World Heroes (video game)

World Heroes[lower-alpha 2] is a 1992 fighting arcade game developed and published by Alpha Denshi (later known as ADK) with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on July 28, 1992. It is ADK's first game in the fighting game genre, as well as their earliest attempt in the fighting game trend of the '90s that was popularized by Capcom's 1991 arcade hit Street Fighter II. It was even the last game with the "Alpha" logo labeled within the game before the developer became "ADK"; however, the "Alpha" logo was last used on one of the arcade flyers of its sequel.

World Heroes
Developer(s)
  • Sunsoft (Super NES)
    Sega Midwest Studio (Genesis)
Publisher(s)
Alpha Denshi
  • Neo Geo CD
Producer(s)Kenji Sawatari
Designer(s)Kimitoshi Yokoo
Programmer(s)Yuji Noguchi
Artist(s)Akira Ushizawa
Atsushi Kobayashi
Hatsue Sakanishi
Composer(s)Hideki Yamamoto
Hiroaki Shimizu
Yuka Watanabe
SeriesWorld Heroes
Platform(s)
Release
  • Arcade
    • WW: 28 July 1992
    Neo Geo AES
    • WW: 11 September 1992
    Super NES
    Genesis
    Neo Geo CD
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)
Arcade systemNeo Geo MVS

Due to its success in the market, World Heroes was followed by a sequel released less than a year later titled World Heroes 2.

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot showcasing Hanzō Hattori performing a throw with Kim Dragon.

World Heroes is controlled with three of the four buttons ("A" to punch, "B" to kick and "C" to throw) used along with an 8-way joystick on the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet. The punches and kicks have two levels, weak and strong. In order to get each strength with just two buttons, the punch and kick buttons have to be pressed briefly for weak and longer for strong. This same mechanic even can be performed with special moves. The throw button C, if close enough to the opponent, grabs and throws the opponent across the stage; however, if holding the joystick in the opposite direction at the right time, the opponent would be tossed the opposite direction. Introduced in the fighting game genre by World Heroes are some abilities exclusive to some characters that were used in several later fighting games, such as multi-jumping using Hanzou and Fuuma, and shooting projectiles from the air using Rasputin.

There are eight playable characters in the roster and two different play modes for players to choose from: "Normal Game" and "Death Match". In "Normal Game", players have to defeat the other seven playable characters in a random order, followed by a battle against the final boss Geegus (misspelled as "Gee Gus" in localized English versions), all by using the chosen character. If the player defeats an opponent, the player moves on to the next opponent. After the third battle, the player has a bonus round to carve a block of stone into a statue in ten seconds with repeated hits. After the sixth battle, the player has another bonus round to break falling pots in ten seconds before they hit the ground.

"Death Match" acts like Normal Mode with a difference. Players will fight in a ring with environmental hazards such as electrical barriers, spiked walls, oil puddles and others which players must avoid while fighting. Players also can force their opponents against the environmental hazards to their advantage. Also, unlike the normal game where battles take place in various locations, all death match battles take place in a closed boxing-esque arena setting, and take place in front of a live audience.

Plot

In the distant future, Dr. Sugar Brown: a well-renowned and famous scientist is determined to figure out on who the strongest fighter of history is and has gone to great lengths in order to finally gain the answer of his own question. Through the use of a time machine that he had built, Dr. Brown has brought together several of the world's most powerful super heroes throughout each century so that all of them can compete and take part in a one-on-one fighting/death-match tournament that Dr. Brown has organized, the tournament itself being used as a way to determine on who the strongest fighter of history is. Little does Dr. Brown and the participating fighters know and realize that an unknown threat is secretly watching them during the progression of the tournament and that this unknown threat could easily endanger them and the rest of the world.

Characters

Prologue

DR. BROWN: You came at a good time. Use the time machine to go all over the world where the strong people are. I'm praying for a healthy battle.

