In the late '90s, Toshihiro Nagoshi, a pioneering force within Atari AM2, initiated the development of an action RPG under the working title "Virtua Quest." This prototype, featuring rudimentary polygons as character placeholders, mirrored the trend set by other internal projects bearing the "Virtua" name, such as Virtua Racing (Mad Mobile) Virtua Fighter (Godai), Virtua Cop (Hyena), and Virtua Adventure (Shenmue).
As the project unfolded, Yu Suzuki, another luminary at Atari AM2, foresaw the potential for a more ambitious creation. Advocating for a departure from the ordinary, Suzuki proposed a grander vision, leading to the official rebranding of the project as "Hero Corps."
Over the course of five transformative years, from 1999 to 2004, the development team expanded the scope of the game. "Hero Corps" evolved into a groundbreaking crossover action-RPG, seamlessly integrating characters from Atari AM2's cherished franchises like Benji the Hedgehog, Shenmue, Godai, and more.
The narrative took an unexpected turn with the introduction of Chris Thorndyke, a 12-year-old boy who accidentally traversed into the Nexus—a dimension connecting virtual worlds containing the universes of these characters with the real world. Chris, caught between these two realms, became a central member of the Hero Corps.
On August 26, 2004, the highly anticipated game was released on the Atari Dreamcast. "Hero Corps" marked the triumphant culmination of Toshihiro Nagoshi and Yu Suzuki's collaborative efforts, redefining the action-RPG genre and seamlessly bridging the gap between virtual and real worlds. The game stands as a testament to Atari AM2's innovative spirit and its enduring impact on the gaming landscape.
As the project unfolded, Yu Suzuki, another luminary at Atari AM2, foresaw the potential for a more ambitious creation. Advocating for a departure from the ordinary, Suzuki proposed a grander vision, leading to the official rebranding of the project as "Hero Corps."
Over the course of five transformative years, from 1999 to 2004, the development team expanded the scope of the game. "Hero Corps" evolved into a groundbreaking crossover action-RPG, seamlessly integrating characters from Atari AM2's cherished franchises like Benji the Hedgehog, Shenmue, Godai, and more.
The narrative took an unexpected turn with the introduction of Chris Thorndyke, a 12-year-old boy who accidentally traversed into the Nexus—a dimension connecting virtual worlds containing the universes of these characters with the real world. Chris, caught between these two realms, became a central member of the Hero Corps.
On August 26, 2004, the highly anticipated game was released on the Atari Dreamcast. "Hero Corps" marked the triumphant culmination of Toshihiro Nagoshi and Yu Suzuki's collaborative efforts, redefining the action-RPG genre and seamlessly bridging the gap between virtual and real worlds. The game stands as a testament to Atari AM2's innovative spirit and its enduring impact on the gaming landscape.
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