H.E.R.O. Is Back (C64/C128)
A downloadable game
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.
The game runs perfectly on both PAL and NTSC models of the Commodore 64/128.
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.
You can also use the IJKL keys as directional keys and the Left Shift or Right Shift keys as fire button.
History
Version 1.0
- First release.
Version 1.1
- Fixed a graphical glitch that occurred in certain situations.
- Now you can use the keyboard instead of the joystick.
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Comments
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Feature request: support of a 2nd firebutton for dynamite.
Like the hacked version of H.E.R.O.
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=235079
Absolutely stonking game. So much details which are simply like the original, the positioning of Roderick with respect to the walls and the dynamite, the superb hovering mechanics. Happy to donate. Excellent!
HERO is my favourite game EVER, and this is a worthy addition!
I'm so happy to hear how much you appreciate my work and the attention to the details I've put into it, staying as faithful to the original as possible. Thank you for letting me know, and of course, thank you for your donation.
very good game.
Glad you appreciate!
Hey, I hope you don't mind, but I placed your awesome game into the best C64 homebrew games of 2025.
Much appreciated, thank you.
;)
Awesome game! Works amazing on my 128 flat with 1571.
I'm so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know.
Great job. I'm ready for the HERO Metroidvania!
Glad you like it!
Thanks for the game and also the native C128 version - very cool!
I'm glad you like it. I'm waiting for someone to tell me the game runs perfectly on a real C128. Can you confirm this?
I just played the game on a real C128, and it's working fine. Didn't get farther than Level 4 on my first go though but I suppose there's no reason for it to not work all the way!
If I can ask a technical question out of curiosity: does the game 'jump' to C64 mode when it starts loading? The VDC would probably have a hard time with the game compared to the VIC-II :)
Thanks for the confirmation!
Regarding your question, the answer is no. The game always remains in C128 mode; it simply doesn't use the VDC. To be honest, I've only acquired a superficial understanding of the machine, just enough to convert the game to run natively, so I can't tell you more.
Thanks for the answer :) I also can't say I know much of the C128 side which is why I'm always curious to know more!
Hello, in my last issue of Retro News Flash, I covered the game H.E.R.O. is back and ran a short report on it. It's a really great game, I really liked it.
Thanks, I appreciate the video and your consideration!
I would like to request a different sort of game/port. I would very much like to see an effort to re-imagine the original Donkey Kong Arcade game, with Mickey Mouse characters. Since several Mickey shorts are now public domain, you could replace the Mario characters with Mickey ones and create a 100% Free (as in Libre) game without copyright restrictions. Mickey could replace Mario, Pete for Donkey Kong, and Minnie for Pauline. The levels would have to be different, but it's an interesting idea for sure.
You could also do the same for the Mario Bros arcade from 1983. Replace Mario with Mickey, and Luigi with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, an earlier character also made by Walt Disney. The enemies could be the various cartoon animals seen in the shorts, like ducks, pigs, cats, etc. In effect, you could create public domain video games that can be shared freely and customized without restriction. Your ports are very high quality and well-done, and I think if you produced these kinds of games you would be doing the gaming community, and future children, a huge favor.
Your ideas are certainly interesting, but I have so many other projects in mind.
Hey, I hope you don't mind, but I placed your awesome game in my top new games for September 2025.
Thank you for letting me know.
Always a pleasure 😀
Very nice and usual high quality homage to one of the greatest classic games of all time for the C64. The levels are well thought out and really challenging. Our German-language review can be found in our recorded livestream starting at 01:09:05. English subtitles are also available. 🙂
Thank you so much, one more time!
Dont stop making games for c64. This was a superb game!
Thanks for letting me know you appreciate it!
Curious, that looks like you're using the ECM graphics mode? I don't see a lot of games using it
I wanted to keep the game's graphics as faithful as possible to the original version, so yes, that version and this one use ECM.
Recent games using ECM include Quod Init Exit II, Goblin, and Robot Jet Action.
This is brilliant. Joined itch just so I could tell you, and pay you $5. I loved HERO back in the day and you've made it even more entertaining.
I'm glad you appreciate my work, thank you for letting me know. And of course, thanks for the donation!
Great new game. I've also added it to my new video along with other recently released games. Hope you like it.
I had already seen the video, and yes, I like it!
Great Game
Thanks for letting me know.
Gran trabajo, ojala sugas haciendo remake de muchos juegos, tu trabajo es impresionante. Gracias por mantener vivo C64
¡Muchas gracias por apreciar mis trabajos!
H.E.R.O. is one of the best C64 games. It lacks is in terms of variety of its level design, balancing and different mission options.
Sadly H.E.R.O. is back kind of makes similar mistakes. It adds a bunch of new levels, which aren't always fun, because they aren't this well designed, it lacks more variety (or like Dig Dug Revival, nice randomization), it lacks more mission options, it lacks the best of all H.E.R.O. versions (f.e. better steering and explosions).
