I've been clamoring for a ZHP sequel since forever, 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 abundance of style. It is one of my favorite games of all time though that likely has more to do with spending countless hours in it while commuting than anything else, but it remains a solid and entertaining roguelike to sink your teeth into without having to carry a notebook around or have your eyes glued to a wiki. It really lends itself to handheld play, so if you've got a Switch, I'd recommend getting it there, although you cannot get it individually on the platform without also picking up Makai Kingdom (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). Make no mistake - ZHP isn't going to be on the level of Qud or ToME, but if you're looking for light-hearted yet crunchy RL play, you'll probably find a lot to enjoy here if the style rubs you right.

For those unfamiliar with ZHP - and let's face it, why would you be, given that nobody had PSPs and those that did didn't buy this game in droves? - or proper roguelikes can think of it as a dungeon crawler where your goal is typically to navigate several floors of enemies, traps, and obstacles and reach the end. Unlike its older siblings, ZHP is designed for short runs in that dungeons are randomly-generated instances that only last for a handful of floors before you're booted back out to the hub. The trick here is that like all traditional roguelikes, the game's clock only ticks when you do. You take one move, everything else simultaneously does as well. As such, much of navigating the game's vast array of crazy enemies is about positioning and timing.

What sets ZHP apart from the rest of 'em is its unique stamp on how items, weapons, and armor contribute to gameplay and its incredibly silly story elements. While some of the references are quite dated, the writing is still humorous and full of fourth-wall breaks in the classic NIS style. The short version is that you've been voluntold to take over the role of the Unlosing Ranger since the previous one uh.. got run over by a van on the way to the epic final battle that starts the game off. As one would expect, you get your ass handed to you and you're sent to an alternate Earth to strengthen yourself up to return to the point at which you lost and defeat, you guessed it, Darkdeath Evilman. Look, the game isn't known for its subtlety.

At any rate, the meat of the game comes from the truckload of objects in the game and how they twist the traditional roguelike around. While you have your standard healing items and energy replenishment, most weapons and armor provide special abilities and are the main source of what magic you can cast. As you progress in the game, you'll encounter creative objects that allow you to deal damage at great distances or punch someone/something across the map. One of the earliest things you will get is a tank chassis that you can equip onto your legs that not only allows you to safely walk over spikes, but also allows you to fire a mortar shell from where you're standing. Don't get too married to your gear, though, as it all deteriorates over time and you'll either have to go back to base to repair them, bring backups, smash them together in synthesis, or better yet, simply toss them at enemies once they've outlived their usefulness. Typically, I dislike durability mechanics in most games, but here it's not much concern since you will be packmuling objects (good or bad) in no time.

The trick then, is that like Shiren the Wanderer and other Japanese roguelikes, instead of permadeath, any time you are booted from the dungeon, whether you complete it or get KO'd, you will reset to level 1. However, before doing so you will absorb all the XP you gained in your latest run and you'll have your base stats boosted. Dying in a dungeon isn't as bad as it sounds because you still get your stat boost even if you sadly lose all the objects you were carrying (it's really not hard to build up another arsenal if you play strategically enough). Eventually, you will unlock more and more missions to tackle which means different biomes, even more objects to pick up and play with, etc. until you finally complete the story - a feat I never accomplished in the PSP version.

This game, if I recall correctly, is looooong. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you couldn't tell by my game library, I'm easily distracted, so I've never seen how this whole game plays out despite putting in something near 60ish hours (estimated) in the original. I've always wanted to go back to it because it is a game that is dear to my heart, but just never got around to it and now I can with ease.

All that said, keep in mind that this isn't a remaster, but a re-release. Some work has been done on the UI side to ensure you're not looking at tiny PSP-era text and menus, but the sprites, artwork, textures, etc are all pretty much the same, blown up to modern screen sizes. As I've always recommended with the NIS straight-ports, go into the options and turn off the filters and the game will look much crisper. As a bonus, you can now choose between English and Japanese audio; I can't recall if this was an option on the PSP, but whatever - it's an option here! Downside is that the tutorial isn't skippable and it's not exactly interactive - you get to watch the AI demonstrate and then parrot it back if you so desire. So it does take a good chunk of time to get into the game proper, but once you're in there, you're as free as a bird to do as you wish and explore the game's deeper-than-you-think systems.

I love this game and I'm glad to be able to play it again hassle-free. I doubt that a big number of pick-ups will get NIS to make a sequel, but if you have any love for the traditional roguelike but like them in sizable chunks and don't mind some dated humor, there is a lot to love about ZHP. It didn't tear down the walls when it had its first go, but those who had their time with it all came to love it and I couldn't be happier to recommend that you join the ranks.

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 ♥♥♥♥♥ 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.

