Rent-A-Hero

About

Rent A Hero is a 1991 action RPG that swaps turn-based battles for real-time 2D combat. You play Taro Yamada, a teenager who accidentally inherits a powered armor suit after ordering pizza. The game blends party-based RPG mechanics with street fighter-style showdowns, where you and three allies trade blows in simultaneous matches. Dialogue and quests lean into slapstick humor, with quirky townsfolk handing off tasks ranging from monster slaying to retrieving lost pets. The Mega Drive version runs on the same engine as Sword of Vermilion but prioritizes chaotic energy over epic scale. The game’s biggest hook is its genre collision, RPG inventory management and character progression intersect with punchy, button-mashing fights. Its oddball charm and dated jokes have earned it a cult following among retro enthusiasts. While critical reception was mixed at launch, modern fans praise its bold mechanics and the absurdity of a hero battling foes in a suit delivered by mistake. With a runtime of around 20 hours, it’s a niche pick for those craving a laugh and a fresh take on 90s RPG design.

Storyline

Taro Yamada lives in the town of Corja in Japan with his mother, eccentric father and younger sister Alyssa; the family moved there after his father changed jobs. He received his Combat Armor by accident during their house-warming party, when he ordered pizza from 'Sensational Cafeteria' or SECA and instead received the Rent-A-Hero suit. After realizing the suit gave him incredible strength and that he is required to pay for the armor, Taro decides to become a hero for hire, performing various heroic tasks and odd-jobs for the townspeople of Corja.