A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux

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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 completely new levels, graphics, and sounds.

Every 20000 points, you earn an extra life.

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, snakes and scorpions. At some lava rivers, an invincible, hungry sea monster appears, constantly following our hero. Some walls that contain magma sediments glow red and must not be touched.

Raft

A heat resistent raft can be used at some places to cross the lava river.

Table of points

  • 50 Shooting an enemy
  • 50 For every dynamite stick that is left at the end of the level
  • 75 Removing a wall
  • 1000 Rescuing a miner

Controls

Arrow keys, controller lever or gamepad D-Pad = Move Hero left/right.
Arrow key up or controller up * = Go upwards.
Arrow key down or controller down * = Ignite dynamite stick.
Fire button * = Laser beam in direction of sight.

* The keyboard keys and the controller buttons are customizable (press F1 during the title screen).

F1/F2 = Adjust sound effects volume.
F3/F4 = Adjust music volume.
P = Pause.
Home = Stop the game and go back to the title screen.

History

Version 1.0

  • First release.

Version 1.1

  • In fullscreen mode, the game could be jerky using certain video cards.

Version 1.2

  • You can now use the WASD or IJKL keys as directional keys.
  • You can now use the Z or M keys as fire button.
  • You can now use the gamepad D-Pad.

Version 1.3

  • Sound effects and music are now suspended when the game is paused.
  • Now you can press F1/F2 to adjust the sound effects volume and F3/F4 to adjust the music volume.

Version 1.4

  • More controllers are now recognized.
  • Up, down, and fire keys/buttons are now customizable.
  • Replaced the password system with the unlocked level system.

Version 1.5

  • Reduced the dead zone of the analog stick to allow better use of the controller.

Version 1.6

  • Removed the option to change zoom factor. Instead, you can now toggle the integer scaling of graphics.
Updated 4 days ago
StatusReleased
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
Rating
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
(7 total ratings)
AuthorLC-Games
GenrePlatformer, Action
Made withGraphicsGale, Audacity, MonoGame, Tiled
Tags2D, Commodore 64, Pixel Art, Retro, Singleplayer
Average sessionA few minutes
LanguagesEnglish
InputsKeyboard, Gamepad (any), Joystick

Download

Download NowName your own price

Click download now to get access to the following files:

HERO2_win-x86.zip 9 MB
HERO2_linux-x64.zip 10 MB
HERO2_linux-arm64.zip 9 MB
HERO2_osx-x64.zip 11 MB
HERO2_osx-arm64.zip 11 MB

Development log

Comments

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(1 edit)

The MacOS version doesn't work. There is no app to start. Seems to be compiled wrong. Please let us have a working Mac version! :)

Tried the Windows version via Parallels Desktop and I have to say: This is THE BEST clone I ever played! Mechanics are spot on, gameplay is great!

Carefully follow the instructions found on the download page, under macOS.

Anyway, I'm glad you apprecciate the game.

(3 edits)

Works for me on MacOS - try these instructions:

1. In Terminal app, remove security permissions on downloaded .zip file:
    e.g. xattr -cr ./Downloads/HERO2_osx-arm64.zip

2. Unzip file in Finder by double-clicking it

3. In Terminal, make game binary executable:
    e.g. chmod +x ./Downloads/HERO2_osx-arm64/HERO2

4. In Terminal, sign the game binary:
    e.g.  codesign -s - ./Downloads/HERO2_osx-arm64/HERO2

5. Either run the game binary from the Terminal (e.g.  ./Downloads/HERO2_osx-arm64/HERO2 ) or by double-clicking it in Finder.

Hope that helps!

yes, codesign did the trick! 

Thank you very much for helping!

I just updated the instructions on each game's download page. I hope that now no one will have problems making them work on Mac.

Would it be possible to make HERO2 (and HERO) stretch the full screen, just like in Mike Mech or other horizontal games?

I'll take it into consideration.

