Not a Hero, PS4 review: ‘a Tarantino-esque balance of sadism and comedy’

Roll7’s retro side-scrolling shooter is as funny and addictive as it is brutally violent
Retro: Not A Hero comes from the BAFTA-winning team behind OlliOlli
Talal Musa8 February 2016

With The Division, Uncharted 4 and No Man's Sky among the most buzzed-about games coming this year, chances are that Not A Hero isn't at the top of a lot of people's radars.

Ignore it at your peril, though – this is one of the funniest and most addictive releases of the year.

Published by Devolver Digital, and developed by Roll7, behind the BAFTA-winning OlliOlli, Not A Hero follows a flamboyant wannabe president called Bunnylord as he runs in the elections.

Bunnylord wants to curry favour with voters by ridding the city of crime with his own personal brand of justice, enlisting the help of several deadly vigilantes to get the job done in spectacularly violent style.

It's not the most compelling narrative, but it's delivered so well that it's easily forgiven.

The gameplay involves running through layers of corridors in a series buildings, wiping out enemies in stylish and brutal ways. Each character has a special move - from reloading on the move to slide-tackling enemies.

There's also an ingenious cover system, which adds a welcome tactical element - all the more impressive given the game's retro 2D graphics.

The missions are hugely replayable too, often involving a series of mini challenges. The more you complete, the better your 'approval rating', unlocking more characters.

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1/13

The soundtrack, although not quite as catchy as the retro beats in the Hotline Miami games, is inspired - although a little brash at times.

As is the level of violence, for that matter, but it still somehow manages to strike a Tarantino-esque balance between sadism and comedy.

Not A Hero is highly recommended - just don't let its childish looks fool you. This is strictly adults only.

Not A Hero is out now on PS4

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