Playing Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition feels like taking a step back to the 1990s in all the best and, unfortunately, worst ways.
While Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition was not released until 2010, it was already mechanically outdated at launch, even though many JRPGs adopted 3D visuals and visually and mechanically impressive turn-based combat mechanics since the 1990s, and choosing to launch a title in 2010 that would have looked outdated in 1998 was certainly a bold move, albeit one that didn’t pay off in 2010, and certainly doesn’t in 2024.
Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition’s turn-based combat mechanic is very similar to systems used in far too many RPG Maker Engine games; while it does serve its purpose and allow players to level up their characters, it is not going to appeal to many people who were not already a fan of similar combat mechanics.
Image credit Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition - Published by PQube and developed by Zerodiv.
Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t hate it, and the combat UI was much cleaner and less cluttered than the one from Class of Heroes: Anniversary Edition, as while it was bland, it was perfectly functional. However, I am fast approaching 40 years old and enjoyed games that used similar systems back when they were still fresh, so there is an element of nostalgia at play, something that younger gamers or those who didn’t play JRPG in the 1990s and early 2000s would have to fall back on.
Image credit Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition - Published by PQube and developed by Zerodiv.
Mechanics aside, Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is a really nice-looking game with gorgeous HD 2D visuals and sprites, making it a real joy to play for fans of traditional JRPGS who place more emphasis on character aesthetics and freedom of stat allocation than they do on engaging or modern gameplay, as we have already covered, Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition looks great, but mechanically is rather bland, and it is far more grindy than most modern gamers have a taste or tolerance for.
Image credit Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition - Published by PQube and developed by Zerodiv.
A JRPG lives or dies on the strength of its narrative and dialogue, and honestly, Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is not that bad; while the dialogue is occasionally cringy and, once in a while, unpalatable to modern audiences, especially in the way it occasionally portrays minorities and (assumably) LGBT characters in a stereotypically offensive manner, especially when it comes to the portrayal of queer coded characters such as Big Fairy Man, something which I find immensely distasteful as a Christian, considering Jesus Christ commanded us to love people, even if we disagree with them, a statement which robs conservatives of any right to claim divine approval for their bigotry when it comes to dealing with people they view as “enemies of God”.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48
Overall, Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition’s lacklustre narrative serves its purpose, and as far as JPRGs from the era go, it’s a decent narrative, even if it is rather forgettable.
Image credit Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition - Published by PQube and developed by Zerodiv.
Finally, the bread and butter of every JRPG is its combat system, and Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition’s combat system is no exception; unfortunately, it is also unexceptional. While it works and is occasionally fun, for the most part, it offers very little beyond what is possible in an unmodded RPG Maker Engine game.
While part of why I feel this way is because newer games have more impressive combat systems, I must counter that many games older than Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition also had much better combat systems, and while Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition’s turn-based combat mechanics are functional, they are rather boring, and due to the repetitive nature of Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition’s gameplay and excessive grind required to level up, players will be forced to engage with it far longer than a system of this lacklustre calibre warrants.
Image credit Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition - Published by PQube and developed by Zerodiv.
Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is a role playing game video game developed by Zerodiv and published by PQube, it was released on 26 April 2024 and retails for $19.99.
Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, and Playstation 5.
The following peripherals are officially supported:
Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is rated PEGI 12+ and contains:
Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is a pretty good game that is an improvement over Class of Heroes Anniversary Edtion which long-time fans of the RPG genre will enjoy; however, it is very much a relic of simpler times and, as a result, is unlikely to appeal to gamers who do not already have an established interest in the franchise, or a fondness for the late 1990s roleplaying games, which is very much the era that inspired the game, despite it not releasing until 2010 on the PlayStation 3.
Overall, Class of Heroes 2G: Remaster Edition is a decent but far from unmissable title that will not hold the attention of gamers who are used to more complex RPG mechanics and more user-friendly user interfaces for very long.