Basically, in short, ZHP on the PSP has more content then this release. The UI for the portraits wasnt upscaled at all so it hurts to look at. If I had to recommend anything, I'd encourage to buy this release, and emulate the PSP version and play that instead. But iunno. If you don't want to do that, or that all doesn't bother you, this is perfect! But I definitely just played through the story and feel like I'm going to stop there, knowing that the endgame isn't going to be anywhere near as fun or interesting as the original release.

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 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 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.

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 immortal ranger.

The writing is excellent too, it takes jabs at itself and parodies many tropes that you see in anime all the time. In many ways, it reminds me of One Punch Man, despite the fact that it predates it by quite a while. Later on, the story also gets more involved and more serious, without losing it's charm. Without spoiling anything, I can also say that the ending left me very satisfied when I first played through it. Felt like an amazing reward at the end of a long journey.

A nice caveat for weebs who've grown up with 2010s anime is the post game. Boy is the post game a treat. You can meet a ton of characters from many series that were popular at the time, from Oreimo, to Spice and Wolf, to Toradora. And you don't JUST meet them, you unlock them as playable skins for your main hero! The full list of crossover animes is huge (and for the sake of this review, I really hope this port still includes all that content, I will edit this part out if I find out it does not)
EDIT: Seems like the "extra enemies" part of the journal still exists, so I'm 99% sure there's no cut content!
EDIT2: Disregard the above statement, it seems like this version does not include the aforementioned content :( If you'd like a full version of the game, it's probably better to resort to emulation (or wait for a potential mod, depending on how the community interest for this game will shape up to be). This version still runs fine regardless, I haven't had any crashes or anything of the like, the game runs perfectly fine although some sprites look a bit smushed (but not worse than you'd see from playing it on emulator), and it has decent kb/mouse support as well (left mouse click can be used to interact with characters/click any menu button and right mouse click can be used to open up the menu. This is an advantage over emulators as it's a bit more tricky to set such functionality up there)

All in all, I highly recommend this game for anyone who likes a good roguelike, with a really nice, charming and super funny story. It's definitely worth purchasing at full price, in my opinion, and definitely worth experiencing at least once!

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!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2808479033

It's like an alternate universe, where the Disgea team made Azure Dreams instead of Konami.
So, I love it.

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

For those who are wondering what this game is:
-It's a NIS's take on a Roguelike (more like a roguelite if you want to be very specific) back then on 2010. And a game that has a story or premise that desperately needs a sequel (that is not a spiritual successor like Fate Guided Paradox)

What makes this a roguelike(roguelite)?
>Your level resets to 1 every dungeon/death
>You lose all your items when you die (a facility and item in-game eventually lets you save SOME stuff upon death)
>You lose all money upon death
>Equipment has durability (repairable though)
>Apply tactics depending on random items/equipment found in dungeon
>Equipment has skills/passives attached to them (as long as they have durability)
>Random dungeon/item generation each floor (except tutorial dungeons)
>You can steal equipment from enemies (with a specific item though)
>Traps hidden, and specific gimmicks and zones in dungeons
>Shops in dungeons (theft and punishment system exists)
>Viable "farming/grinding" system within dungeons if you know how each monsters/items work
>Trying to savescum (quitting while in dungeon) makes you lose all your items and money

What makes this an NIS game?
>Level up and have stats in absurd limits
>Reincarnation system through deaths (levels and stats stack up even when you die)
>Challenge mode dungeon for more experienced players
>Upgrade your equipment to absurd levels (do be warned that they can still be lost)
>Combine skills/passives in equipment
>Home area with modifiable facilities (including the NPCs in them)
>Body/Stat modification (based on the equipment you managed to take out of a dungeon and put inside you)
>Multiple endings to the story
>Absurd humor with a bit wholesomeness in the story
>You can replay the story after it ends

I'm pretty sure I've missed other features, but these are the ones I've experience and encountered for now.

Note: If you don't want the Prinny to be your wife, you can always change it to the Medusa or any other creature. Yes. You have a wife and a daughter in the game despite your character probably being very young for it, but they aren't really your wife and daughter, if you catch my drift (;

Other than the issue of not having those extra dungeons available in the game due to clear copyright and trademark issues (those dungeons and items are actual cameos of existing anime IPs), its still a very good and underrated game. Preferable to play on a small window mode honestly, and removing the filter to keep that charming pixel design.

I'm a little disappointed none of the art was scaled up to fit the new resolutions. Without knowing if they even have full resolution versions of all of the illustrations, I don't know if I should be appreciative that they packaged some of them into the art book or annoyed that none of it was used in the game.

Aside from that, my other substantial annoyance with this port is that they didn't add a feature to let you take a break mid dungeon and quit the game. Playing on the PSP or Vita you had the option to put the console in sleep mode if you wanted to put the game down for a bit. I'd rather not leave it running on my PC.

On the whole this is a fine port of a pretty good game. Nostalgia is a big part of the appeal for me, but I could recommend it to anyone interested in this weird little PSP roguelite. It's aged, especially in its humor, but you could tell by looking at it, and I think the age is part of the charm.