Class of Heroes 3 Remaster review

Class of Heroes is a long-running dungeon-crawling RPG series that first appeared on the PlayStation Portable. While the franchise foundations can be traced back to Wizardry, developer Zero Div ditched dark fantasy for the allures of moe. As such, it’s not surprising that Heroes gained a niche following over the years. And while some would appreciate the rich character customization and engaging dungeon exploration, old-school, patience-testing mechanics would restrain the game’s popularity. But if you’re reading this, there’s a strong chance that gotten your ass kicked in a dungeon before and you’re interested in another beating.

One of the appeals of Class of Heroes 3 Remaster is rooted in the game’s role-playing systems, which allow for plenty of customization. Initially, you’ll select from a trio of starting schools. While the game is deliberately coy about your selection, the decision determines everything from character uniforms, instructor access, quest selection, and even the exposition. In the original, experimentation and replayability was rooted in distinct attributes, affinities, and growth paths. With the new starting school selection, this has been amplified even more.

School Spirit for The Tsundere Class? 

Sticking to tradition, you’ll create an adventuring party from numerous races and classes. Sure, character creation can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but the granular approach allows you to craft some solid party synergies. Another of Remaster’s changes is the inclusion of a relationship system that offers bonuses based on the strength of character bonds. Sure, the stat advantages aren’t going to completely tame Heroes’ harshness. But they will provide a helpful incentive to chase after.

That said, it’s also possible to build a team of doomed dungeoneers, but discovery is part of the fun. Much like the first two Heroes titles, Class of Heroes 3 is less about storytelling with pre-written personalities. Instead, it’s more about drafting your own adventurers and overseeing their growth, so make sure you don’t mind a bit of old-fashioned grinding.

Classic Dungeon Crawling Preserved

Exploration employs first-person perspective, as you navigate expansive labyrinths that recall the tribulations found in classic dungeon RPGs. Everything from traps, hidden switches, and meandering layouts are all designed to test your perseverance and occasionally, your patience. Wisely, the remaster doesn’t simplify the labyrinths preserving Class of Heroes 3’s level of challenge.

However, mapping tools help cut down on the tedium, making navigation less frustrating. There’s a thrill of inching deeper into enemy-packed lairs. And while Class of Heroes 3 can feel dated at times, the design decision of providing a drip feed of diminutive rewards is timeless. Just know that random battles are frequent and punishing, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation before each descent.

Bruising Battles with a Kinder Interface

Combat builds on the turn-based system familiar to DRPG fans. Party positioning remains critical, with frontline fighters shielding your vulnerable spellcasters while ranged characters provide support from the back. Enemy encounters are habitually grueling, with specific weaknesses that must be exploited. And expectedly, careless mistakes can turn into full-party wipeouts.

Remaster enhances readability with clearer menus, faster animations, and more intuitive controls. Effectively, the revision reduces a few irritations while preserving the pacing and prickliness of the original game. If you appreciate a hearty challenge, the tough battles keep things tense, but repetition can cause fatigue across longer play sessions.

A Proficient PSP Port

Largely, Class of Heroes 3 Remaster’s visual aim for a balance between charm and simplicity. Character portraits and enemy designs have been cleaned up, looking sharper on contemporary monitors and handheld screens. Meanwhile, dungeon environments also demonstrate increased fidelity. The result looks more serviceable than stunning, but this is definitely one of the better-looking PSP ports. Beyond crisper visuals and clearer sound, loading times are shorter, which is an essential improvement.

Woefully, Class of Heroes 3 never received stateside localization, making this a welcome entry for series fans. For better or worse, this is a faithful port, that doesn’t try to mask the franchise’s reluctance to evolve, with plenty of grinding and penalties for irrational decisions. Yet for traditionalists, it’s an appreciated preservation of one of the deepest entries in the franchise.

Class of Heroes 3 Remaster was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.