Hero must die. again Critic Reviews

Hero Must Die Again is a well-crafted game with a unique concept. Starting off strong and becoming weaker over time forces you to think more than you usually do in a JRPG. It’s a challenging, but rewarding game with a fun and intuitive battle system. Your hand isn’t held and you will have to use your wits to make significant progress in an efficient manner — but it’s well-worth the sacrifice. It’s a bit hit or miss visually, but sounds great — with a multi-faceted OST that fits the anime-style visuals and faster-paced combat.

Although the game comes packed with JRPG tropes and cliches, Hero must die. again takes these well-worn staples and boldly transforms them into something unique, engaging, and surprisingly emotional. Even if you’re tired of JRPGs, it’s worth a look.

It would be remiss to not point out some severe flaws, notably how boring the actual combat is, or the lacklustre exploration. Despite this heavy criticism, there is something definitely charming about the whole experience. The de-levelling novelty is notable, if nothing else, and there is a feeling of being pulled into the game that many modern JRPGs sort of lack nowadays. This is the type of game that shows heart and passion can trump huge budgets.

Hero must die. again shifts focus to the end of the typical RPG story, resulting in a shorter, more somber experience. The limited time you have to perform tasks alongside the weakening hero forces you to choose your moves carefully. Combat is simplistic but gets tougher in later days due to the weakening. Even with a shorter playtime, it offers plenty of replayability to improve your ending, although it has a larger price tag.

Hero must die. again is better than the sum of its parts, with its genuinely emotional premise and a strangely relaxing feel despite the time constraint. There are far worse ways to while away the hours.

I really like what Hero Must Die. Again is trying to do. The idea of playing as a character with endgame stats who gradually weakens over time is really interesting, and I think the game as a whole works, but my issue is that it really doesn't do much with that concept. There's no emotional weight to the story, and by the third or fourth playthrough, everything gets very repetitive. I think with a bit more polish, the ideas behind Hero Must Die. Again will make for a great video game, but this initial step just doesn't do enough to excite or interest me.