So, it's nice to have a new H.E.R.O., but it lacks more improvements and some awesomeness.
Many people think exactly the opposite of you. Of course, it's impossible to make everyone happy, I'm sorry.
There is no need to be sorry. I provided feedback, after playing quite some H.E.R.O. versions on various systems.
Thanks for Dig Dug Revival.
In my opinion the levels are designed challenging and exciting most of the times.
Like luznac I also whished for something totally unexpected new. Maybe a moving wall, switches to open secret passages or one or two new monster types.
But all in all I’m happy to see a new H.E.R.O. after 4 decades…😄
Consider the C64 version a port of the PC version, so I couldn't add anything different. HERO Is Back 2 for PC, however, has new features like new enemies or breakable horizontal walls. If there's ever a port of HERO Is Back 2 for C64, it should have those features. Levers or secret passages could be added to HERO Is Back 3, but it's unlikely it'll ever happen. To be honest, I don't even know if I'll produce any more work for the C64. After the long break I've decided to take, I'll make the necessary considerations.
Your fans need you! And hearing from a possible H.E.R.O. Is Back 3 makes it even more exciting! 😄
Your game is the only one that plays like the original game, so I consider you a magician 😎
I like it a lot. The control feels equal to the original and the new levels, more extended and with multiple paths, gives to the game something new and special. The only thing is that is difficult. Level 7 particularly with the open/close walls is extremely difficult, for me, to pass without loose a life. Is pixel perfect.
Anyway, great job
First of all, thank you for appreciating my work.
As far as I'm concerned, the opening/closing walls are passable with a certain amount of practice and attention. You certainly need to have mastered flying, and the best thing to do is to position yourself exactly in the center of the passage. However, there's a method that makes the passage quite easy, the same method you can use in the original game. I thought everyone who'd played the original version would know this "trick," but apparently not. I don't want to spoil the fun of figuring it out for yourself; perhaps you might find it by watching some gameplay of the original game on YouTube. Otherwise, if you really can't figure it out, I can explain it to you directly.
I improve a lot. Still in level 11 but improving. i have revisited the 1984 version and now it seems super easy ;)
Very good, keep it up!
For the nostalgics, here's the longplay. The higher levels are quite tough, but still a very nice old-school release.
I admit that the later levels are quite challenging, but I myself completed the game in about an hour and five minutes, in NTSC mode which is harder, and with five lives left.
Thanks for the video.
Thank you for this amazing game and work! I love LC-Games! Saludos!
I'm happy to receive so many positive comments, thank you!
Luca you're a legend! I'm so happy!, I knew you were going to do this when you mentioned that you were working on a 80's classic and then you are going to take a rest?. Well you deserve a rest mate, the last few years you have made some classic games . Luca, you will go down as a legend of the C64! Please have a rest then let's have HERO 2! many thanks Luca.
Thanks for the kind words!
Yes, I'm taking a long break now, but honestly, I don't know if I'll start programming C64 games again or something else. It all remains to be seen.
After playing a while I noticed that because of PAL it's slower than the PC version - and it's much much easier because of this! So I switched the C64 to NTSC and it feels a lot more challenging like the PC version! But sounds are also much faster in NTSC mode, would be nice if the sounds can be the same speed as in PAL. Maybe there should be a witch PAL/NTSC in the options...
It's strange that you say the game is slower on the PAL C64 version (and therefore easier?) than the PC version. I remember well that when I programmed the PC version, I calculated all the timings based exactly on the PAL C64 version. In fact, I used a stopwatch to time how long it took me to complete the first level, both on the PC and PAL C64 versions, and the time is practically the same. I should add that I won't provide any option to "align" the game and sounds speeds between PAL and NTSC, so everything is exactly like the original game.
Must be something in the Emulator I tried with. This afternoon I installed H.E.R.O. Is Back in my MiSTer and now speed is the same as the PC version. Weird.
I also tried the original H.E.R.O. In NTSC mode on MiSTer and the sounds are faster there, too. It looks like there was never a NTSC/PAL fix for that game. Maybe it would be nice for all NTSC users to have the same experience…
I'm so grateful of your stunning work ! This is a revival and upgraded version of my favorite game on C64, ColecoVision & Atari XL. Again Many thanks for this great stuff!
I'm glad you like this version. I put a lot of effort and dedication into keeping the feel of the original game as intact as possible.
My wish has been fulfilled! \o/
5 years ago, when you published the PC version, I encouraged you to do a real C64 version... and now you did! Many thanks!
Actually, yours wasn't the only request; in fact, there were several, so I couldn't help but fulfill it.
Thank you for this, here is my tribute...
Thanks again. You know how much I appreciate your contributions.
Hooray! 😄
And the graphics were always good - I like that style very much!
Well, I'm very glad you appreciate my effort to make this version graphically like the original.
Thank you! H.E.R.O. Is Back (2025, LC-Games)
Thanks for sharing this version of the game.
