[PAX East 14] Not A Hero Preview: Quick Fire

roll7 is best known for the PlayStation Vita game OlliOlli, but they’re already hard at work at their next project, Not A Hero, and I was able to play their latest build. Players take on the role of Steve, a mercenary hired by the evil BunnyLord to take out the other mayoral candidates in his quest to become mayor of the city. The 2D shooter is immediately reminiscent of the cover and shoot scenarios in movies, but its fast pace brings out another element that really tests the reflexes.

Its controls are unique compared to most 2D games, with the arrow keys being the only familiar controls to move the Steve. The Z, X, and Space keys are the other controls, which allow Steve to hide, shoot, and reload, respectively. It’s a very interesting combination, but they feel right for a game that is so fast-paced. Reloading is a unique game in itself because reloading in the middle of firefight causes multiple enemies to swarm the player. Pressing Space as fast as possible allows for a quick reload and hopefully to stave off the enemies. He also has the ability to jump from floor to floor by breaking through glass walls, showing further evidence of the influence of 1990s gung-ho action films.

Steve can also pick up different weapons from enemies. These range from a simple pistol to a powerful shotgun. Each one provides a new strategy, especially with the different amount of ammunition. Special weapons are also abound and can be activated with the C button. They range from the usual explosives such as grenades and mines, but they can also be ridiculous such as cat that walks up to the enemy and blows up. It’s a funny addition to an intense game, but the laughter can be short-lived when every enemy is out to kill you.

In addition to Steve, there are other playable characters that bring their own unique set of skills and weapons in the game. Cletus has a powerful shotgun that can blow off doors and Jesus is agile and has the ability to slide and shoot at the same time. roll7’s John Ribbins said that more characters are coming soon in development, allowing for multiple playthroughs of the game.

At the moment Not A Hero is in its alpha stages, and no release date has been announced for it yet. Ribbins said that the feedback from some people was to make the game easier, but that shouldn’t be the case. The speed of combat brings back memories of Hotline Miami. Both of these games require a lot of trial and error to get through each level and finishing a level in either game is very satisfying. To just shoot at enemies is one thing, but to be able to know when to reload at the right time and take out a building full of enemies with a classic throwback to the cover and shoot mechanic is what makes Not A Hero really interesting to play. roll7 has a long road ahead to finish developing the game, but Not A Hero has the opportunity to further raise their profile among indie games.