Tricycle Hero | DJcube

The most unprecedented tricycle battle race in history!

JP release: 17th July 2003
EU release: N/A
JP release: N/A
Developer: tri-Ace
Publisher: Banpresto
NGC Magazine Score: N/A
AKA: Charinko Hero
Mods Used: Widescreen Hack

Called “Charinko Hero” in Japan. Charinko is often translated to bicycle, however it’s a slang term derived from the sound of a bell on a kids bike, so tricycle is also likely a suitable translation, especially as that’s what you ride in this game. Tricycle Heroes takes characters from Ultraman and Karmen Rider and puts them in little trikes for racing.

The racing is a Kart racer, with items in boxes dotted across the 12 tracks. You also have a boost that you can use at any time as long as it doesn’t overheat. There are also gems you can collect that power your special attacks, which also makes you invulnerable, meaning you can use it for defence, making it difficult for enemies to attack you as you can have multiple defences saved up at once – useful as enemies wait in turns to hit you with special attacks from nowhere near you. Although the worst (which removes your steering and instantly overheats you) has zero warning, so you can’t avoid it.

The game is also very slow, even while boosting and you can talk the brake to turn sharper, many of the tracks have corners that the handling isn’t designed for. The third cup actually had some good tracks, including one that takes place during a monster attack, with the background monsters actually animated instead of the cardboard standees on other levels, with routes getting blocked due to damage on later laps.

I’m not sure if Japanese fans of of the shows would consider the concept of throwing the characters on tricycles to be a fun little joke or an insult, but either way the gameplay should have been better.

Fine

Compared with Mario Kart, this work is focused on delightfulness and cuteness against the speed and exhilaration of Mario Kary. If you understand that it is not necessary to fly like Mario Kart, it is made to enjoy the objects around, obstacles, character movements, etc., you will be able to play without problems.
P A, Amazon JP Customer (Translated)

Remake or remaster?

It’s just a boring kart racer.

Official Ways to get the game

There is no official way to get Tricycle Hero.