Atari 2600

H.E.R.O.

I don’t remember much about my junior high days (1997-1990) except bad hair and being mad at people a lot, but I DO remember that my favorite stress buster was this game featuring the exploits of one Roderick Hero. His mission: to rescue stranded miners before the lava at the bottom rises up and deep-fries them all (guess they shouldn’t have dug down so far, huh.) His equipment: a propeller backpack, a laser gun, and several sticks of dynamite, though I much prefer the gear he has on the cartridge label and the instruction manual: toothbrush, razor, scissors, and probably the kitchen sink in his back pocket. A shooting game that also pokes fun at the over equipped spy/action hero thing: I like it.

HERO is undoubtedly the tastiest non-sandwich, sandwich-named game available for the Atari 2600. It was the one game that my friends couldn’t believe they were playing on the 2600 because it was (you newbies stifle your laughter) so “advanced.” So advanced that even versions for the 5200 and ColecoVision were almost identical to the original 2600 version. John Van Ryzin, did you ever know that you’re my (2600) HEROhhhhhhhhhhh? Iiiiiiiiiiiiii will alwaaaays love playing HEROhhhhhhhhhhhh on my VCS…

The stages are thoughtfully designed but repetitive in appearance. Although not as memorable as Pitfall, H.E.R.O.'s sharp graphics and interesting stages make it worth a try.