Rent A Hero No. 1 - Xbox (2003) Review

/ xenonxyanide
Intro/Outro music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
/ @whitebataudio
Rent A Hero No. 1 English Xbox Version:
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Rent A Hero No. 1 is a remake of the 1991 Mega Drive original. The game plays out as an action RPG with a fighting system similar to Spikeout. The player controls Taro Yamada as he takes jobs from the SECA Corporation to pay the equipment fees for his Rent A Hero combat armour.
He learns a wide variety of moves throughout the game, but must remember that he can only do anything useful with his power armor, and must make sure he keeps his batteries charged (by purchasing authentic Sanyo-brand batteries at the local convenience store).
The game is steeped in Sega references and Japanese culture, with even the game's manual patterned on the comic magazine Big Comic Spirits.

[@wompstopm123]

this game has sonic adventure 1 and shen mue vibes

[@dextersbeard3472]

I'm pretty sure this was released on the Dreamcast in Japan

[@dothackjhe]

I'd argue that SEGA's best talents are best spent in this kind of games. This and the Shenmue series being good examples.

[@KingStr0ng]

Facts. Sega are best at comedy but they focus too much on Sonic.

[@BioPhoenixReviews]

this game is wild and i love it despite some of the missions being repetitive. it has so much charm and the house designs are so awesome and have so much detail to look around

[@Neonagi]

Can't believe they never released this for English speaking countries when it was so close to being finished. Ah well, really cool bit of xbox and game history.

[@Flashshadow]

All flaws aside, I really would love to play this game someday. The theme and humor are right up my alley. :D Also, if I'm not mistaken. Rent-A-Hero was also in Fighters Megamix. Another title I hope to play someday! ^^

[@JohnCenaIsMyDad]

is that a... back to the future reference? 4:42

[@XenonXyanide]

Could well be. But, that version of Rent A Hero is a fan translation, so it may not have been originally intended by the developers.

[@mrmcguru163]

I might just have to pick this up and check it out, looks fun!

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

So this was released exclusively in Japan? No wonder I never heard of this game.

[@XenonXyanide]

Yeap, NTSC-J exclusive. It nearly got released in the US but it got cancelled for some reason.

[@tchitchouan]

On the topic of obscure japanese releases on the original xbox, have you heard of tenerezza on the og xbox ?

[@XenonXyanide]

I haven't, I'll have to check it out if it's playable without an English translation

[@superbn0va]

Spikout battlestreet is so underrated. As is Rent a hero nr1. On the xbox

[@JTheDudeRNS]

playin this right now on my steam deck! waited years lovin it!! lol