HERO_SWORD
HOW YOU USE THE SWORD DETERMINES THE STORY!
HERO_SWORD Figurine box description
HERO_SWORD[1] is a pixelated version of Kris found in The Legend of Tenna and the Original Game. HERO_SWORD is controlled by Kris during the TV Time boards, acting as their stand-in during the minigames.
During the Sword Route, HERO_SWORD is controlled directly by the player.
HERO_SWORD appears identical to Kris's Dark World design, appearing to be a cyan human with navy hair that is wearing silver armor. Due to the lower fidelity, not all details of Kris's appearance are represented, but it is clear they still wear a pink mantle.
HERO_SWORD does not have a visible face, and as such does not appear to show any expressions.
HERO_SWORD, like all other characters in the minigame, does not appear to have any personality, acting as a vessel for the protagonists to play as.
However, at the end of the Sword Route, HERO_SWORD is able to walk out of the game screen and into Kris's world while being controlled by the player. During this timeframe, if HERO_SWORD is directed to approach Kris, or attacks Kris at a close enough distance to make them fall over, they will eventually exit the gaming room of the backstage area of their own volition by heading downward. Bringing them close enough to the right exit of the room has them continue out of the room without any further input.
During Susie's visit, HERO_SWORD can also automatically leave the room for a second time if Kris answers "Of course. Games are fun" to Susie's question, or if they are directed to attack Susie before Kris answers the question.
HERO_SWORD is implied to have visited the S-rank changing room after leaving the gaming room, as a cleaned Rabbick notes it thought it had already seen Kris walk past it earlier.[2]
HERO_SWORD only appears either during the story sections featuring The Legend of Tenna, while playing the Original Game, or during various optional puzzles after beating Tenna's bonus round. In The Legend of Tenna, Kris navigates HERO_SWORD around the world of the Desert Board and the Island Board, along with Susie who controls HERO_AXE and Ralsei who controls HERO_SCARF, solving puzzles to gain access to the end of each round.
As the "Player 1" of their party, HERO_SWORD has unique features such as being able to enter different rooms/underground areas, interact with NPCs/Key Items/Rafts, and trigger battles/quizzes. Abilities that they share with other players include taking damage on the field and collecting POINTs, among other things.
In the Cold Place, HERO_SWORD reappears as a controllable avatar for gaining hints on solving the parental lock room puzzles. Unique to these puzzles is the ability to use HERO_SWORD's sword through the OddController, provided Kris has progressed far enough in the Sword Route. Throughout the greater TV World, HERO_SWORD is one of the four pixelated avatars required for solving video game puzzles to access certain treasure chests. HERO_SWORD retains their ability to push movable objects and plays an integral role in helping Kris obtain Mancountry's Egg.
After booting up the OddController, the SOUL appears at the center of the TV screen as the Desert Board environment and HERO_SWORD load, bar by bar, with the SOUL overlapping with HERO_SWORD as they spawn in. HERO_SWORD is guided to collect the sword and defeat all of the available enemies on this board, increasing their LV to become stronger. This process is repeated for the Island Board and its accompanying Ice Palace, and the City Board and its accompanying manhole dungeon.
While approaching the in-game replica of the shelter, Kris fights against HERO_SWORD's movements, slowing down their progress towards the facility. Despite the resistance, HERO_SWORD eventually reaches the shelter and enters the doors using the Shelter Key. Within, HERO_SWORD fights the Shadow Mantle holder, though damage received not only lowers HERO_SWORD's in-game health, but also physically damages Kris in the Dark World, which can result in a Game Over.
After the Shadow Mantle holder's defeat, on the screen that contains the chest holding the Shadow Mantle, HERO_SWORD walks out of the game screen and into Kris's world. In this state, they can no longer return to the game screen. The player can either guide them towards the gaming room's right exit, have them approach Kris, or have them approach Kris while attempting to attack them. Any of these choices causes HERO_SWORD to automatically leave the gaming room of the backstage area for their first time.
Afterwards, Kris briefly enters the television screen to obtain the Shadow Mantle, then returns to the console to grab their controller again. Susie enters the gaming room and talks to Kris. During her dialogue boxes, the player can non-intuitively control HERO_SWORD via the standard directional controls for movement to bring them back to the room. The [CONFIRM] button advances the dialogue boxes while simultaneously causing HERO_SWORD to attack.
Susie asks Kris if they enjoy this game; if Kris responds "Of course. Games are fun", HERO_SWORD leaves the room of their own accord. Otherwise, responding with "No" has Susie disconnect the controller, destroying HERO_SWORD in the same accompanying animation as a standard death for enemies of the Original Game. Prior to answering Susie's question, HERO_SWORD can be directed to attack Susie, which prompts Kris to swiftly pull her away; afterwards, HERO_SWORD leaves the room.
After completing the Original Game, a Rabbick in the S-rank changing room appears to be scared about something that happened to Ramb. It is also confused to see Kris, thinking that they had passed by earlier,[2] with the implication that it saw HERO_SWORD.
HERO_SWORD striking a pose
HERO_SWORD taking damage
HERO_SWORD sleeping; unused
HERO_SWORD attacking with their sword
A placeholder version of HERO_SWORD's overworld sprite
An unused version of HERO_SWORD when downed
HERO_SWORD figurine by Temmie Chang
- ↑ DELTARUNE - HERO_SWORD Figurine
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(K... Kris!! I was so scared, I couldn't move!! Ramb was.. Ramb was...!)
— Clean Rabbick in the S-rank changing room, Chapter 3
(... wait a second, that's funny. Kris... didn't you already go past?)