1) Hattori Hanzo (服部 半蔵, Hattori Hanzō)

Hanzo is the protagonist of the game. He was director of the Iga ninja clan, during the Ashikaga Shogunate. After being sent to a world he's unfamiliar with, Hanzo continues to train, and to strive for enlightenment as a warrior. Despite considering himself naive, he hopes to one day be the greatest in his field. Arch-rival of Fuuma Kotaro.

  • Quotes

"Can you now fathom the power of Iga Ninjitsu?"

"Thou wants discipline. Get to the gym!"

  • Epilogue

ANNOUNCER: He did it! Hanzo has won...!! Hey, where did Hanzo go?

FUUMA: Everyone! At my place, a letter..."In order to find stronger opponents, I must leave...I am afraid this is Sayonara."[1]

2) Kotaro Fuuma (風魔 小太郎, Fūma Kotarō)

Fuuma is the fifth director of the Fuuma ninja clan; arch-rival of Hanzo Hattori. Unlike Hanzo, Fuuma is an easygoing womanizer who views strenuous work as a necessary inconvenience. Easily adapting to the new culture he's found himself in, he is excited by change.

  • Quotes

"The Fuma Ninja knows no equal."

"Thou hast been vanquished. Make like a Bonsai and leave!"

  • Epilogue

FUUMA: (to his boss) A thousand pardons for being late...

BOSS: Where have you been?

FUUMA: I guess I overslept...[2]

3) Kim Dragon (キム・ドラゴン / 金龍, Kim Dragon)

Kim is a famous Korean-Chinese martial-arts movie star from the 20th century. His career is comparable to that of singers, but he wants to be known as a great fighter to boot. He worships Bruce Lee. Kim enters the World Heroes tournament to prove himself.

  • Quotes

"I was no match for you. My skill is too great."

"Over so soon? One look..."

  • Epilogue

KD: Victory is mine...

PRODUCER: Hey, kid, you're a natural. How about being in my next flick? With a face like yours, you're sure to be a big star."

KD: Let's do it!

NARRATOR: A new legend is born in Tinseltown! [3]

4) Janne D'Arc (ジャンヌ・ダルク, Jannu Daruku)

Janne is a female swordmaster from 15th century France. Tremendously beautiful, she wanders her homeland in search of a fighter strong enough to make a worthy husband. She continues that search into the 20th century.

  • Quotes

"Ha-ha-ha. From now on, call me Goddess Janne."

"Ha-ha-ha. Would you like to make any other comments about my place being in the kitchen?"

  • Epilogue

"Alas, it seems I have no equal among men. Will I ever find my partner in life? My search for a suitable mate continues...A woman's work is never done..."[4]

5) J. Carn (J・カーン, Jei Kān)

Julius Carn is a general of the marauding Mongolian hordes. This human juggernaut has repeatedly led the Khan's powerful armies to victory and conquest throughout Eurasia.

  • Quotes

"Hero? I am the true hero!"

"With an ego like mine, there is no way I can lose!"

  • Epilogue

J. CARN: I won! Huh?

JANNE: I've devoted my life to searching for someone as strong as you. Kiss me, you fool!

J. CARN: You're not my type, babe.

JANNE: (chasing him) Wait, Mr. Carn!!!

J. CARN: No way!!! [5]

6) Muscle Power (マッスル•パワー, Massuru Pawā)

This all-star pro-wrestler from Anglo-America strongly believes in the power of his own muscles. MP fights in the World Heroes tournament in order to make an even-bigger name for himself in the pro-wrestling world.

  • Quotes

"I'll take on any challenge, any time!!"

"You can find my picture in the dictionary, under the word ultimate."

  • Epilogue

MP: Yeah!

NARRATOR: Even on the pro-wrestling circuit, Muscle Power is a force to be reckoned with...He's always bragging about taking all of the championship belts.[6]

7) Brocken (ブロッケン, Burokken)

This cyborg was developed by Dr. Brown, initially for the army of Nazi Germany. After their defeat in World War II, Brocken travels the world to prove that the power of science conquers all.

  • Quotes

"If I had my arms and legs broken and tied together, then maybe you could win. Maybe!!!"

"Someday you'll beat me. That is, someday in a million years!!!"

