Marvelous AQL, the studio behind Senran Kagura and Rune Factory 4, is now working with Steam. Their first release is Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy and it’s set for release on September 27.
"We’ve brought back the extra modes from the PSP version and added full Steamworks support so you have achievements, leaderboards, matchmaking, cloud saves, community integration, etc," said Esteban Jose Salazar, producer at Marvelous AQL, in a Siliconera interview. "Of course,we’ve added keyboard support and key binding. The full Xbox 360 version is there, too, so you’re getting the ‘Ultimate’ ersion of the game. Of course, you can still switch between the graphics from the 360 version and the old-school 8-bit graphics."
If you missed out on Half-Minute Hero the game is a brilliant deconstruction of JRPGs where you have to save the world in 30 seconds. You still have to walk on a field, fetch items for helpless villagers, fight monsters (by running right into them!), and level up before you face a boss monster. That’s… a lot to do in under a minute! Fortunately, the Hero is blessed by the Time Goddess who can rewind time if you pay her money.
The PSP version included other gameplay modes like Princess 30 which plays like a shoot ’em up and Knight 30 where you have to protect a Sage for 30 seconds. Marvelous also made Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax for Xbox Live, which had new cartoon graphics, but changed all of the other modes into the standard Hero 30. "For the first time they’ll have translations in French, Italian, Spanish, and German. The PSP version was only released in English in Europe, but now language won’t be an issue if you want to play. You can even play in Japanese if you want to practice," Salazar added.
Since Half-Minute Hero is on dashing to PCs, I asked Salazar if Marvelous AQL will localize the Japan-only sequel Half-Minute Hero Second and release that on Steam.
"We are absolutely considering it, but the feasibility and timing of bringing the second game or any of our other titles to the PC will depend on sales of the first game. So, if you want to see more Marvelous AQL titles on Steam, vote with your wallet and pick up Ultimate Boy."
