I first heard of Marvelous Entertainment’s latest XBLA endeavor, Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax, when it was released for the PSP in the fall of 2009. The game was met with universal praise back then, largely due to its ability to approach the RPG genre in a new and exciting way. I was curious how well the game would hold up nearly two years later after it was originally released. Admittedly, I am not the biggest JRPG fan, and the last one to come out that I really fell in love with was Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. The biggest problem I have with most JRPGs in general is that they all look and feel very similar. Many of them can be fairly (or unfairly) lumped together, as everything from character design to story depth (or lack thereof) has become cliche. I was surprised to find that Half-Minute Hero manages to strike a perfect balance between old school elements JRPG fans have come to know and love, while mixing up the game play so that anyone can enjoy it. The optional tutorial at the beginning of the game does just that; bringing in gamers who would otherwise never play a JRPG. I can finally say that I have found a new favorite to add to my very short list, which speaks volumes for the experience Marvelous has created.
So what is the game about? In “Hero 30,” you play as a Hero who has been given the task of saving the world because a group of baddies have learned a spell from Lord Noire that will make the apocalypse a reality. That means that you’ll need to gather crucial information from townspeople, buy equipment, gain party members, fight enemies to level up, and heal yourself before the big fight. The catch is that you only have 30 seconds to do all of these necessary tasks, but the Time Goddess is able to replenish your clock if you have the available funds (which she will gladly take). It may sound rather simple in words, but this combination of elements creates a fast paced dynamic that rewards its players for retrying levels in different ways. You’ll be constantly watching your timer as you scurry across the ground between towns and run into random battles that are automatically fought. Each creature that you fight varies in difficulty, so you will get even better rewards for seeking out the hardest foes. The menu system is easy to navigate, whether you are changing weapons, equipment, or healing during a battle. The addition of individual leaderboards for each quest aids in creating more replay ability and makes the game competitive. I found myself checking the leaderboards after I conquered each quest just to see how I stacked up against everyone else. Though the levels keep you coming back for more, an entire play through of the game can be accomplished within 10-15 hours or so.
It’s a group effort!
There are three sort of side stories that occur after the introduction to the Hero’s story, which act as a great way to show that the game spans over multiple hundreds of years. In the PSP version of the game, they each represented a specific style of game play; not so much in the XBLA version. “Evil Lord 30” is the first of these to be unlocked. Here, you take on the role of the Evil Lord that you met previously in the game years ago. He is worried that Lord Noire will take over the world after he is informed that he has been placing statues of himself all over the land. “Princess 30” has you play as the princess that you met previously when you were the Hero. Her father, the King, has suddenly fallen ill, and the Princess has taken it upon herself to go find a cure. “Knight 30” puts you in the shoes of a Knight two hundred years after the events involving the Princess. He is accompanied by a Sage, who joins him in order to find the ancient Hero before chaos occurs. The Sage is able to cast a spell that destroys evil foes each time the Knight safely leads her to a holy ground within 30 seconds. Each side story feels different enough to warrant its existence, and shows that there are others who are influenced by the Hero’s actions.
Brr, it’s chilly here!
“Hero 300” acts as the ultimate ending to the game. It truly feels epic when all of the good forces unite to make one last stand against the Ultimate Evil Lord. This time you are given 300 seconds in order to complete your final goal. The last bonus quest, “Hero 3,” is really for players who want an intense encore after completing the game. It really makes you think back to everything you have previously learned and how to put those skills to best use in three seconds. It’s difficult! Additionally, there is a multiplayer mode that throws up to four characters into the same quest. Players can act competitively or cooperatively, but in the end there is only one True Hero.
Half-Minute Hero is a refreshing adventure that gives me hope for a genre that has become quite stale. The updated graphics are gorgeous, dialogue between the characters is funny, and the music fits every scene perfectly. The game play is constantly evolving with a small learning curve and will bring in even the most intimidated players. It excels where other RPGs fail because it is original, has personality, and keeps the player thinking throughout the experience. The addition of leaderboards, titles, weapons, equipment, allies, and different paths will keep players coming back for more to find everything the game has to offer. Those that are not interested in finding all of items in the game may feel that it is a bit short, but the basic 10-15 hours are worth every penny alone. The streamlining of the side stories from that of the PSP version may upset some fans, but I felt as though this helped bring the story full circle and put the spotlight on how the Hero inspired everyone around him. Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax is a great downloadable game that all Xbox 360 owners should experience.
FINAL RATING: 8.5
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax is released today on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points! You can purchase it and queue up your download here!
glory by the gram 