2009 · Rhythm

D-Pad Hero

Nintendo exclusive

D-Pad Hero is a homebrew for NES based on Guitar Hero.

Released: 2009
Platforms: NES
Genres: Rhythm
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action
Country: United States

About

D-Pad Hero is a 2009 video game demake of the Guitar Hero series developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System. An unofficial release, the game is a ROM which must be dumped onto a cartridge or played via emulator. A sequel, D-Pad Hero 2 was released in 2010.

Keywords

homebrew
retroachievements

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

D-Pad Hero is played as a rhythm game. Notes fall from the top to the bottom of the screen in sync with music. As they reach a threshold players hit buttons on the controller which correspond with the note. If the player hits the correct button sequence at the right moment the guitar track in the song will continue to play.

If the note is missed the guitar track will silence until the player successfully hits a note. This is similar to the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video game series, in which notes appear on a virtual highway which progressively moves lower onto the screen.

Reception

The game received coverage from media outlets. 1UP.com listed it in their 31 Homebrew Games You Must Play feature, and called the game "punishingly hard." In 2009 it was featured in the German magazine Games, Entertainment, Education. Both games were featured again on 1UP.com, who called the sequel "twice as hard".