Is H.E.R.O. on Steam?

No. H.E.R.O. is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.

What platforms is H.E.R.O. on?

H.E.R.O. is available on ColecoVision, SG-1000, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Apple II, MSX, Atari 5200, Commodore 64.

When did H.E.R.O. release?

H.E.R.O. was first released on March 30, 1984.

H.E.R.O.

Mar 30, 1984PlatformArcadeColecoVisionSG-1000Atari 2600Atari 8-bitCommodore C64/128/MAX

H.E.R.O. — frequently asked questions

Is H.E.R.O. on Steam?: No. H.E.R.O. is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.
What platforms is H.E.R.O. on?: H.E.R.O. is available on ColecoVision, SG-1000, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Apple II, MSX, Atari 5200, Commodore 64.
When did H.E.R.O. release?: H.E.R.O. was first released on March 30, 1984.

About H.E.R.O.

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.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: ColecoVision, SG-1000, Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Apple II, MSX, Atari 5200, Commodore 64
Developer: Activision
Publisher: Activision
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

72/100

from 28 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Built by
Atari 2600	1984	$73	$265	—	2 reviews	Activision (designed by John Van Ryzin)

Also released on: ColecoVision · SG-1000 · Atari 8-bit · Commodore C64/128/MAX · ZX Spectrum · Apple II · MSX · Atari 5200 · Commodore 64. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

Atari 2600 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-06

Loose

$73

Complete

$265

Sealed

—

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Activision	Special	AZ-036	Rare
Europe Salu	—	—	—
Australia HES	—	—	—

Also released in South America by Digitel, Mega Games, Polyvox, Tron, Videomagia.

Source: Catalog numbers, label types, rarity, controllers and player counts: AtariAge 2600 software database

Region: NA+EU
Released: 1984
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1
Authenticity: Med

Not in Atari 50 — other compilations and plug-and-plays are not tracked hereMedium counterfeit risk

Atari 2600 prices, all games & how to spot a fake

One of the best Activision games on the 2600, and a cartridge that rewards actually playing it.

John Van Ryzin designed H.E.R.O. (Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operation) after his first game, Cosmic Commuter, failed playtesting. You play Roderick Hero, flying a helicopter backpack down mineshafts to rescue trapped miners, using a helmet laser and limited dynamite while your power drains. Lanterns can go out and plunge a screen into darkness. It was released on March 30, 1984.

Most reviews were positive on release, and its reputation has grown since. Retro Gamer ranked it the second-best 2600 game, and Jeremy Parish has called it an important step for platform games because it let players move freely in every direction rather than climbing ladders or jumping obstacles.

How it was made

Designed, drawn and programmed by John Van Ryzin at Activision's New Jersey office, under the working title Heli. He took the cave setting from a weekend cave tour and the destructive laser from childhood comics, especially Superman's heat vision. Colleagues suggested ideas such as lamps breaking and the lights going out. It was built on an 8K cartridge.

What the press said at the time

Computer and Video Games		93%
Computer Entertainer Vol. 2 No. 11	February 1984	Graphics ★★★ · Play-Action ★★★½

“Activision continues to stretch the limits of the Atari 2600. Its latest, HERO, is not quite on a par with Pitfall II, but it is a playable, graphically appealing action adventure that is good enough to plug in the 2600 adapter for — or even lug the VCS itself out of the closet.”
— Electronic Games, September 1984

“The game combines elements of a search-and-rescue adventure with the quick action of a shooting game requiring quick reflexes. … Those who like action games with lots of challenge will enjoy this one.”
— Computer Entertainer, February 1984

“is a marvelously playable game that rivals "Pitfall II" in overall scope. To the dedicated electronic gamer, finding a program of this quality for the humble Atari 2600 is better than striking gold.”
— VIDEO (Arcade Alley), July 1984

Computer Entertainer rated graphics first and play action second, from four symbols (excellent) to one (poor) — stars in most years, diamonds in 1986–87 — comparing each game only with other games for the same system.

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 8 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Also on other platforms

Apple II · Atari 5200 · Atari 8-bit · ColecoVision · Commodore 64 · MSX · SG-1000 · ZX Spectrum

Atari 2600

Activision (designed by John Van Ryzin)

SG-1000. The SG-1000 version goes furthest beyond the 2600 original, adding music, new traps such as stalactites and lava geysers, and female miners.
ColecoVision. Electronic Games said the ColecoVision version used the system's superior graphics for a breathtaking underground panorama.
Commodore 64. Zzap!64's Julian Rignall said the C64 version looked awful and sounded terrible but played beautifully.

How the other versions reviewed

ColecoVision	AllGame	3.5/5
ColecoVision	Computer and Video Games	94%
Commodore 64	Personal Computer Games	8/10
Commodore 64	Zzap!64	86%

These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.

Worth knowing

1985 Arkie nominee. Electronic Games listed the VCS H.E.R.O. among its 1985 Arkie nominees.

Before you buy

Medium risk. No fakes are documented. The box and manual carry much of a complete copy's value, so check that both are present. Atari has announced H.E.R.O. as part of its new Atari × Activision cartridge line, so confirm whether a listing is a vintage 1984 cart or a modern reissue.