A quirky Sega JRPG mixing hero rental agency management with classic combat. Humor lands, writing amuses and the world endears. A genuinely pleasant Sega curiosity.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
Hero Taro Yamada battles monsters by possessing their bodies in this humorous Sega Dreamcast action-RPG. Published by Sega, released in Japan in November 2000. Action-RPG with enemy body possession, exploration of a colourful Tokyo, off-beat humour and exuberant characters. Japanese edition.
Rent a Hero No. 1 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾0,23 GB📅16/11/2000
Published by Sega
Rent a Hero No. 1 (Dreamcast) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
Compare prices
Loading eBay listings…
Alert active — budget
$
Collector interest
Dreamcast remake of a cult action RPG from the Mega Drive era, kept exclusive to Japan despite an English localisation that was completed and then cancelled before release. It is precisely that legend of a phantom Western version that haloes the Japanese edition and feeds its value. Beyond the anecdote, the game embodies the offbeat humour of Sega in that period, and its measured local print makes it a piece sought by lovers of rare Sega RPGs as much as by the curious about aborted-release stories.
An underrated gem
A teenager dons a superhero suit to make ends meet: behind this absurd premise hides an action-RPG brimming with humour and tenderness for everyday Japanese life. Never officially translated and gleefully kitsch, it stayed obscure. Fans of offbeat RPGs and tongue-in-cheek charm will find a genuinely endearing gem.
Is Rent a Hero No. 1 still worth playing in 2026?
A remake of a cult Sega title, Rent a Hero No. 1 follows a neighbourhood do gooder in a contemporary Japan brimming with humour and offbeat situations. The game blends RPG style exploration, fights and an openly parodic tone that is its whole charm. Left unreleased in the West, it suffers from a language barrier, yet its writing and personality stay unique. For someone curious about Sega's overlooked catalogue or a fan of offbeat Japanese adventures, the title keeps a singular charm.
