Game Details
Price
  • $29.99
Available on
Genre
More details

Hammerin' Hero (PSP)

common sense media says

Comical hero wields mallet in action-packed platformer.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game's hero is full of comic mischief and goes around whacking enemies on the head with a mallet that can be made bigger via a powerup. In defense, enemies do try to kill him first. Hammerin' Hero spins and falls to the ground when he's hit (although there's no blood). There are occasional references to tobacco (cigars) and alcohol (billboards for fake products). The game is supposed to be irreverently funny.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: You help to save the distraught people in the community from an evildoer and his minions. You learn about the hopes and fears of many characters which may teach a player sympathy and empathy.
Violence: You destroy enemies by using a variety of weapons including vinyl records, hammers,baseball bats, and even sushi. Enemies shoot and throw things at you, too.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: There's very occasional use of language like 'pissed.'
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One character smokes a cigar.

More on Hammerin' Hero

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the various jobs Hammerin' Hero takes to get through the game. Which is your favorite job? The baseball player? The record-throwing DJ? Or something else. Why? Which job would you have included that's not in the game? Why?

What's the story?

What's the story?

He's short, stocky, and ready for almost any job. HAMMERIN' HERO, stars Gen, a transformed carpenter who carries a large mallet and loves his bento box sushi. While the game is a fairly short Japanese import rejiggered by Atlus for U.S. audiences, it is a graphically rich 2-D side-scroller. As Gen, you don't just fight against enemies as you take on jobs like a baseball player, DJ, and sushi chef; but you also fight against corporate evil. Your big nemesis is Kuromoku, a mustachioed tycoon, who treats his employees badly and wants to buy all the houses in town for his dastardly plan of domination.

You'll choose one of four levels of difficulty. Gen jumps, hits vertically and horizontally, and can use his bento box food and a combo of buttons to start a power move. You can get Gen's bento box in the kitchen, served by a nervous but ever-affable cook. And Gen can change jobs or locations on the map via the main menu screen. You can also play online coop with a friend through a wireless hub.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Real love must have been used for the graphics which almost seem three-dimensional. Not only can you see a roller coaster zip in the distance while you're battling on a Ferris Wheel, but you'll see expressions change and hear the screams of a couple when you jump on one of the Ferris Wheel's cars. While this side-scroller's story isn't deep or even that understandable, you'll enjoy the variety of jobs. These include a deep sea diver and a baseball player, and with your bat, you can hit enemies into the stands like a home run superstar.

There are a few minor challenges with Hammerin' Hero. Load times are long. Disconcertingly, there's a short lag time between the time when the level loads and when Gen is able to move. Also, sometimes when Gen hits an enemy, he gets killed as well (it really should be one or the other). Although the most enjoyable move is the horizontal smash (which lofts an enemy into the horizon), this move doesn't seem as quick and accurate as the vertical smash. Yet these are minor quibbles to which players can adjust. Overall, the variations on classic platformer gameplay show some undeniable ingenuity that translates into 12 levels of fun.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: PSP
Available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Atlus
Released on: April 7, 2009
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Comic Mischief, Cartoon Violence, Mild Language

This review was written by Harold Goldberg
 
 

Review It

 

Review Hammerin' Hero





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

Most useful reviews by all members

nduns
adult
 
*Sigh* You new-school gamers don't know what you're bashing
Yeah, when looking at the psp, it's only natural most people would want a big rpg or a complex game. Instead, Hammerin' Hero hearkens back to a simpler time where games weren't super-complex and were just simple fun. Everyone complains about how "repetitive" and "boring" the game is, but if you've played a retro game, this will be fun for you. Give it a shot.

Ashala
teen, 17 years old
 
i laghed
he is short stoky and ready for his great or bad job!!!!

Gamerbro
teen, 17 years old
 
Mind numbingly repetitive
See title

Zuko_18
educator and parent of 11 year old
 

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you play Hammerin' Hero?


Already played it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age