  • Epilogue

"Gee, I didn't even work up a sweat!" [7]

8) Rasputin (ラスプーチン, Rasupūchin, Cyrillic: Распутин)

Rasputin is the sorcerous director of a Russian love cult. Backed by his magical proficiency, he preaches about the love all mankind should have.

  • Quotes

"As I thought; you are just another hurt soul, crying out for understanding."

"You lack maturity. Nyah, nyah!"

  • Epilogue

"Having vanquished the villains, the world is a safer place...It's time to rev up the machine and head back home...Wh-what the...?!!!! Wh-where...? WHAAAAT!!!" (screams while being chased by dinosaurs) [8]

Interlude

DR. BROWN: You have done well. You are suitable to be the strongest in history. Without further adieu, let's begin the award ceremony...What?

GEEGUS: Wa-ha-ha! My name is Gee-Gus; I am the strongest in the universe. If you don't want your planet to be smashed, you will fight me.

9) Geegus (ギガス, Gigasu) Geegus is the genderless result of an artificial polymorphic experiment from the future. It was created by a mad scientist named Damned. Geegus is transported into the past, in order to slaughter anyone who gets in its way of invading and conquering planets.

  • Quote

"Ha, ha-ha-ha..."

  • Epilogue

(see Interlude) [9]

Development

According to ADK World, the other famous and infamous figures that were considered for the cast were Al Capone, Billy the Kid, Musashi Miyamoto, Hanzo Hattori, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, and Jack the Ripper. A Korean warrior who was the game's intended sub-boss, and an Egyptian warrior were also in the works.

Out of the entire prototype lineup, Hattori was the only one kept for the final product. Hitler was taken and reworked into a different Nazi-based fictional character named Brocken to avoid controversy. Jack was also redesigned and later added to the cast in World Heroes 2 Jet. Miyamoto's character was instead used in other SNK titles such as The Last Blade, the Samurai Shodown series and Ganryu.

World Heroes was later ported to the Neo Geo AES in both Japan and North America on September 11, 1992, which is identical to the Neo Geo MVS version, but designed for home gaming, just like nearly every AES versions of Neo Geo titles. World Heroes was later ported to the Neo Geo CD exclusively in Japan by ADK on March 17, 1995 and then to North America in October 1996,[10] which is the same as the MVS and AES versions, but with arranged background music.[11]

Besides SNK's consoles, it was first ported by Sunsoft to the SNES in Japan on August 12, 1993, in North America in September 1993,[12] and PAL regions in 1993. Later, it was ported to the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis by Sega Midwest Studio (then known as Sega Midwest Development Division[13]) exclusively in North America on August 16, 1994. The Neo Geo AES version was also added to the Wii's Virtual Console first in Japan on September 28, 2007, then in North America on October 8, 2007, and in Europe on October 19, 2007. Later, it was added to a compilation of Neo Geo arcade games for the PlayStation 2,[14] PlayStation Portable and Wii titled SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 as an unlockable game.[15]

On October 18, 2007, SNK Playmore added it with its three sequels to the arcade game compilation World Heroes Gorgeous: Neo Geo Online Collection Vol. 9 (ワールドヒーローズ ゴージャス) in Japan for the PlayStation 2. It was later published in North America on March 11, 2008, and in Europe on November 7, 2008, both titled as World Heroes Anthology. This was created to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the World Heroes series. This compilation was later reprinted as part of a series of best-sellers labeled "The Best" in Japan on June 18, 2009.

