Rent-A-Hero No. 1

Rent-A-Hero No. 1

Released2000
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 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 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 reviewed by GamePro and Electronics Gaming Monthly in February 2003.

Details

DeveloperSega Enterprises, Ltd.
PublisherAIA Games
ReleasedMay 25, 2000
StatusReleased
GenresRole-playing (RPG)Hack and slash/Beat 'em upAdventure
ThemesActionComedyScience fiction
PlatformsXbox XboxDRE Dreamcast
ModesSingle player

About This Game

Tarou Yamada is an ordinary boy whose family has just moved to Koja Town. During the welcome party, the food runs low and he orders more from Service Cafe — but receives a cosplay costume instead. Trying it on to use in a hero performance with his father, he discovers it gives him genuine superhuman strength and accidentally launches his father across the room with a light tap. The costume is Seca's top product: a powerful super-energy combat armor requiring batteries to operate and a monthly rental fee. Tarou decides to turn it into a legitimate business, distributes flyers around Koja Town, and starts taking requests — with the rental fee and batteries paid from the work. The hero gets more famous; the career grows from there.