs in a clearly sexualized way without weak "lol queers" irony. The sexual imagination in videogames is incredibly tepid.
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[Baines]

I just noticed something. Back at the apartment after the Matt Helms fight, Sylvia tells Travis that he has to pay his own travel expenses. Travis complains along the lines that with all the money he is already spending, she should at least cover bus fare.

Except... Unlike the first game, Travis isn't actually paying money to compete.

[sarsamis]

I beat this 3 days ago and am wondering what people earlier in the thread were talking about when they said the levels were varied.

Most of them felt exactly the same to me and towards the end they were ridiculously long and boring.

Most of the bosses were either so easy I opted to fight them with punches and kicks or just frustrating due to some dumb shit. I can only think of 3 at the moment that felt fair and challenging*, like the final boss of the first game.

Ultimately the only improvement I saw over the original game was the mini-games, which were actually fun.

*if it's not available from the start, I don't count hard mode in the way I perceive a game's difficulty (i.e. I have no qualms with thinking of Heroic as the default difficulty in Halo 3 because it's possible for me to use that in my first playthrough.) I don't like replaying games and I shouldn't have to for a decent experience.

[RobotRocker]

Just beat it now. Holy crap did they telegraph that the game wasn't finished and still had time to say there will be a sequel! Travis's comment in the booth that Santa Destroy needs them pretty much gives it away. Granted, there is a lot that could be improved but I would rather see a Directors Cut of NMH2 first. Maybe if Heroes Paradise does well in Japan we might get an expanded Heroes Paradise 2 but I think unless someone flashes the cash, NMH3 is going to take the same route.

[thesycophant]

Hello, bullshit platforming sequence. What are you doing in my No More Heroes?

Also, why is Shinobu saying "moé" all the time?

[Persona-sama]

In honor of her master, of course.

I like how she totally mangles it. It sounds more like "moai" than "moe."
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[RobotRocker]

[MOAI]

hi persona

Shinobu was a lot of fun to me, her moveset seems really varied in comparison to Travis'. Jumping around enemies, high-speed running, blasting them from afar, it just feels so free.

Also, Ryuji can get fucked. Fucking bitter mode. Fuck fuck fuck okay I'm done.
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PSN: theMOAI

[Baines]

[RobotRocker]

The original voice acting script just leaked out. There are a lot of changes from the original script to the actual game


- Its a lot more sexualised and it makes it more obvious that killing = sexual release to Travis.
- The script is a lot simpler. Probably punched up by the translator.
- Some Cut scenes are a lot longer and have more detail (You were supposed to be able to see the bodies of the Assassins Letz Shake kills as you enter the arena and Nathan Copeland has a longer speech after you clash in the cutscene)
- Alice Moonlight is a lot more metaphorical and talks about how since the fights started, Assasins who typically stay in the shadows would rather have that one chance in the spotlight than be forgotten forever rather than the "How did you escape the cycle" speech she gives Travis in the game. She was originally supposed to try reach out for Travis like she was jumping into his arms as she fell and Travis cuts her apart instead of just falling like in the game.
- Thunder Ryu was to have a role
- There was supposed to be an extra Travis Vs Shinobu battle for beating Deathmatch mode on Bitter
- Makes it more obvious that Sylvia is up to something. Killing Ryuji herself and giving out to Travis for letting Shinobu live but keeping both Travis and Henry alive?


Its nearly impossible for a game script to normally get out so there must be someone at GHM who is pissed at Marvellous to let something like this get out. The script is also marked as completed in 2008 which means that they were probably locked on a tight schedule.

[Adilegian]

[jakten]

Yeah I'm having trouble finding the script also if you could give us a linky that would be awesome!

Edit; Never mind I found it!

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385367&page=35
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[RobotRocker]

Huh, this is interesting.

Could the bosses be reflections on Travis Touchdowns psyche?

And yes, I know its Destructoid but since Killer 7 has inevitably come up yet again, its worth a look considering the script leaked out since now it throws into question how intentional it all is. Of course, they could be all just videogame stereotypes lined up and Grasshopper just hit jackpot in having them reflect Travis.

Your standard "Was that Suda's intention?" disclaimer applies and there is a Killer 7 thread. Go there instead if you want to argue about Killer 7.

[Ratoslov]

That's a cool interpretation, and it makes me long for a director's cut even more.

[Ymer]

Is No More Heroes Paradise also going to be a Director's Cut version? Thought it was just a graphical Remake with some Japanese VA. Did they actually add/remove anything else?
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ALL DIGITAL CHARACTER DEPICTING IN THIS FICTION STORY ARE OVER THE LEGAL AGE OF 18 YEARS OLD

[RobotRocker]