That's good news! Thank you.

I did what you asked, or at least I hope so!

Oh wow, that's so much better. Really really good. Thanks a million Luca.

Glad to have satisfied you!

When c64 version ?

Too many other projects in mind, sorry. :(

Fantastic! Thank you for Linux support!

(+1)

I answer once for all your posts: now that I can compile for Linux, it's a pleasure to do it. ;)

Lovely game, was my favorit game of all time on the C64 together with Fort Apocalypse. Glad you made a PC version : )  Unfortunately I can't get the sound to work or the fullsceen mode (but that's not a big deal). The sound however just came on a few seconds (quite impressive though) and then whent away. Tried all the buttons, restarting the computer and so on but only silence remains. I have win 10 and usually have no problems with PC games, am I doing something wrong? 

This is the first time anyone has told me they are having problems with the audio. Two possibilities come to mind: 1 - During gameplay, try pressing F1/F2 to adjust the sound effects volume and F3/F4 for the music volume (see if it changes anything). 2 - Try updating OpenAL-Soft

Found that the sound works if I don't press F12 for fullscreen, so it's probably my computer that's a little old. Will try the update you suggested otherwise it might be time to invest in a new computer. Thanks for reply and an absolutely magical game, really love it : )

(+1)

According to what you describe, it might not just be an audio problem, so I recommend you try updating OpenGL for graphics as well.

I'll try that, thanks : )

I loved the game, but I couldn't play it on the controller, I tried one from 8bitdo ultimate and another from Xbox Series and nothing happened.

(+1)

Try version 1.4 just released and let me know.

(+1)

Awesome !

Thanks for appreciating and for the video!

(+1)

Are there chances that you pick up that game again and release it for the C64?

(1 edit)

Not for the moment, sorry.

OK, thanks for replying. Your other games are great as well.

Thank you so much.

(2 edits)

I really love this remake, and also the first H.E.R.O. is Back remake! The only suggestion I would make is to make the caverns different colors in each level, just like they were in the first H.E.R.O. is Back remake. Either that, or give the option to play using the original C64 graphics like in the first remake.

A level editor would also be sweet.

But besides that, these two remakes are awesome!!

First of all, I'm really happy that you like these two games!!

Regarding HERO is Back 2, the walls of the caves are already of different colors depending on the level, but, by graphic choice, the colors are rather dark and dull, so the difference is not so marked.

As for the level editor, it would be a significant additional job and given that the game, in 2 and a half years, has been downloaded less than 600 times and I have received donations for only 16 dollars, it is evident that the game is not so liked by most of the players, so it's not worth it. If I ever made a level editor, I would make the game downloadable for a fee, but this is not possible because the rights of the original game are reserved and I would be infringing the copyright.

600 downloads vs 16 dollars? What's wrong with people?

Just because people download the game doesn't mean they actually like it and play it. I imagine this is the reason for the low donations. So, given the lack of interest in my PC games, I doubt I'll make any more in the future.

I'm with ya. I've just started playing this and it's really well done. Would think it should have a lot more traction. Convinced me to go back and get HERO is back also. I've been playing both a lot over the last couple days. Maybe we just need to get the word out more on these. I didn't even know about itch.io until I started looking for my theC64 games and now am discovering a lot of really cool titles. I was pretty much just getting most everything from Steam or some older games on GOG.

(+1)

Thank you for your support and for appreciating my work. I realize that my PC games have low visibility, but I don't know how to increase it. I've posted videos of all my games on YouTube and Rumble. I left comments on videos about retro games indicating the link to my page on itch.io. I wouldn't know what else to do. If the situation doesn't change, I will continue to make games for C64 (and maybe, who knows, for Amiga), since they give me much more satisfaction.
Anyway, thanks also for your donations for both of my versions of HERO! 👍

such a good remake !! many thanks for the good work and intact feeling, dude ;)

Really thank you for appreciating!

Thanks to you.

very good