Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption

 PC
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

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  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 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    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 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?    … Expand
  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 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    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 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.    … Expand
  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 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.
  4. Kiall
    Jul 23, 2018
    9
    Hero U is one of the most fun games I've had the pleasure of playing in 2018 and true successor to the QFG games. Don't let the price put you off. By the end you'll see it was a worthwhile investment which will not only provide you with dozens of hours of enjoyment, but also support a small independent team bring you the next chapter.

    Its not perfect some of the animation regarding    Hero U is one of the most fun games I've had the pleasure of playing in 2018 and true successor to the QFG games. Don't let the price put you off. By the end you'll see it was a worthwhile investment which will not only provide you with dozens of hours of enjoyment, but also support a small independent team bring you the next chapter.

    Its not perfect some of the animation regarding character movement can either be tortuously slow (sneaking) or janky (running). The 'time management' of the game certainly adds a sense of urgency, but maybe a little too much at times. Every action moves the clock forwards so sometimes I would skip over ambient dialogue, or clicking on objects altogether, because I didn't want to waste precious minutes. Which is a shame when some of the jokes/background info are so good. Though fair warning the Coles have never met a pun they didn't like and there is an onslaught of them in places. Additionally, I thought the end game was a little weak compared to say the previous 95%.

    However, these are minor niggles. I enjoyed the story, it had a great cast of supporting characters, real challenge and humour throughout. I loved learning new secrets and discovering hidden areas of the school, the thrill of discovery was prevalent throughout the game. Having finished it I'm looking forward to diving back in and finding all the things I missed when I was learning the ropes.

    If you're an old QFG fan, enjoy RPG's or old school point and click adventures, you're in for a real thrill.    … Expand
  5. Cantrus
    Jul 31, 2018
    10
    This is a lovely return to the games of my youth - specifically Quest for Glory I to V. It's not high octane, but for those who enjoy a pun, a puzzle and some character interaction and then obsessively planing their character's actions, this is the game for you.

    Unlike the vast majority of games I play, I expect to finish this because it's got a good mix of progression and options    This is a lovely return to the games of my youth - specifically Quest for Glory I to V. It's not high octane, but for those who enjoy a pun, a puzzle and some character interaction and then obsessively planing their character's actions, this is the game for you.

    Unlike the vast majority of games I play, I expect to finish this because it's got a good mix of progression and options without creating an open world tar pit like Skyrim, Fallout or the similar RPGs.    … Expand
  6. IblisBane
    Aug 9, 2018
    9
    Slow starter, but definitely worth it when you get the hang of the time constraints. (Time flow modified as of patch 1 to be a bit more forgiving.)

    As a long-time QFG fan, have been mostly happy with it. Enjoyable game and definite replay value. Totally worth it IMO.
  7. kj345jlk345
    Jul 19, 2018
    10
    After waiting for 6 long years, it was definitely worth the time. So far its really captured the type of game Lori and Cole used to make in the 90's with Sierra and Hero's Quest series. Can't wait to play it all the way through!
  8. Strawhatsheik
    Aug 20, 2018
    10
    Short version: This game is amazing! It is game perfection. Perhaps the best thing I can say is I paid $100 for supporting the kickstarter for this game and I don't regret a single penny. (And I'm not exactly loaded.) EVERYTHING about this game is spot on. The story is entertaining and well written with twists, some that hit me out of the blue! The art is charming and expressive. It isShort version: This game is amazing! It is game perfection. Perhaps the best thing I can say is I paid $100 for supporting the kickstarter for this game and I don't regret a single penny. (And I'm not exactly loaded.) EVERYTHING about this game is spot on. The story is entertaining and well written with twists, some that hit me out of the blue! The art is charming and expressive. It is just the right mix of story, puzzles, and action. It has GUARANTEED replay value. You cannot see everything there is to see or do in one play through. I have heard many people complain about this price, but for the game you are getting it is VERY WORTH it. PLAY this game or you are MISSING out, I promise.

    Longer version: Why is this game worth so much? One, the replay value. For me this is important, because so many games you play now are fun the first time, and that's it. Not this game. Each time you play this game it can be completely different. And not just based on your own actions. The other characters interact with EACH OTHER.
    There is so MUCH in this game. Almost everything has a separate, yet equally clever, thing the main character will say about it. Even something as small as the wall scones decorating the castle can generate different responses. Your main character Shawn has something new or different to say about everything and to everyone. What he has to say also varies on what he knows, what has happened in the game, and a ton of other factors. And it's not canned responses either. As a student of game design I know how many, MANY, hours goes into coding a game that is this diverse, and 'alive.' The simple effort of writing and coding this game correctly, is mind blowing.
    The characters are endearing and all so different. You and they interact differently based on the story, your personality, etc. All of them are so FUN and individual.
    The art is FANTASTIC! Hand drawn, beautiful and expressive! EVERY time we receive a full 'cutscene' it's like a reward. I love the faces of the characters and how they change. I just love it all.
    The game had good old fashioned puzzles to solve, but there was also a fighting element if you chose. The story was fun and very well written, and the dialogue was all well written. It had tons of 'feel good' moments, tons of 'oh snap' moments, 'awwww' moments' and 'oooooooooohhhh' moments. My sisters and I played this together and loved every minute of it.
    Also, if you were an original Quest for Glory fan, or a fan of point and click type games, then you will REALLY enjoy this! I loved being back in the Quest for Glory universe! I loved all the Easter eggs, tie ins, and references to the old games. I thought I wouldn't enjoy this game as much because in all the old games I played as a paladin, but no, I loved it!!! I loved Shawn! If you can walk away from this game without loving Shawn, then you, are, I don't know....
    PLEASE buy this game! Support gaming excellence! Give yourself a real TREAT!!!    … Expand
  9. ChoicestGames
    Feb 15, 2019
    8
    If you're a fan of Quest for Glory, you probably already have this game (so I'm not going to bother convincing you lot :)). So, for those of you that don't, what's appealing about Hero-U? Well, if you're looking for a fantasy adventure/role-playing game with lots of choices to make, characters to befriend (and romance), dungeons to explore and more puns than you could possibly endure, thenIf you're a fan of Quest for Glory, you probably already have this game (so I'm not going to bother convincing you lot :)). So, for those of you that don't, what's appealing about Hero-U? Well, if you're looking for a fantasy adventure/role-playing game with lots of choices to make, characters to befriend (and romance), dungeons to explore and more puns than you could possibly endure, then Hero-U is worth a look; just keep in mind that if you don't want to do what I did and waste hours just to experience a "bad" ending, make sure you get to exploring the lower levels of the castle as quickly as possible.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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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]
  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.
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  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.
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