H.E.R.O.

aka: H.E.R.O.: Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operation, Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operation
Moby ID: 10150
Commodore 64 Specs
Conversion (unofficial) Included in See Also

Description official descriptions

There is trouble in the mines! Volcanic activity has trapped numerous miners, and it is your job to save them. As Roderick Hero, you need to make your way through the dangerous mineshaft avoiding the dangerous creatures and lava, and find out where the miners are located before you run out of energy. To help on your mission, Roderick Hero has several useful types of equipment. A prop pack will allow you to hover and fly around the mineshaft and (hopefully) avoid the many dangers within. Your helmet features a short-range microlaser beam which can be used to destroy the bats, spiders, snakes, and other creatures you'll encounter in the mines. From time to time, your path through the mine may be blocked by stone or lava walls. You begin each mission with six sticks of dynamite which can be used to destroy these obstacles (be careful you don't blow yourself up, though!). If you run out of dynamite, your laser beam can also be used to destroy the walls, though this will take longer and use up more energy. As the levels progress, the mine shaft will become longer and more maze-like, creatures will more frequently block the path, and lava walls and pools will appear which are dangerous to the touch.

Spellings

  • HERO - Common spelling
  • ヒーロー - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Commodore 64 version)

Programmer
Cover Artwork by

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 80% (based on 17 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 119 ratings with 2 reviews)

Probably the best MSX game ever!

The Good
H.E.R.O. is one of the best games on the Atari 2600 and the MSX conversion done by Softworks is even better! You play as Roderick Hero, who has an advanced rescue equipment such as a backpack that allows you to fly through the mine's tunnels, some dynamite to blow up walls of rocks and a powerful laser beam, to kill some nasty creatures along the way, with enough power to blast walls as well in case you run out of TNT. Your objective is to rescue all of the trapped miners down there. But be careful to not break light bulbs on the way otherwise you will have to walk in the dark. And remember not to get too close to the dynamite or lava walls. The graphics and sound effects are great and detailed. H.E.R.O. is an awesome classic action game for the MSX.

The Bad
There is no background music during gameplay, only sound effects. This makes it one of the most silent games I've played.

The Bottom Line
H.E.R.O. has great graphics, nice sound effects and addictive gameplay. The controls are simple, yet hard to master in the beginning and the lack of music is not a big deal because the game is really entertaining. A true MSX classic and a 'must-have'.

MSX · by rcoltrane (1737) · 2010

Another Activision classic

The Good
H.E.R.O. is one of the most remarkable games on the Atari 2600. You are basically an anonymous hero with a propeller-driven backpack that allows you to fly through mines where you have to save the workers trapped down there. On the way you have to avoid dangers like snakes, bats, spiders and even light switches. But you have the ability to shoot laser out of your helmet and you're equipped with TNT explosives to clear blocking walls. Just remember not to get too close to the dynamite. The graphics in this game are impressive to say the least. Everything is detailed nicely and the game has a unique atmosphere and feeling to it. If you hit one of the aforementioned light switches, everything goes dark, only lit by you dynamite, giving the game a sense of dread as well. H.E.R.O. is a gorgeous game for the good old VCS.

The Bad
The only things I can complain about are the controls, which really take time to master. They aren't very responsive and often I find myself losing because of the slow controls. I guess they are supposed to be realistic, as it gives your propeller time to start up before you fly but overall, I wish the controls were more responsive. The game also has very sparse sound. There is no music, not even a theme song, and there are only a few sound effects, making it one of the most silent games I've played.

The Bottom Line
H.E.R.O. has some eye-watering graphics for its time and considering the system it was made for and a great concept. Though poor unresponsive controls makes it hard to master in the beginning, and the lack of sound and music makes it way too silent.

Atari 2600 · by x0n1c64 (12) · 2009

Trivia

1001 Video Games

H.E.R.O. appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Activision patch

Players who were able to rack up 75,000 points or higher were eligible to receive the "Order of the H.E.R.O." patch from Activision if they sent in a screenshot to the company. Here is a picture of that patch at AtariAge.

Awards

  • Retro Gamer Magazine
    • (Issue 46) - named #2 on the “Top 25 Atari 2600” Games poll* Zzap!
    • May 1985 (Issue 1) - #12 It's the Zzap! 64 Top 64! Information also contributed by PCGamer77

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Related Sites +

  • Game Map
    A screenshot map of the game
  • Video review of H.E.R.O..
    YouTube reviewer Metal Jesus reviews H.E.R.O. for Atari 2600. He mentions other ports and shows a bit of the Commodore 64 port but the review is for the original Atari 2600 port.

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 10150
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Servo.

SG-1000 added by Andrew Fisher. Atari 5200 added by RKL. Windows, Xbox 360 added by Alaka. MSX added by Martin Smith. Atari 8-bit added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: Shoddyan, Guy Chapman, formercontrib, LepricahnsGold, Karsa Orlong, FatherJack, robMSX.

Game added August 26, 2003. Last modified March 12, 2024.