HERO Is Back
arcade platform game for Commodore 64, 2025
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This game is a homage to H.E.R.O. from John Van Ryzin, published by Activision
in 1984.
This version contains 20 completely new levels.
Introduction
The hardworking miners of Mount Leone have been locked in the cave system
through sudden volcanic activities.
Our hero Roderick Hero now starts for the search of the missing persons with
his special equipment (backpack helicopter, integrated helmet laser and
dynamite).
After a successful rescue, the player reaches the next level.
Power
The energy is filled up at the start of every level. When the full energy is
used up, the player loses a life and starts again at the beginning of the
level.
Dynamite
The pits spread far vertically and horizontally into the interior of the
mountain. Sometimes walls, which Rod needs to blow away with dynamite, block
the way. At the beginning of every level, the player gets 6 sticks of
dynamite. After the ignition, Rod must move away fast or else he will lose a
life.
Laser beam
The player can use the laser to kill the enemies. The laser can also be used
in place of dymanite to evaporate a wall, though this method takes about 10
seconds.
Enemies
In the pits lurk different creatures such as spiders, bats, poisonous moths or
snakes. At some rivers, an invincible, hungry sea monster appears, constantly
following our hero. Some walls that contain magma sediments glow red and must
not be touched.
Lanterns
Lanterns light the dark pits. A shot or a touch is enough and the light goes
out forever.
Raft
A heat resistent raft can be used at some places to cross the magma river.
Scoring
Points will be awarded according to the following table:
50 Shooting an enemy
50 For every dynamite stick left at the end of a level
75 Removing a wall
1000 Rescuing a miner
The player will also earn extra points based on the power remaining at the end
of a level.
Every 20000 points, the player earns an extra life, for a maximum of 9 lives.
Options
Every four levels you complete during an actual game, the next four levels are
unlocked allowing you to practice them. Go to "PLAY LEVELS XX-XX" on the
title screen and move the joystick left or right to select the block of four
levels you want to practice, then press fire.
Controls
Joystick left/right Move Hero left/right
Joystick up Go upwards
Joystick down Ignite dynamite stick
Fire button Laser beam in direction of sight
F7 Pause
F1 Stop game and return to title screen
F1 Reset ranking (while the top scores are displayed)
Joystick in port 2.
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Some useful keyboard shortcuts
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[PAUSE] - stop/continue game
[F9] - quick load game state
[F12] - quick save game state (still stored after leaving the site)
[F11] - toggle fullscreen mode
[ScrollLock] - quick switch control ports
[PageDown] - make a screenshot (320x200)