Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption

 PC
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. CD-Action
    Oct 25, 2018
    80
    It’s a shame that Corey Cole’s and Lori Ann’s (you do remember Quest for Glory, right?) return to active service goes unnoticed, because despite being archaic and flawed (lots of minor technical bugs, poorly designed combat) Hero-U deserves a chance, as it effortlessly brings together RPGs and point’n’clicks and offers lots of freedom. [09/2018, p.56]
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  2. RPGamer
    Sep 28, 2018
    80
    Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption couldn’t get everything absolutely perfect, but no game ever really does. Instead, it got a whole lot of things just right, which was enough to counterbalance most issues. I am looking forward to seeing what the Coles do with their next endeavor into this world.
  3. Adventure Gamers
    Jul 23, 2018
    80
    The founding family of Quest for Glory has returned with an all-new unofficial entry that proves worthy of its predecessors’ legacy yet still manages to distinguish itself entirely on its own. Existing fans will be thrilled to see all the classic design staples make a return in Hero-U, while newcomers can enjoy a witty, substantial (if somewhat bloated) adventure-RPG experience.
  5. Ragequit.gr
    Jul 19, 2018
    80
    If you learned English by obsessively typing “PICK UP DAGGER, THROW DAGGER” a hundred times a day, forever, this is for you. If you followed a White Elk into the forest and fallen in love with a Dryad and the Gods listening in on Erana’s Peace, this is for you. Made unapologetically for the die-hard Quest For Glory fans, Hero-U exceeds the sum of its parts to deliver an experience that is part journey through time, part heartfelt tribute to an innocence you believed long lost and a damn addictive game in its own right.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 35
  3. Negative: 5 out of 35
  1. CazNeerg
    Jul 12, 2018
    9
    Getting the disclaimer out of the way right at the start, Hero-U is a *very* taste specific game. This is not a game that was made in anGetting the disclaimer out of the way right at the start, Hero-U is a *very* taste specific game. This is not a game that was made in an attempt to appeal to everyone, and it doesn't pretend to be. That said, for people in the target audiences, this should emerge as one of their favorites.

    What are some of those audiences? People who enjoy late 80s/early 90s adventure games not just for the nostalgia, but who actually *enjoy* the experience itself, even in 2018. People who enjoy visual novel style gaming, of a slightly choose-your-own-adventure variety. People who like when a game doesn't hold your hand; at all. As in, not even a little bit. You will miss things on your first playthrough, guaranteed. Possibly a lot of things. People who like combat that is designed to make the point that you should really be trying to avoid combat, or at least preparing much more heavily for it than simply carrying a weapon. People who are a fan of puns. Seriously. You need to love puns. Or at a bare minimum, not hate them.

    Who is it probably not for? People who think the ideal format for adventure games is the Telltale method where you essentially do nothing but interact with cutscenes. People looking for an RPG with a heavy focus on combat. People who aren't looking for any kind of adventure game or RPG at all. (I mean, seriously, why would they even be looking here?) People who think every game needs to be grimdark, and there is no room for humor, of the generally pretty cheesy variety.

    I don't want to get into any spoilers, so I'll finish this off with some thoughts on value. Everybody calculates the worth of a dollar differently. For me, if I get at least an hour of enjoyment for every dollar I spent, I think I've gotten my money's worth. Anyone who enjoys Hero-U enough to actually finish a playthrough is going to hit that mark, even without ever replaying the game. And replaying it is an absolute requirement in order to get to everything. If you think of yourself as being in some of the audiences I listed, you should give it a shot. You'll probably like it. If you're not sure, just wait for a sale, a $30 maybe can easily become a $20 yes. Let's be honest, that's what most of us do for most games.

    As for why I'm giving it a 9 rather than a 10, I have a hard time giving anything a 10. 10 means perfect, and what couldn't be even better?    … Full Review »
  2. Yco
    Jul 10, 2018
    9
    Graphics: some of the art is exceptional in this game. The animations can sometimes look a bit dated. On the whole, the art really fits withGraphics: some of the art is exceptional in this game. The animations can sometimes look a bit dated. On the whole, the art really fits with the story and feel of this adventure game, merging everything from Harry Potter and Indiana Jones to the old school Sierra adventure game styles. There were no particular graphics-related bugs.

    Story: The amount of writing and character development to be found is impressive. The story develops well and is quality enough to compete with any modern book or movie release. Characters are unique, rich and varied - even the main protagonist (Shawn), who is by turns charming, youthful, sympathetic and full of opportunity - especially when brought low by the player's own ineptitude for time management - which I'll talk more about below.

    Gameplay: In the opening sequence I thought this game would be a point and click adventure game. By the middle of the game, I'd found it was a complex hybrid of that, the Sims and the Dragon Age games. The game has a time system - actions make ingame time pass - and the limited amount of time Shawn has to do his tasks during the day (or night, occasionally) meant each choice I made felt incredibly impactful to the successful outcome of my playthrough. Here's an example:
    During class, the teacher mentioned a spate of thefts was impacting on the rogue's reputation (ironic, I know). I didn't know how long I had to catch the thief - but each day, the situation got worse and I knew for sure that I'd be expelled if they weren't caught. I'd raced through the first ten days but at that particular point I slowed down and each day ended up taking about an hour for me to finish. The amount of options I had for how to spend that time was huge but also never felt overwhelming.
    It's this varied and impactful time-management that feels like the Sims.
    The Dragon Age element is in the relationships and how they impact the game. Relationships are a thing in this game and they feel just as relevant to the outcome as killing monsters and completing quests do.
    Combat is satisfying - but entirely optional. It's possible to complete a playthrough without fighting anything. When I did fight, it was balanced if a bit simplistic. The combat is good without being the core part of the game.

    The core part of the game: Speaking of which - surprisingly, I found the core part to be Shawn (AKA myself, the player). I can't think of any better way to engage and attract the player than to give them this level of immersion and sympathy toward the character they're playing. This is why I gave the game a high score - the Coles know gaming, they've made classics before and this game reminds us just how keen their contribution to the gaming industry has been.

    Conclusion: Rogue to Redemption is a well-built, lengthy game in which every day that dawns feels packed with opportunity. The story will draw you in, the protagonist will charm and delight you, the characters will establish a living world, and the drive to play just one more hour will keep you up late into the night.    … Full Review »
  3. OverWind
    Jul 14, 2018
    9
    Could it be better? Sure. I found it a bit tedious for the first 30 minutes - where I would probably have given it 6 out of 10.

    But it    Could it be better? Sure. I found it a bit tedious for the first 30 minutes - where I would probably have given it 6 out of 10.

    But it really grows on you, to the point where I'm giving it 9 out of 10, and I'm not even finished with it yet. The experience ends up being really nice, I enjoy it a lot and I can certainly recommend it.    … Full Review »
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