World Heroes

"Then a hero comes along..."

Looking back, it probably seemed like a good idea at the time. A great idea, in fact. A time machine isn't just some random invention; it can forever revolutionize the human race's existence. Just think of the possibilities. Going back in time to alter history, traveling into the future to make new discoveries and find greater insights…There are so many great and terrible things that can be done with such a device. Professor Brown, in the meantime, has completely squandered his invention. Rather than using his knowledge and technology to benefit mankind, he's come up with something far more idiotic (albeit entertaining): a martial arts tournament that spans across the centuries. Never mind the possible consequences of the world's finest slaughtering each other; this is about crowning the greatest fighter to ever live, history be damned.

At least, that's what is supposed to happen. These people may look like they're the legendary heroes of their times, but it's a little hard to take them seriously. Take Rasputin, for example. His skills with magic and sorcery are without peer, and mentioning his name should leave Russian children quivering in fear. This time, however, he can be seen prancing around his bell tower stage, twirling his robes and summoning rose bushes. J. Carn may look like a fearsome incarnation of the infamous Genghis Kahn, but his pudgy body and steel gauntlets make him look like an overweight Wolverine cosplayer. Then there's Dragon, an obvious homage to Bruce Lee (because there can never be enough Bruce Lee wannabes) whose high-pitched attack screams and fast attacks can leave you reeling. That's aside poorly rendered clones or Joan of Ark, Hulk Hogan, the T-1000 clone, or the pair of generic ninjas. They may not seem like an impressive bunch, but at least they're not Street Fighter II clones, right?

…Right?

Well, it's not like they're complete copies. More like iterations and combinations of the same designs. Take Brocken, for example. His background as a German officer from World War II gives him the excuse to wear the same uniform as M. Bison, but his extendable limbs, fiery projectiles, and slow jumping speed make him seem like a mangled version of Dhalsim. Despite being legendary warriors, Hanzo and Fuuma have the same color schemes as Ryu and Ken, as well as similar movesets. There may not be any Hadokens or Shoryukens being slung here, but there are some remarkably similar (but much more flashy) maneuvers that operate in identical ways. Though Dragon may seem like Fei Long based on his design, his multi-handed rush attacks make him come off as a leaner version of E. Honda. Taken such things into consideration, one has to wonder just how significant of an impact Capcom's work had on this SNK series.

The similarities end with the special moves, however. The basic combat of World Heroes is so watered down and broken that Capcom's influence is almost unrecognizable. Rather than designating separate buttons mapped to punches and kicks with different strengths, the game forces you to choose between performing light and strong attacks by either tapping or pressing the correct buttons respectively. That shouldn't be a problem, but the occasionally sluggish controls can end up with the game misreading your commands. The infuriatingly slow pace and laggy moves are both a hindrance and exploitable; you can decimate your foes by connecting attacks before their animation frames catch up with the damage. That's on top of the utterly broken and overpowered grabs at your disposal; if the guaranteed combos aren't enough to win your battles, then clutching your foe a quarter of a screen away certainly will. If anything, success will involve you walking close enough to your foe, button mashing, and praying that he or she doesn't block anything.

The game tries to make things up to you by including an optional Death Match mode. Rather than forcing you through the standard gauntlet of badly rendered historical figures, the game lets you dish out the punishment in a series of specialized arenas. Want to punish Muscle Power for his poor Hulk Hogan impersonation? Rather than smashing him into the wrestling ring canvas, shove him into the nearest rope lines and watch him get fried by fire or electricity. Or if you prefer something a little messier, than the oil-slicked rings ought to provide some hilarity. The problem wit h Death Match mode is that it barely expands on the basic gameplay besides the extra effects; seeing your bitter rivals engulfed in flames may seem funny the first few times, but given the fact that you can perform an extra combos or attacks, it'll get old fast. Instead of a hardcore fighting contest, it just becomes a competition to see who can smash each other into the walls the most. It won't take long before you're back in the main arcade mode, suffering through yet another series of bland battles.

What the game lacks in substance, it tries to make up with style. Considering the time of its release, World Heroes looks hallways decent. The stages are far more active and dynamic than those of their Capcom rivals. If you fight Dragon long enough, the kung fu students standing in the background will stop practicing and watch you battle. Though Jeanne belongs on some battlefield in medieval France, the clowns, lions, and the rest of the traveling circus in her stage perform as the fights go on. While Rasputin may come off as a being a creepy-looking transvestite hippy, there are few things more awesome than facing him in his clock tower, complete with clanking machinery and gargantuan bells. The characters themselves, however, didn't get quite as good of a treatment. Their animations are slow-paced and wooden; not as bad as Violence Fight or its kin, but close. The pixilated sprites and bland costume designs don't help much either. Despite this, the characters do have a little personality; though Hanzo can perform what are essentially glorified Shoryukens, the spiraling blue flames that come with it are all his own. The same could be said for the characters' win quotes, most of of which are nothing but incomplete Engrish sentences.

It was an interesting idea. Pitting history's greatest warriors against each other is far cooler than what Capcom had going at the time. Who wouldn't want to play as Rasputin, Hulk Hogan, or Joan of Ark (even if they are just a bunch of cartoon wannabes)? Traveling through time, experiencing the battles, and living through the history that shaped our worlds. Not to mention challenging a boss right out of Terminator 2, which is one of the most appealing aspect of all. There are some great ideas…on paper, anyway. Making such a concept work with actual gameplay, however, is another story. The ridiculously slow and simplistic combat mechanics, sluggish controls, and utterly abusable strategies kill much of the game's entertainment value. The undeniable similarities to Street Fighter II don't help things, either. The Death Match option might sound awesome, but it is far too underdeveloped to be worth playing. So the mishmash of graphics and animation quality saves the game from being completely dull. Big deal. There are far better designed and balanced fighting games out there for you to play. These heroes are the ones that need saving.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 04/14/08

Game Release: World Heroes (US, 09/11/92)