No Heroes Allowed! Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

System: PSP
Dev: Acquire/SCE Studios Japan
Pub: SCEA
Release: November 2, 2010
Players: 1 (2 player online cooperative)
Screen Resolution: N/A	Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

Each level is broken up into several encounters with various heroes. After each encounter you are given a chance to upgrade the level of your minions. This also consumes Dig Power, so you must carefully manage it if you want to succeed.

No Heroes Allowed! Screenshot

Overall I don't have a lot of complaints about this game, and with a price tag of $10, it's hard for those complaints to really mean much. Yet the difficulty of the game will frustrate some gamers. Even on the Normal difficulty setting, there was instance after instance of the heroes traversing my enormously complex dungeon, walking right through my minions, and snagging Badman with ease. It was infuriating because if he is captured, you have to start the whole chain of encounters over again. It is also frustrating to have zero control of your minions, but once you learn to build your tunnels in a way to manipulate them into doing what you want, this frustration will soon fade.

On the other side of the argument, there were a number of things I enjoyed about the game. The content is awesome. There are literally dozens of training missions that increase in complexity to help you fine tune your skills and prepare for the inevitable onslaught of heroes. The dialogue is hilarious. You are the God of Destruction, and still Badman pesters you with his impatience, makes jokes at your expense, and generally carries on like an impertinent little bugger, and I enjoyed it immensely.

If you were a fan of the first two games of the series, then this is a must buy. If you are new to the series, then you might be turned off by the game's difficulty, but if you think you are up for the challenge then I think you will quite enjoy this quirky, light-hearted dungeon challenge.

By Greig McAllister
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.0

Graphics
Despite being 2D, the presentation fits well and looks good.

4.5

Control
Easy to learn and even easier to master. You will be effortlessly spawning hundreds of minions in no time.

3.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
There is no voice over, but frankly I think it would be out of place in this instance. The music is cheery and pleasant which adds a humorous level of irony (after all, you are trying to conquer the world).

3.5

Play Value
There is a lot of content including tons of practice scenarios to learn the ropes, giving the game a solid length if you are a completionist like me, but at times it can be frustrating and difficult, even on the normal difficulty setting, which hurts the game's appeal a bit.

3.5

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Build a large intricate tunnel system to hide Overlord Badman and confuse invading Heroes.

Create and maintain an extremely in-depth ecosystem of minions to kill the invaders.

Team up with another player online for cooperative dungeon building.