Solve Problems Like A MAN!
By clubbing the snot out of 'em in Hammerin' Hero.
Published: April 8, 2009
Atlus USA has long been regarded as one of the best localization teams in the biz, and they've managed to inject a surprising amount of charm into a game that's little more than some cute voices, simplistic sound effects and fittingly upbeat (but otherwise rather forgettable) music. It's the text that really adds to the whole atmosphere and entertainment value when you're not smashing your way through undersea dives, a baseball diamond, a haunted hospital, the beach and more.
As I already mentioned, Gen's role shifts depending on his class (as do his special and even regular attacks and the weapons he uses to dispense 'em). By visiting Kanna before a level, he can use the random items he'll pick up from downed enemies or boxes in the levels (or even from background objects smashed by hitting foreground enemies into 'em with a press of the Triangle Button) to make lunches that will change his job once per level. Kanna will sometimes screw up, creating an "oops" bento that carries with it special rewards like increased defense or points.
This is important, because Gen's solution for solving the myriad emotional problems people are experiencing is to smash the ever-loving shiznite out of them. Somewhere Tim Allen is smiling. Ah, but just smacking them away can have benefits. See, some of those emotions (which take on the form of a colored bubble) can be transferred to enemies, which will cause them to freak out instead. Case in point: a restaurant resident that had his melancholy mood smashed through a kitchen, lit on fire, combined with more emotions and then passed into a waiter who was so overcome with elation that he rose through the ceiling on a shaft of angelic light. He met a girl across the way, the emotions were batted back and forth and a little mallet-powered love connection was formed. Yes, it's awesome, and it's just one example of the little touches Irem threw into their game.
More prominent, though, are the graphics, which range from subtle effects like the rippling screen during the underwater level (where, I need to point out guys ride great white sharks around to try to kill you) to far more complex layers of parallax scrolling, rife with color and detail. Gen's idle animations are adorable (he'll adjust his stance with a bat or balance an anchor on his shoulder, for instance), and the enemies too are wonderfully detailed. All the characters and enemies in the game sport at least a black border around their bodies and particularly dangerous objects are highlighted in red, while those that can be bounced back may be rimmed in another hue.
Honestly, though, the graphics, level variety, insane boss fights (wait until you square off against Beelzebub the Baseball Catcher) and replay value of the game are nothing if the gameplay isn't there first and foremost. And it's here. It's here in spades. If you've ever lamented the loss of more challenging games gone by, you've got the ultimate salve for those wounds here. If you're too young to have played them then, pick this up and you'll see what all the fuss was about. Basically what I'm saying is that you need to buy this game. Now. You can send all thank yous to our forums. And you're welcome. Atlus, Irem and I love you too.
