Half-Minute Hero may be PSN exclusive, demo coming in August

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 20th 2009 at 2:00PM }

There were three letters that went through our heads when we played XSEED's English adaptation of the upcoming Half-Minute Hero. For those not in the know, the PSP-exclusive "RPG" has a clever twist: the gameplay occurs in frantic thirty second chunks. (For detailed impressions, read our hands-on here.) The English demo we played retained the same action and charm as the Japanese original -- only this time, we could understand what was going on.

Certainly, Half-Minute Hero has a niche appeal. However, anyone who tries it out should be able to understand what makes the game so brilliant by giving it a try. We were told by an XSEED representative that a downloadable demo is planned, and that it should be available some time next month. The demo will feature two stages from the "Hero 30" mode, where you have 30 seconds to level up and destroy a wizard that threatens to destroy the world.

Those expecting a UMD version of Half-Minute Hero may be disappointed to know that XSEED is looking into making the game a PlayStation Network exclusive. Games like Patapon 2 and Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman! both skipped the UMD format. A game that's as pick-up-and-play as Half-Minute Hero does seem ideally suited for PSN distribution.

Gallery: Half-Minute Hero

Tags: demo, half-minute-hero, psn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Cuy @ Jul 20th 2009 2:09PM

I might buy it as long as it doesn't cost $20 like the 40-something MB of Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman.

Unplugged @ Jul 20th 2009 2:18PM

I would definitely pay $20 for this, and what does Holy Invasion Privacy Badman's file size have to do with anything?

Cuy @ Jul 20th 2009 10:30PM

I believe $20 for a download-only PSP game is kinda overpriced. They don't spend anything on printing the cover, manual or the umd itself. However, they want us to pay the price of a retail game.

dgknight500 @ Jul 21st 2009 4:51AM

yup, it should be $15

Jeff @ Jul 21st 2009 9:12AM

I don't mind digital distribution of games, but only if consumers get some advantage to it. But when Locoroco 2 was released in both UMD and digital formats last fall in Europe, some retailers offered UMDs for a better price than getting it on PSN!

ThekonamiMan @ Jul 20th 2009 2:24PM

Another PSP game I was looking forward to that I'm going to skip now because of no UMD release.

sony boy @ Jul 20th 2009 2:32PM

what's so hard about making a psn account???

Unplugged @ Jul 20th 2009 2:35PM

Thats still the dumbest reason for not getting a game.

Why is it such a big deal if it skips a UMD version? If you were gonna go to a Gamestop or something and buy it just go to the same store and get a PSN card to buy it from the PSS.

Paul @ Jul 20th 2009 3:02PM

I refuse to buy these non umd games too. If I can't resell it, I won't buy it. these are tough economic times it doesn't make sense for me to have a bunch of games that I'm probably gonna get bored of months from now.

Phil @ Jul 20th 2009 3:29PM

Is this PSN only in the states? Cuz I imported a copy of Patapon fromt he UK. I'll do it again for this, if I have too.

Nate @ Jul 20th 2009 4:00PM

"if I can't resell it, I refuse to buy it."
Wait... what?

What happened to the good old days when we wanted to own something that we buy? Rent it if you only want to use it for two weeks, you'll save money.

Scuffles @ Jul 20th 2009 4:31PM

Have to admit with all of the PSN download exclusives Sony is managing to save me a lot of money and ween me off my PSP at the same time. I'm not as much interested in being able to resell it, Personally its more of an I like to actually own what I buy.

midnightshade @ Jul 22nd 2009 1:29AM

What is wrong with people these days? It's only $20.... and to the person complaining about badman file size. It uses 2d sprites of course it's small file sized. So what!!! The game is jam packed with content! And it's one of the most addictive game ever. Do you fools ever collect games? Or did that go out of style years ago? Maybe since I am 30 and have a job I can afford to, but than again when i was a kid and teen I collected Nes , Sega, and TG-16 games too.... of course I had a job then too. Simple solution...GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUMS AND GET A JOB! you won't mind tossin a few dollars for a game.

$20 is fine for games like this , patapon and badman. And it shouldn't be on umd as it would only sell to around 4 people....it would cost more to manufacture and ship.. Also these companies for niche games only press so many disc copies.. You ever wonder why some niche titles are hard to find? It's becasue they can only distribute so much to the stores, what happens is it sells out in some places and out in the boonies they will have them. This in turn forces the price of the game up, and you will have to pay $40 for that $20 game.

Why doesn't anyone want a game library anymore? The thing is no one complians about PSN titles for ps3 being download only, why do you with the psp? it means cheaper games, and yes $20 is much cheaper then most disc based psp games. I bet most people who are against digital download are kids who don't have debit cards (even thought you can get one for free at a bank!) or jobs and must rely on mommy to buy it for them, and parents don't like dd because they don't understand it.

keroro645 @ Jul 20th 2009 2:42PM

Ooh a demo. I love demos.

Jack Spicer PSN: watsuke @ Jul 20th 2009 2:54PM

I agree. If a company cant produce a disc, i.e. Flower, Burn Zombie Burn, then i have no support for them. They may be great games, but ill never know cause im to busy playing Hannah Montana which got a disc release. Stick that on your network and download it, BITCH.

Courtney @ Jul 20th 2009 4:39PM

I wish there was a clearer demarcation between PSP PSN and PS3 PSN content. I got really excited thinking that perhaps it was getting a PS3 PSN release.

zonic505 @ Jul 20th 2009 10:23PM

Really hope there's a demo, as this looks like a really interesting game. & I'll be alright w/ this being download-only as long as it's $20 or less.

Besides, if it's download only, there's less money being spent on packaging, printing, & shipping, which is good if a game doesn't do very well.

Dashiva @ Jul 20th 2009 11:00PM

"Those expecting a UMD version of Half-Minute Hero may be disappointed"
Who cares. UMD is a dieing format. Get over it.
Physical media may be around for quite some time still, however as far as mobile gaming is concerned; it's all going download, baby.

David Black @ Jul 21st 2009 8:35PM

$20 or less seems to be the sweet spot. I personally hate UMDs (even though I have over 30 of them) and for a game like this, it definitely makes sense for a DD.

Still, Sony really needs to start putting some of these PSN games on sale or something. I mean if they can do it with the PSN titles for PS3, why exclude the PSP? I rarely, if ever, pay MSRP for traditional video games so why am should I respect it when Sony sits a title at MSRP for YEARS on PSN?