You know Suda51, of course. The self-styled punk developer of Tokyo's Grasshopper Manufacture, Goichi Suda's been the driving force behind offbeat classics such as Flower, Sun and Rain, Killer7 and No More Heroes. You might not know, though, that 2007's No More Heroes marked the last time he helmed a project - and this spin-off from that spunky, stylish series sees his return to the director's chair after well over a decade.
The problem is, though, that Travis Strikes Again is not very good.
Should that be a surprise? The original No More Heroes was hardly an example of polished play; scrappy and wilfully obscure, its rough edges were all part of its charm. As, too, was central character Travis Touchdown, a grubby mirror held up to the player that presented a foul-mouthed insouciant otaku who displayed an abundance of style and swagger. And what style and swagger those original games had, the fourth wall sent tumbling by knowing commentary and flashbangs of cathartic action. If they were great - and I kind of think they were - it was for their spirit rather than any of the specifics.
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