Class of Heroes: Anniversary Edition
- April 26, 2024
- Zerodiv
Get on Steam"Class of Heroes: Anniversary Edition" is a remastered JRPG dungeon crawler where players manage a cohort of students at Particus Academy. As a first-year student, players must build a party of students, train them in combat, and choose their classes, skills, and courses. Players must also consider affinity among students and allocate points to capabilities to create a strong team to tackle challenging dungeons filled with various monsters. Success in combat and survival requires strategic decision-making and knowing when to fight or flee.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a deep and complex dungeon crawling experience with high replayability, allowing players to experiment with different character builds and strategies.
- Quality of life improvements from the PSP version, such as faster animations and menu navigation, enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- The satisfaction of exploring maps and uncovering secrets is a highlight, with a sense of accomplishment from completing dungeons.
- The early game is extremely punishing, with players often starting with inadequate equipment and facing high costs for basic items and revivals.
- Menu navigation can be cumbersome, especially for new players, and the localization changes may confuse those familiar with the original PSP version.
- The game can feel tedious and frustrating due to its reliance on RNG for character creation and the potential for permanent character loss.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a slow burn, heavily influenced by wizardry mechanics, with a strong emphasis on gameplay over story. The sequel introduces improved gameplay flow and some JRPG elements, while still maintaining its roots as a dungeon RPG (DRPG). New players are encouraged to start with "Labyrinth of Zangetsu" for a friendly introduction to the genre's fundamentals, and the original gameplay experience is preserved with enhanced graphics and some quality-of-life improvements.
“This series has a heavy emphasis on gameplay over story.”
“If you have not played a DRPG before, I recommend Labyrinth of Zangetsu first, as it teaches all DRPG gameplay fundamentals in the friendliest manner possible.”
“Very much a slow burn game based heavily on wizardry mechanics.”
“Many mechanics are simplified and made less punishing, and the game remains fair as long as you utilize the tools it gives you.”
“The sequel (coh2) has a better story (but still not the main focus), gameplay flow, and introduction of some JRPG mechanics (single MP pool and equipment per character, single item pool for the whole party) but this is still a DRPG.”
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The series prioritizes gameplay over story, with the sequel (coh2) offering a slightly improved narrative while still maintaining a focus on gameplay mechanics. The original game is noted for its more story-driven approach, featuring different mechanics that diverge from traditional dungeon RPGs. Overall, while the story is present, it remains secondary to the gameplay experience.
“I haven't touched ms in a long while, but I can confirm it's much more story-focused and has different mechanics (less drpg-like).”
“As long as you're able to survive and deal much damage to bosses before they destroy you, you will reach your in-game graduation (main story end).”
“However, if you get both of them, this is also a good place to start because its introduction quests are tutorials specific to this series.”
“This series has a heavy emphasis on gameplay over story.”
“The sequel (coh2) has a better story (but still not the main focus), gameplay flow, and introduction of some JRPG mechanics (single MP pool and equipment per character, single item pool for the whole party) but this is still a DRPG.”
“I haven't touched MS in a long while, but I can confirm it's much more story-focused and has different mechanics (less DRPG-like).”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; players who enjoy old-school grinding may find it rewarding, especially with the satisfaction of completing tedious maps and the reuse of dungeons. However, those who dislike grinding may view it as tedious and confusing, particularly when stuck grinding for resources in repetitive areas.
“So you're stuck grinding for coins in the first room of the first dungeon.”
“If not, you will find this game tedious and confusing.”
“Some maps are tedious as hell to complete, but I don't mind since the feeling of actually completing it feels good and multiple dungeons reuse maps, so once it's done then you don't have to do it again.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics have received significant praise for being sharp and upscaled compared to the PSP version, enhancing the overall visual experience of the game. Players appreciate the cleaner 2D graphics and the preservation of the original aesthetic, which complements the old-school dungeon crawling theme. While some sound effects remain low quality, the overall presentation feels smoother and more enjoyable, contributing to a more engaging gameplay experience.
“The original gameplay is still perfectly preserved, with upscaled 2D graphics that look amazing.”
“It's been quite a few years since I dabbled in the PSP version, but this one seems to have a spruced-up translation along with the cleaner graphics.”
“An amazing game if you like old-school dungeon crawling and anime aesthetics.”
“The graphics are sharp and upscaled, but they still feel dated compared to modern standards.”
“While the game has a cleaner look than the PSP version, it still lacks the visual depth and detail expected from current titles.”
“The graphics may be improved from the PSP version, but they still don't hold up against contemporary games.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been praised for its customizable options, enhancing the overall experience compared to the PSP version. While the original soundtrack remains intact, some low-quality sound effects from the PSP era persist, but many players appreciate the nostalgic elements. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's faster and smoother gameplay, making it feel more enjoyable.
“Faster animation/menu speeds, better tutorials, customizable soundtrack, little quality of life features such as autowalk and extra difficulty modes - there is a lot done in this game to justify its purchase.”
“The original gameplay is still perfectly preserved, with upscaled 2D graphics that look amazing, and the music is fantastic. Some sounds (except the ones that sounded low quality even back on the PSP days) are still here too, and I'd have it no other way!”
“The music is customizable, which adds a personal touch to the experience, making it feel more engaging and enjoyable.”
“The music in this game feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during longer play sessions.”
“While the graphics and gameplay have improved, the music doesn't match the quality of the visuals and feels out of place.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the overall experience; it feels like an afterthought.”