Reception

The arcade version was commercially successful upon release. It was said to be one of the first games that brought the attention of SNK's consoles to game players.[25] In Japan, Game Machine listed World Heroes on their September 1, 1992 issue as being the third most-popular arcade game at the time.[26]

In the United States, on RePlay magazine's coin-op earnings charts, World Heroes topped the software conversion kits chart in July 1992, ranking just above Capcom's Street Fighter II.[27] RePlay then reported World Heroes to be the most-popular arcade game in September 1992.[28] It was then the top-grossing software conversion kit during October to November 1992,[29][30] and then again in January 1993.[31] On the April 1993 charts, it was the fifth highest-earning software conversion kit.[32] On the May 1993 chart, it dropped to number-eight, with World Heroes 2 at number-five.[33] It was one of America's top five highest-grossing arcade games of 1993.[34]

Critical reception

The September 1992 issue of Sinclair User gave the arcade game a score of 81%.[22] The October 1993 issue of Computer and Video Games scored it 74%.[16]

On release in the home retail market, Famicom Tsūshin scored the Neo Geo console version of the game a 22 out of 40.[20] GameFan's two reviewers scored the Neo Geo console version 92% and 90%. One of the reviewers stated "that it is NOT just another Street Fighter 2 clone", praising the "all new" and "unique" moves and characters, and "the weapons and added Death Match." The other called it "a great fighting game" that rivals Street Fighter II and is "surpassed only by Art of Fighting."[21]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Genesis version a 26 out of 50, commenting that "The Super NES version was a good Neo Geo reproduction, but this one completely misses! The action is incredibly slow (and a bit choppy) and the voices are horrendous!"[19] GamePro criticized the Genesis version as well, citing slow action, mediocre graphics, poor sound, and hapless opponent AI.[11] In 2018, Complex rated World Heroes 62nd in their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time".[35]

Promotion

Early pictures of the Super NES version of the game were presented at the 1993 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.[36]

Notes
  1. Additional work by SNK
  2. Japanese: ワールド・ヒーローズ, Hepburn: Wārudo Hīrōzu

References
  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrzuixIysbs&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=2
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1odfokYqD80&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=3
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWdHGA0s5Yc&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=4
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEl0Q3qyrrI&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=1
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwsEWXh6zxw&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=5
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQsa2uirlIA&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=6
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDBqUD-aaZU&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=7
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGGtrSLOUxE&list=PLRl_aOLb1vx6etJewbjKWqryptSBtuNsh&index=8
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNzJCTnPR28
  10. "GamePro - Quick Hits". GamePro. Vol. 1. 1996. p. 108.
  11. "ProReview: World Heroes". GamePro. No. 62. IDG. September 1994. p. 62.
  12. Magilla (August 1993). "Super NES Preview - World Heroes". GameFan. Vol. 1, no. 9. p. 66.
  13. Title screen of the Mega Drive / Genesis port of World Heroes.
  14. "World Heroes - IGN".
  15. Official website of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1.
  16. "World Heroes review".
  17. Deniz Ahmet, World Heroes 2, Computer and Video Games, issue 154 (September 1994), page 87
  18. Electronic Gaming Monthly, 1999 Video Game Buyer's Guide, page 129
  19. "Review Crew: World Heroes". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 60. EGM Media, LLC. July 1994. p. 34.
  20. NEO GEO GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ワールドヒーローズ. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.332. Pg.25. 28 April 1995.
  21. GameFan, volume 1, issue 1 (October 1992), pages 7 & 47
  22. "World Heroes review".
  23. Electronic Games, issue 57 (August 1994), page 78
  24. http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero032/Joystick%20032%20-%20Page%20154%20(1992-10).jpg
  25. K Lee (July 1994). "Planet SNES - World Heroes". GameFan. Vol. 2, no. 8. p. 93.
  26. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 433. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 September 1992. p. 31.
  27. "Electronic Games 1992-12". December 1992.
  28. "The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Video Software". RePlay. Vol. 17, no. 12. RePlay Publishing, Inc. September 1992. p. 4.
  29. "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 1. October 1992. p. 4.
  30. "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 2. November 1992. p. 4.
  31. "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 4. January 1993. p. 4.
  32. "Electronic Games 1993-06". June 1993.
  33. "Electronic Games 1993-07". July 1993.
  34. "AMOA Award Nominees: Game Awards". RePlay. Vol. 19, no. 1. October 1993. p. 59.
  35. Knight, Rich (April 30, 2018). "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". Complex. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  36. "More Conversions for Super NES". Super NES Buyers Guide. Vol. 3, no. 2. March 1993. p. 8.
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