Although everything here seems like it is done by the numbers, I couldn’t help but feel that there was a little something missing. The game’s combat felt very bland, and it seemed like the changes to the dungeon-crawling, particularly the first-person perspective, weren’t for the better. Although the game retains all the depth (not to mention difficulty) that one would expect from a Rougue-like, I found myself longing for titles like Shiren the Wanderer and the Izuna series, which metered out the difficulty level with easily accessible maps and known enemy locations. Class of Heroes seems like it is difficult only for difficulty’s sake, which as I mentioned before, might appeal to some, but I just can’t see the general RPG audience getting on board with this approach.

As far as visuals go, Class of Heroes is not that impressive. Dialogue scenes are accompanied by stoic character designs, which never really move except to change facial expression. The dungeons are also very bland, and they seem like a never-ending pattern of singular floor tiles and wall coverings. Even the enemies don’t really movie, and they are represented on screen by more stoic character designs, which gives the game an almost claustrophobic feel. I mean, you are stuck in a featureless dungeon where nothing moves. It sounds kind of scary, right?

The audio here is more of a mixed bag. On the one hand, you have the background music which is nicely varied and engaging. Then, on the other hand, you have the voiceover, which is sparse and terrible. Although I am usually a fan of Japanese voiceovers, this one just doesn’t pull it off. Voiced dialogue is infrequent, and for some reason, any time you brush against a wall in a dungeon, someone in your party will let out a very obnoxious scream. And let me tell you, it gets old fast.

There is certainly a market out there for Class of Heroes. The punishing dungeon-based gameplay and first-person visuals may find a few fans out there. However, I just found the entire experience to be bland overall, and the lack of any type of story or characters with personality made it really hard for me to want to play this game. Unfortunately, I am sure many other RPG enthusiasts will see it this way, and it seems that Class of Heroes may be a study hall worth sleeping through.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor