Half-Minute Hero

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Half-Minute Hero
HalfMinuteHeroCover.png
Developer(s) Opus
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Kotaro Yoshida
Producer(s) Ryota Hayashi
Designer(s) Kiichi Hosaka
Koichi Takazawa
Kazuo Araki
Yasuyuki Kobayashi
Toshinari Fujii
Composer(s) Toshihiko Takamizawa
Platform(s) PlayStation Portable, Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation Portable
  • JP: May 28, 2009
  • NA: October 13, 2009
  • EU: February 19, 2010 [1]
  • AU: April 8, 2010
Xbox Live Arcade
  • WW: June 29, 2011
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: September 27, 2012
Genre(s) Real-time strategy, action role-playing, shoot 'em up
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Half-Minute Hero [lower-alpha 1] is a hybrid real-time strategy action role-playing shoot 'em up video game developed by Opus. [2] It was initially released as a PlayStation Portable exclusive in Japan on May 28, 2009, [3] later in North America on October 13, [4] [5] and in Europe on February 19, 2010. It was re-released on the Xbox Live Arcade on June 29, 2011 under the title Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax, [6] and on Microsoft Windows' Steam on September 27, 2012 under the title Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy.

Contents

A sequel, Yūsha 30 Second, was released in Japan on August 4, 2011. [7] It was localized and released on Steam on April 4, 2014 as Half-Minute Hero: The Second Coming .

Gameplay

Half-Minute Hero's single player mode features 6 different game modes. Each mode is based on one part of a larger story, and as such, the last three modes are not available until the player has completed the first three modes; these last three modes are then unlocked in order after completing the previous mode. Each mode centers around a mechanic based on a limited amount of time (normally 30 seconds as implied by the game's title) to complete that part of the game. [8]

There is also a limited multiplayer mode in which two heroes can fight to complete a quest before the other. The multiplayer mode features three stages in which the two players will fight to collect power ups and level up in order to fight the Evil Lord at the end. [8]

Development

Half-Minute Hero was originally a downloadable freeware game called "30-Second Hero", whose concept was adopted by the producer for a PSP title. It was designed to be a quirky adaptation of the traditional, lengthy role-playing video game formula into 30 second intervals. The 8-bit graphics were designed to appear "old-school", resembling 8-bit RPGs such as early Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy games, and make the player use their imagination. [9]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of Half-Minute Hero features contributions from many well known Japanese game composers. They include Toshihiko Takamizawa, Yoshino Aoki, Hideki Asanaka, Kakeru Ishihama, Hiroyuki Iwatsuki, Yuzo Koshiro, Motoi Sakuraba, Koji Hayama, Norihiko Hibino, Takushi Hiyamuta, Kenji Fujisawa, Hiromi Mizutani, Yasumasa Yamada, Yasuo Yamate, Biei Morioka, Toru Nakagawa, Minako Adachi, and Megumi Komagata.

Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax

Half-Minute Hero was re-released for the XBLA on June 29, 2011 as Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax. This version contains the "Super Mega Neo Climax" mode which allows the game to be played with enhanced graphics more akin to anime than 8-bit RPGs. Additionally, the "Evil Lord 30", "Princess 30", and "Knight 30" modes have been significantly reworked. Instead of the altering game styles found in the PSP version, the XBLA versions of these modes are identical in play style to "Hero 30" and feature only one level. The "Hero 30" campaign does have 6 new quests stemming from the "Treasure Land" stage, though. These quests involve the Overlord being awakened early and the hero has to acquire the aid of the five time beasts, but these levels also replace the "Another Goddess" stage found in the original version. The sound test mode, art gallery, and bestiary have also been removed from the XBLA version, normally unlocked after completing "Hero 3" in the PSP version.

Other changes include the addition of achievements, online multiplayer, as well as possible future downloadable content.

Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy

Half-Minute Hero was re-released for the PC on Steam and Playism on September 27, 2012 as Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy. This version is a compilation of almost all of the game modes that featured in the previous releases with the exception of the Another Goddess and Valhalla Knights stages.

Sequel

A sequel titled Yūsha 30 Second was released in Japan for the PSP on August 4, 2011. It was localized by Marvelous USA and released on Windows via Steam on April 4, 2014 as Half-Minute Hero: The Second Coming .

Reception

Critical reception

Half-Minute Hero received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [10] [11] [12] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PSP version a score of one eight, one nine, and two eights for a total of 33 out of 40. [36]

Awards

Half-Minute Hero won several awards from RPG-focused websites:

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Yūsha Sanjū (勇者３０, Yūsha Sanjū, lit. Hero 30)

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References

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  2. ↑ Michael McWhertor (January 29, 2009). "Yuusha 30: Turns Out Countdown Clocks Are Sometimes Warranted". Kotaku . Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  3. ↑ Spencer (February 13, 2009). "Hero For 30sec Gets A Date And A Demo". Siliconera . Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ Spencer (January 21, 2009). "Marvelous Mystery Game Is For PSP And Not Just For Japan". Siliconera. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ Spencer (September 10, 2009). "Half-Minute Hero Timed For October". Siliconera. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  6. ↑ Brian Ashcraft (May 26, 2011). "The PSP's Quickest (And Most Charming) Game Coming to Xbox Live". Kotaku. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  7. ↑ Neipol (August 5, 2010). "Anunciada secuela de Half Minute Hero" (in Spanish). RPGPlayer. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Spencer (February 6, 2009). "Hero For 30sec's Five Gameplay Modes". Siliconera. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  9. ↑ Adam Pavlacka (October 9, 2009). "'Half-Minute Hero' (PSP) Developer Interview". WorthPlaying. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
  10. 1 2 "Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Half-Minute Hero for PSP Reviews". Metacritic.
  12. 1 2 "Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Kyle MacGregor (October 15, 2012). "Review: Half-Minute Hero: [Super Mega Neo Climax] Ultimate Boy". Destructoid . Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  14. ↑ Jim Sterling (October 29, 2009). "Review: Half-Minute Hero". Destructoid. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  15. ↑ Conrad Zimmerman (July 10, 2011). "Review: Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax". Destructoid. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  16. ↑ Edge staff (February 2010). "Half-Minute Hero". Edge . No. 211. p. 92.
  17. ↑ Simon Parkin (December 10, 2009). "Half Minute Hero". Eurogamer . Retrieved December 10, 2009.
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  19. ↑ Dan Ryckert (December 2009). "Half-Minute Hero [mislabeled as "Half-Minute Hero DLC"]: A Novel Concept Makes For A Solid Pick-Up-And-Play Experience". Game Informer . No. 200. p. 133. Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
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  24. ↑ Kevin S. (July 6, 2011). "Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Clmax Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
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  30. ↑ Greg Miller (July 6, 2011). "Half-Minute Hero [Super Mega Neo Climax] XBLA Review". IGN. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
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  32. ↑ "Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Review". Official Xbox Magazine . August 5, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy". PC Gamer UK : 69. January 2013.
  34. ↑ "Review: Half-Minute Hero". PlayStation: The Official Magazine . December 2009. p. 84.
  35. ↑ John Teti (October 26, 2009). "Half-Minute Hero". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Famitsu 5/22". NeoGAF. May 20, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  37. ↑ Adriann den Ouden; Glenn Wilson; Sam Marchello; Michael Cunningham. "Editor's Choice: Best PSP RPG 2009". RPGamer. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  38. ↑ Heath. "RPGs of the Year 2009". RPGLand. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  39. ↑ "RPGFan Feature - Games of 2009". RPGFan. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
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