Rent-A-Hero
| Rent-A-Hero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Sega-AM2 |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Producer(s) | Yu Suzuki |
| Composer(s) | Hiroshi Kawaguchi |
| Platform(s) | Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console |
| Release date(s) | Sega Mega Drive
|
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Distribution | Cartridge |
Rent-A-Hero is an action role-playing video game series released by Sega for the Mega Drive console in 1991 with a large emphasis on humor. The game features the same graphic engine previously used in the development of Sword of Vermilion. However, Rent-A-Hero has an unusual innovation for the genre. Instead of using standard turn-based battles, fights are in a similar format to 2D fighting games.
Character
Taro Yamada, or Rent-A-Hero (レンタヒーロー Renta Hīrō) lives in the town of Corja in Japan with his mother, eccentric father and younger sister Alyssa; the family moved there after his father changed jobs. He received his Combat Armor by accident during their house-warming party, when he ordered pizza from 'Sensational Cafeteria' or SECA and instead received the suit. After realizing the suit gave him incredible strength and that he is required to pay for the armor, Taro decides to become a hero for hire, performing various heroic tasks and odd-jobs for the townspeople of Corja.
Remake
Rent-A-Hero No. 1
| Rent-A-Hero No. 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Sega (Dreamcast) AIA Games (Xbox) |
| Platform(s) | Dreamcast, Xbox |
| Release date(s) | Dreamcast
|
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Rent-A-Hero No. 1, a remake of the original Mega Drive game, was released for the Dreamcast in 2000. It features similar events to Rent-A-Hero, this time adding Rent-A-Hiroko, a female counterpart of Taro. The fighting engine used for the game is the same used for Sega's Spikeout games and allows the player to receive hints via in-game email.
The game was enhanced and given online capabilities by Coolnet Entertainment and AIA Games for the Xbox in 2003, and also translated into English for a North American release in what would have been the first Rent-A-Hero overseas release. However, the English version of the game was never released due to distribution problems, and the Xbox version remained only in Japan as it had previously happened with the original Dreamcast version.
In 2008, the unreleased English-translated version of the game got leaked and appeared on torrent sites in an apparently complete state, with only minor text errors present. This version was very close to completion and was in fact reviewed by GamePro in February 2003.
UFO Catcher was made available over the internet, created to promote the Japanese release of Rent-A-Hero No. 1. it is based on the crane/grabber machines (UFO) often seen in Arcades with two modes, Practice, which allows the player to guide the crane's radar, and Challenge, which does not.
Other media
Taro is available in Fighters Megamix as an unlockable character. Rent-A-Hero is one of few characters to use projectile attacks, and is one of the strongest fighters. However, he has an additional handicap: above his life bar are battery symbols, that deplete the longer a fight lasts, if they deplete fully, Taro's armor will disappear. In this state, he will not be able to perform a number of moves, including all projectile moves, and he will also take more damage.
Reception
On release, Famitsu magazine scored the Dreamcast version of the game a 30 out of 40.[1]
References
- ↑ ドリームキャスト – レンタヒーロー No.1. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.51. 30 June 2006.
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