Half-Minute Hero

Half-Minute Hero[a] is a hybrid real-time strategy action role-

Half-Minute Hero
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.

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
Developer(s) Opus
limited amount of time (normally 30 seconds as implied by the
Publisher(s) JP: Marvelous
game's title) to complete that part of the game.[8]
Entertainment
Hero 30 Mode plays similar to a role-playing video NA: XSEED Games
game. The player, as the Hero, is tasked by the Time
EU: Rising Star Games
Goddess to become powerful enough in 30 seconds
to find and defeat an enemy boss that is seeking to Director(s) Kotaro Yoshida
cast a spell of destruction that will end the world in 30
Producer(s) Ryota Hayashi
seconds. To do so, the Hero explores an overworld,
encountering random monsters with battles that take Designer(s) Kiichi Hosaka
place automatically based on the Hero's current Koichi Takazawa
equipment to gain experience levels. The Hero can Kazuo Araki
enter towns where the Time Goddess will pause time,
Yasuyuki Kobayashi
allowing for time to shop for equipment and health
items, talk to residents and find allies to help in battle, Toshinari Fujii
as well to pay money to a statue of the Goddess to Composer(s) Toshihiko Takamizawa
reset the countdown timer to 30 seconds. Each
Platform(s) PlayStation Portable
successive use of this power becomes more costly to
the player. There are 30 missions in this mode which Xbox Live Arcade
are completed in succession; the player can go back Microsoft Windows
to previous missions to try to better their performance Release PlayStation Portable
or find additional equipment that will carry over into
JP: May 28, 2009
future missions; however, the player cannot use
NA: October 13, 2009
 equipment gained on later missions during an earlier EU: February 19,
mission. 2010[1]
Evil Lord 30 Mode plays similar to a real-time
AU: April 8, 2010
strategy game. The player controls Evil Lord who can
summon three types of creatures, Brawlers, Shooters Xbox Live Arcade
and Nimbles, to fight enemy forces and complete a WW: June 29, 2011
task. The monster strengths are based on a Rock- Microsoft Windows
paper-scissors approach; Nimbles are strong against
Shooters and weak against Brawlers, for example. WW: September 27,
The overall strength of summoned creatures is based 2012
on the size of a mana ring that is shown around the Genre(s) Real-time strategy,
Evil Lord character; summoning creatures and taking
action role-playing,
damage reduces the size of this ring. Wandering
creatures can be brought into the Evil Lord's control shoot 'em up
by moving the mana ring over them. Due to his Mode(s) Single-player,
nature, the Evil Lord can only be out-of-doors for 30 multiplayer
seconds at a time, thus enforcing a 30-second
countdown timer, but by paying money gained from
defeating enemies to barrels where the Time Goddess is waiting, the countdown timer can
be reset. There are also 30 missions to complete in this mode, but include branching paths.
Princess 30 Mode plays similar to a shoot 'em up game. The player controls the Princess
who is equipped with a rapid-fire crossbow as her main weapon, and a number of guards
that carry and protect her as she ventures out of the castle to get items to help her ailing
father. However, she is imposed with a 30-second curfew, and her speed is dictated by the
number of guards in her group; running into enemies will cause guards to fall out of the
group, though the Princess can never be directly harmed. The Time Goddess has provided
stretches of red carpets which, while the Princess is over them, will roll back the countdown
timer but cost money to do so. The 30 missions are provided in a branching manner, with
some missions leading to the ability to boost the crossbow's power or increase the running
speed of the guards.
Knight 30 Mode is an action video game, where the player controls a Knight who has
vowed to help protect a Sage. The Sage has the ability to cast a spell of destruction that
takes 30 seconds (though need not be continuous) to evoke; the Knight is tasked with
defending the Sage during this time. This can be done by ramming into or throwing objects
at enemies to stun them, or carrying the Sage to a safe location (during which the Sage
cannot continue the spell). Certain levels features bells that distract the Sage and reset the
spell's timer, but they can be destroyed by the Knight. If the Sage takes too much damage,
the player must start the level over. The 30 missions in this mode must be completed in
order.
Hero 300 Mode is similar to Hero 30 Mode, but the player has 300 seconds to complete the
single mission of this mode. The Time Goddess is not available in this mode, and
furthermore, certain areas of the map become inaccessible every 60 seconds of the game,
requiring the player to continue moving to find and defeat the final boss as fast as possible.
Hero 3 Mode is also similar to Hero 30 Mode, but the player only starts with 3 seconds to
reach and defeat the boss in the mode's single mission. Unlike Hero 300, the Time Goddess
is available to reset time as necessary.
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, however 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
Reception
 Aggregate score
Score
Aggregator
PC PSP Xbox 360

Metacritic 75/100[33] 84/100[34] 76/100[35]

Review scores
Score
Publication
PC PSP Xbox 360

Destructoid 7.5/10[10] 9/10[11] 7/10[12]

Edge N/A 8/10[13] N/A

Eurogamer N/A 8/10[14] 8/10[15]

Game Informer N/A 8/10[16] 8.25/10[17]

GamePro N/A [18] [19]

GameRevolution N/A B−[20] C−[21]

GameSpot N/A 8/10[22] 7.5/10[23]

GameTrailers N/A 8.7/10[24] N/A

Giant Bomb N/A N/A [25]

IGN N/A 8.8/10[26] 8/10[27]

Joystiq N/A N/A [28]

Official Xbox Magazine (US) N/A N/A 7.5/10[29]

PC Gamer (UK) 74%[30] N/A N/A

PlayStation: The Official Magazine N/A [31] N/A

The A.V. Club N/A A−[32] N/A

Critical reception
Half-Minute Hero received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms according to the review
aggregation website Metacritic.[33][34][35] 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.

RPGamer Editor's Choice: Best PSP RPG, 2009 RPGamer Best of 2009 Awards[37]
PSP Game of the Year, RPGLand Games of the Year 2009[38]
 PSP RPG of the Year, RPGFan Best of 2009 Awards[39]

Notes
a. Known in Japan as Yūsha Sanjū ( 勇者３０, Yūsha Sanjū, lit. Hero 30)
References
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Sometimes Warranted" (https://kotaku.com/5142502/yuusha-30-turns-out-countdown-clocks-
are-sometimes-warranted). Kotaku. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
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(https://www.destructoid.com/review-half-minute-hero-super-mega-neo-climax-205193.phtm
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External links
Official website (http://www.maql.co.jp/special/game/30/) (in Japanese)
Official website (http://www.halfminutehero.com/) (in English)
Half-Minute Hero (https://www.mobygames.com/game/psp/half-minute-hero) at MobyGames
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax (https://www.mobygames.com/game/xbox360/ha
lf-minute-hero-super-mega-neo-climax) at MobyGames
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy (https://www.mobygames.com/gam
e/windows/half-minute-hero-super-mega-neo-climax-ultimate-boy) at MobyGames

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