Written by Thomas GJ Sharpe
The trailer for Not A Hero set high expectations with ridiculous violence, surreal comedy and well-pitched pixel aesthetic. I can assure you that this game is 90% what it said on the tin and thank heavens for that. Hero has a solid, bold and confident voice in all of its facets.
At first it appeared to be an ultra-violent Bonanza Bros.,
one of my favourite games of all time. But the cut-section'd buildings and
cover system are just the tip of the iceberg. Throw in the viciousness of Hotline
Miami, but with a more humourous edge, and a dash of the fantastic (if
buggy) Gunpoint, and you have a very potent game. What makes it spark
right off the bat, and throughout the campaign, is the incredible writing and
voice-acting.
The story is of a psychopathic rabbit called Bunnylord who
is running in the British election. Hiring in a selection of killers, Bunnylord
hopes to prove he can overcome evil by repeatedly shooting it in the face. The
mission briefings are a master-class in nonsensical, hyperactive comedy that
may grate on some, but had me rapt. At times, I wanted slightly less
pre-mission talking, but on the whole I've watched them with glee.
In-game, you take control of an assassin of your choice,
each with their own distinct character, voice and perks. This allows fantastic
replay value as you try and chase the three optional goals of each mission. The
quips of each murderer are some of the best I've ever heard, both writing and
acting, with a distinct UK thread running throughout. My particular favourites
are the shot-gunning Scot who doesn't own a kilt, screeching Swansea lass, and
Mike who is definitely not drunk. You grab different and suitably silly
temporary ammo upgrades and secondary weapons such as mines and Molotovs as you
rip through drug-dens, warehouses and apartment blocks.
The gameplay moves at a decent speed, keeping action
exciting and giving the appearance of fluid, talented execution, any slower and
it could feel a bit thin on the ground. The rich, efficient animation, weapon
effects, crackin' music and exemplary voice-acting, build on a very simple
premise that never outstays its welcome. All you have to do, however, is
consider it all for a moment when you are not playing the game and realise that
there is very little there, but really, you don't care as it is an incredible
laugh both in cut-scene and in-game.
The campaign is, admittedly, rather short, and even with
nine varied characters and three unique goals in each mission, this is a brief
game. I expect a medium to low replay value as well, sadly, as the levels are
simply not varied in approach or structure enough. I would expect I'd need a
bit of time between plays to watch the cut-scenes again and enjoy them, however
great they are first time round. I personally don't think that a tenner is
exorbitant for this game, perhaps a couple quid too much, but there is enough
here to justify it. I've had many a dull experience with games that stretch the
same content over a much wider space for triple the price, and this is kudos to
the developers for making such a rich game.
From the hilarious graffiti, to the aggressive swearing, to
the constantly thrusting killer called Jesus, Not A Hero makes more
sense, and more happiness, than most others dare to.
Second Opinion
I can’t really add much to what Tom has said and I agree
with pretty much everything. I too found the between level dialogue a bit of a
drag and quickly skipped through them to get back to the action. This is a
stupidly slick and joyous experience though and it never fails to raise a
smile. I’m not sure there’s quite enough replay value to hit the heights that
Tom has gone to with his score but it’s a great experience while it lasts.
Tom’s Score - 9/10
Gareth’s Score 8/10
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