ZHP: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman

They cut 16 dungeons worth of content from this release without any warning on the store page. This scummy kind of practice does not deserve any support whatsoever.

I've been clamoring for a ZHP sequel since [i]forever[/i], but I guess with NIS being the gassed-out husk they are today, that'll be a long time coming, if at all. However, I am happy to have a playable version of the game that doesn't require digging out the ol' PSP and UMD from whatever hole I've shoved them into and be brought back to a time when NIS was unflinching and uncompromisingly steadfast on busting into every market they could get into with their off-beat style. ZHP (Zettai Hero Project, a descriptor curiously absent from the store page) is an old 2010 PlayStation Portable title which was NIS's fun and accessible entry into the roguelike genre. I mean roguelike proper, by the way; you know 'games that are like Rogue' and not 'games that have permadeath'. It has all the trappings of standard Japanese roguelikes in the vein of Shiren the Wanderer or the Mystery Dungeon series (or Labyrinth Life if you wanna go there), but with NIS's patented penchant for silliness and abu...

A very barebones port that changes next to nothing from the PSP original, which might've been fine if it weren't for the fact that NIS took a sledgehammer to the game's postgame content. A total of 16~ optional dungeons alongside various rewards tied to those dungeons were removed from the game completely due to licensing issues. The main game is seemingly untouched, so this might not be a deal breaker if you aren't looking to do any of the optional content, but you're likely still better off looking elsewhere instead of supporting yet another lazy cashgrab from NISA.

ZHP is a very good game. The problem is that the steam version is a hamstrung version of the original game. 16 different Dungeons were removed from the game and while none of them were necessary for the game's completion they did help to speed up the grind and be entertaining side stories. Now maybe this is due to being unable to get permissions to use the extra content from when the game was originally released and if so that can't be helped as licensing problems are like that sometimes. What CAN be prevented is the lack of transparency to the customer by not mentioning the fact that they have taken a lions share of the content OUT of the game and that this game is basically a discount port of the original game. Do yourself a big favor and buy the original release on the PSP instead.

This game is great, an underrated and hidden gem that spawned at least one other good game with the same engine (Guided Fate Paradox.) All great parodies have to ALSO be good examples of what they're parodying. This game is like if Monty Python had a three some with anime and DARK humor. All while a Japanese person mocks a western perspective/media forms. It definitely feels like a proto My Hero Academia in its setting as well. The writing is extremely unsubtle, funny, of it's time. And it can and will make you cry 2-3 times. I wish they up scaled the art, but otherwise it plays great too. It's a fucking wild ride if you can stomach older-school roguelike mechanics. I bought it just so I can experience some of the funniest and most heart-felt moments in gaming interspersed with some good mystery dungeon vibes. The best comparison I can make to this game is half-minute hero. If that means anything to you, you should immediately buy this game.

Why I can and can't recommend this game. ZHP has always been utmost my favourite game from NIS. It's spiritual successor removed features at the cost of being HD and didn't have nearly as good of story or writing, but that's it's own deal. ZHP is a comedic game that parodies a whole bunch of superhero tropes and throws in a lot of NIS's typical humour, too. It's like Mystery Dungeon meets Disgaea. It's ridiculous. That's part of the point and charm. However, NIS has failed to mention that this release is missing content, likely for licensing issues, of the Dengeki Collaboration for the original (and VITA download release) version(s) of the game. This included heaps of postgame content, a whopping, like, 16 dungeons? With ten floors each, and another 16 weapons from these Dengeki dungeons? As well as skins to match each one, of popular manga / anime characters? That shits lit even if you have no idea what any of those are. I sure didn't in 2010 and I loved rocking Kino's outfit. Bas...

An amazing, very underrated gem of a game, that I'm super happy to get to see released outside the PSP, after so many years. I've played this game many years ago and have had very fond memories of it since, so this review might be a bit nostalgia biased. Despite that, I truly believe it's an amazing game that is definitely worth your time. At it's surface level it's a classic roguelike, with grid based combat, a hunger mechanic that influences your health regen, items to pick up, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, however, unlike many of the other roguelikes I've played, this one feels incredibly satisfying. Character progression is great, customization is super in depth, there's a ton of variables that you can trigger, lots of buffs and debuffs and the like. Your character has a massive body sized grid map that you can place lots of chips in (think bio-implants). It just feels incredibly satisfying to fill it up with all sorts of effects and see your wimpy hero become a godlike immort...

The game crashes randomly while playing. When combined with manual saving and long dungeons, this means its extremely easy to lose very long periods of playtime. I was hoping NIS would do a better job with their ports.

They don't make games as egregiously as this, like they used to. This by far is one of my favorite NIS titles. Sprinkled in the outrageous comedy and affectionate parodies and jabs, there's something very real that I think everyone can take from this game. The gameplay is similar to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, but with more gimmicks here and there. Death is only a setback in the grand scheme of things, because when you're the Unlosing Ranger, you just unlose!

Spoiler Free Review I enjoyed ZHP back when it was released on the PSP, and I am very pleased to be able to finally play it "legally" on the PC. Despite being old this is still a great Roguelike JRPG! I love the storyline the most, which is a mix of satire, irony, slapstick, and dark comedy; even just reading responses from idle NPCs ends up being hilarious (their text changes quite often too). The dungeons are randomly generated, there are multiple endings, lots of customizations, and high replayability with New Game+. Please give ZHP a chance and I hope you have a great time <3