Difference between revisions of "Rent A Hero"

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The game sold poorly, but gained a cult following{{magref|dmjp|2000-19|65}} Though mostly unknown to the western world, ''Rent A Hero'' has been referenced several times across Sega products. Its plot writer, [[Yukinobu Arikawa]], would later secretly include a graphic for ''Rent A Hero Returns'' in the background of the Chicago stage in ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]''{{magref|dmjp|2000-19|65}}. This then inspired the game's more prominent reference in the crossover fighting game ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'', in which Taro is an unlockable character and a vocal arrangement of the main theme can be heard, complete with lyrics by Arikawa, vocals by [[Takenobu Mitsuyoshi]] (''Rent A Hero'' voice actor) and music by original composer [[Hiroshi Kawaguchi]].
 
The game sold poorly, but gained a cult following{{magref|dmjp|2000-19|65}} Though mostly unknown to the western world, ''Rent A Hero'' has been referenced several times across Sega products. Its plot writer, [[Yukinobu Arikawa]], would later secretly include a graphic for ''Rent A Hero Returns'' in the background of the Chicago stage in ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]''{{magref|dmjp|2000-19|65}}. This then inspired the game's more prominent reference in the crossover fighting game ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'', in which Taro is an unlockable character and a vocal arrangement of the main theme can be heard, complete with lyrics by Arikawa, vocals by [[Takenobu Mitsuyoshi]] (''Rent A Hero'' voice actor) and music by original composer [[Hiroshi Kawaguchi]].
  
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The game was remade for the [[Sega Dreamcast]] as ''[[Rent A Hero No.1]]''. It has also been re-released as part of the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]] service in Japan, and as one of the 42 pre-installed games on the [[Mega Drive Mini]] in Japan.
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The game was remade for the [[Sega Dreamcast]] as ''[[Rent A Hero No.1]]''. It has also been re-released as part of the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]] service in Japan, and as one of the 42 pre-installed games on the [[Mega Drive Mini]] in Japan. A new entry in the series, called ''[[Rent A Hero Z]]'', was been announced for Line Next, a Web3-powered live service by Line{{ref|https://ghostarchive.org/archive/vfGzl}}.
  
 
==Development==
 
==Development==

Latest revision as of 12:13, 20 September 2024

n/a

RentAHero Title.png

Rent A Hero
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: RPG[2][3]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥8,7008,700 G-5508
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600[5]
CERO: A

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Rent A Hero (レンタヒーロー) is a Sega Mega Drive role-playing fighting game developed by Sega R&D 8 and published by Sega. Released exclusively in Japan in September 1991, the game is notable for its comical tone and self-aware humor, and has gained a modern reputation as one of Sega's more fondly-remembered original titles.

Plot

The game follows Taro Yamada (the titular "Rent A Hero"), a hero for hire that needs to complete various tasks to save the day.

History

Legacy

Rent A Hero is often incorrectly hyphenated by both fans and the gaming press, despite Sega never using hyphens in the game's romanized name.

The game sold poorly, but gained a cult following[6] Though mostly unknown to the western world, Rent A Hero has been referenced several times across Sega products. Its plot writer, Yukinobu Arikawa, would later secretly include a graphic for Rent A Hero Returns in the background of the Chicago stage in Virtua Fighter 2[6]. This then inspired the game's more prominent reference in the crossover fighting game Fighters Megamix, in which Taro is an unlockable character and a vocal arrangement of the main theme can be heard, complete with lyrics by Arikawa, vocals by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (Rent A Hero voice actor) and music by original composer Hiroshi Kawaguchi.

The game was remade for the Sega Dreamcast as Rent A Hero No.1. It has also been re-released as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service in Japan, and as one of the 42 pre-installed games on the Mega Drive Mini in Japan. A new entry in the series, called Rent A Hero Z, was been announced for Line Next, a Web3-powered live service by Line[7].

Development

The game borrows much of its engine from the one used in Phantasy Star III.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
Japanese レンタヒーロー Rent A Hero

Production credits

Main article: Rent A Hero/Production credits.

Digital manuals

  • Mega Drive Mini JP manual


Magazine articles

Main article: Rent A Hero/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

RentaHero MD JP PrintAdvert.jpg
JP print advert
RentaHero MD JP PrintAdvert.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-10: "October 1991" (1991-09-07)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[8]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
73
[9]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[10]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
72
[11]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
84
[12]
Super Gaming (US)
50
[13]
Sega Mega Drive
 66
Based on
6 reviews

Rent A Hero

Mega Drive, JP
RentAHero MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
RentAHero MD JP CartTop.jpg
Rent A Hero.png
Cart
Rentahero md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, South East Asia (Hi-Star Electronics)
RentAHero MD SG Box Front HiStar.jpg
Cover
Rent A Hero.png
Cart
Rentahero md jp manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Rent A Hero/Technical information.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Sega Magazine, "1997-02 (1997-02)" (JP; 1997-01-13), page 24
  2. ↑ File:RentAHero MD JP Box.jpg
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  4. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/03.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-06 00:26)
  5. ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_rentahero/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-05-18 19:20)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dreamcast Magazine, "2000-19 (2000-06-02)" (JP; 2000-05-19), page 65
  7. ↑ https://ghostarchive.org/archive/vfGzl
  8. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-07), page 35
  9. ↑ Famitsu, "1991-09-27" (JP; 1991-09-13), page 38
  10. ↑ Hippon Super, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-04), page 90
  11. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-08), page 91
  12. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  13. ↑ Super Gaming, "Winter 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 6


Rent A Hero

RentAHero Title.png

Main page | Maps | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


Music: Vermilion vs Rent A Hero Original Soundtrack (2009)

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Rent A Hero series of games
Rent A Hero (1991) | Rent A Hero No.1 (2000)
Rent A Hero related media
Music
 Renta no Kyoku: Rent A Hero No.1 Original Soundtrack (2000) | Vermilion vs Rent A Hero Original Soundtrack (2009) | Rent A Hero Original Soundtrack (2014)
Book
 Rent A Hero No.1 Kanzen Guide Book (2000) | Rent A Hero No.1 Perfect Guide (2000)
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