So...what do we have here?

Japanese Game Box Front

Raira Is One of Four Default Heroes

Enix has published games both ordinary and extraordinary, both down to Earth and downright weird, both good and not so good, and some time along the way, Enix published this game, Nekketsu Tairiku Burning Heroes. Made by an unusual group known as J-Force, how does this RPG stack up to all the rest on the beloved SNES/SFC?

This is a rather unusual RPG that brings forth an interesting option to the player. You can choose which main character you want out of a set of 8, and they each have their own story developments, though they all deal with them within the same world. Sounds a lot like Romancing SaGa on the surface, huh? Well, it has a few similarities, but it is ultimately a very different game, I assure you. You can only choose 4 of the 8 heroes in the beginning, and as you beat the game with each person, you unlock the other hot-blooded characters. This adds extra elements to the story and certainly gives the game some replayability.

The game has pretty nice graphics. The environments are fairly detailed for an SNES/SFC game, the select few game cutscenes present are quite nice, but most importantly, the graphics take on a more dynamic approach than most SNES/SFC roleplaying games. It's not so much the special effects or the detail of enemies or characters that make battles stand out, but the interesting use of semi 3D elements. Using various attacks in the game will shift the view and give off the illusion of camera work being used in battle, making even ordinary moves seem more majestic to behold. The audio also helps pull everything together, as it is often upbeat and appropriate for every given setting.

The gameplay is also different from your standard SNES/SFC RPG. Besides the nice addition of unlockable quests, the game also distinguishes itself from other RPGs when it comes to the fighting mechanics. Combat has you controlling the leader while the others are controlled by A.I from the start. Only the leader can make more informed decisions like using items, changing battle formations, etc., and only the leader can unleash a special "Burning Attack". As the leader takes damage, their rage % increases. Once it's 100%, you can unleash a super attack (Burning Attack)! You can find various characters all over the place that will want to join you too. My qualms with the game is that the A.I driven characters aren't the brightest. They are pretty good at adjusting to dire combat situations, but they aren't as clever as most gamers who would control them manually. Still, this is a welcome change for gamers who don't like plowing through dozens of menus just to initiate a fight because you only have one character to control. This makes battles run much smoother. Additionally, the encounter rate is kinda high, but most JRPGs have their encounter rates set higher than RPGs released in the U.S. or PAL territories. I don't know why.

While the game is fairly linear outside of the unlockable character options, I got more than I bargained for from J-Force, and I can see why Enix would publish this one. It's a little different, and an above average SNES/SFC RPG. If you're looking for an Enix published game that's lesser known, you'd do well in seeking this game out on eBay or through the more "popular" method.

- Written by Vyse the determined -