Well, regarding the game... I always thought the graphics were crap, even back in the day lol, so.. it's not really my thing, never played it more than once or twice, I was more of a Bubble Bobble, Green Beret, Midnight Resistance & IK+ player.
As for the game, I rate it 6.5/10 at best, an average yet quite ugly console romp (man, those graphics are ruff... I'm too spoiled by new titles like Puzzle Bobble, SNK vs CAPCOM, Pig's Quest, etc. I'm a graphics guy, so a game must look good to me and this game simply doesn't.)
I completely understand your point and I agree with you to a certain extent, but I wanted to pay homage to a game that for many represents a part of the history of the C64, so I wanted to perfectly recreate the graphics and sounds for the most die-hard nostalgics, also because this game was requested by many people, the most requested game in fact.
Yes, it's a historic title so people expect it too look the part. Surprising so many people wanted this, I would have easily picked something else but it's all good, I made a cover for it as well, it's a nice classic after all.
Update: I just found out you made a H.E.R.O. 2 version for PC which already has better graphics, which is quite cool. Maybe that version is coming to C64 too one day... :)
HERO is Back 2 for PC would be technically challenging to port to the C64, unless you gave up the scrolling. In any case, I'm taking a long break now, after which I'll decide whether to continue programming C64 games or pursue something else.
Good to know. Take a break, you certainly own it. I'm gonna miss ports like Lock n' Chase, Bagman & Dig Dug Revival but you already made a lot so thanks for all the work. Enjoy your time off.
Aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesome game! Plays like the original back in the days! Superb! You know what people are waiting for now :P
Thank you so much for appreciating my work, I'm so happy about it.
Wow! 😮 This is mind blowing! Of all the games you could have picked from, you chose H.E.R.O.!👍 Any chance you'll please consider building a native version for the Commodore 128, too? It doesn't have to have any extra features or anything - just being able to start H.E.R.O. straight from the C128 natively would be a massive feature all in itself - and a huge gesture of goodwill to the C128 community and its humble little library of games ❤️.
Thank you for appreciating my work!
I honestly have no idea how the game could be made native for the C128. When I have time, I'll look into it, but I can't promise anything.
Thank you very much for even considering it - I'm of course not talking anything for granted, but very much crossing my fingers! 👍 Perhaps Copilot, Gemini or ChatGPT can give some additional help on how to assemble the code for the C128. Hoping for the best! ❤️
I did it! It took several days of study and work, but I finally made your wish come true. I hope you and the C128 community will be grateful. 😉
Wait what? You actually built a version for the C128?! Sweet Christmas! 😮 Thank you so much - I'll definitely check it out and tell the community members about it! 😮
If so, let me know if it works, because I've only tested it on the VICE, not having a real C128. To be honest, I don't even own a real C64, at least not yet.
Luca, congratulations on your new game. I'm glued to it. Wonderful work on the new caves. They feel great and a bit more complex. Climbing through tunnels is used more, which wasn't as exploited in the original. I'm truly amazed, and as always, you're one of my favorite C64 coders.👌👾🕹️
Thank you so much for your consideration of me and my work, it really makes me happy.
Thanks to you for your great games, here I am trying to get past level 5 😂, it gets difficult but it's what I would expect from a good game, the good thing is that you included the loading system every 5 levels, by the way, are there 20 levels like in the original?
Yes, this version also contains 20 levels like the original, but they are significantly longer and more complex. I personally completed the game in an hour and five minutes, but I was emulating an NTSC model, which is faster. I think a less experienced and fast player on a PAL model could complete it in an hour and a half or more. Levels are unlocked for "practice" by completing blocks of four levels, but only by playing an actual game.
Thanks for responding Luca, the game is great and yes, it is much more complex and longer than the original, but that's the good thing about this version, it feels like other games with the same graphics and mechanics.
Awesome game. Thanks for all your hard work and the joy you brought to the community by making it. I truly appreciate every line of code and every minute you put into this. Respect and glory to you :)
And I appreciate the comments of people like you who understand how much time, passion, and dedication goes into creating such a work, while there are people who simply despise it, but it's better not to talk about that.
Great game, thanks.
Thanks for your contribution.
Ciao Luca. Ottimo lavoro. Senti, volevo scambiare 2 parole per una intervista su GamesReplay. Cosa ne dici ? Hai voglia ?
Va bene. Ti anticipo comunque che questa è stata, almeno per il momento, la mia ultima fatica per C64. Ora mi prendo una lunga pausa, dopo di che, chissà. Scrivimi pure all'indirizzo email che trovi nei crediti di qualunque mio gioco.
OK, procedo ! Grazie... allora a dopo !!!
Awesome Luca ! Lots of thanks.
Thank you for appreciating and for the video.
Great homage to HERO! Excellent game!!
Very glad to hear that!
Old-school game 💪😁
Thanks for the video.
Awesome game!
Thanks for all your contributions.