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Volcanic activity has trapped miners in mineshafts in Mount Leone. Roderick Hero needs your help and his special equipment to rescue the miners.

The game has five difficulty levels, the higher the number the deeper within the mine you begin and the more advanced the challenge.

The game starts with five lives - one R. Hero (ho! ho!) and four in reserve. An additional life is gained for every 20,000 points earned.

The power gauge can be seen on screen. If power runs out, a reserve life has to be used. The game ends when all lives are used up.

On the backs of your men is a prop-pack. This propeller pack allows you to fly up, down a shaft, go left or right, and hover. The helmets of your men come equipped with a microlaser beam. It can be used to blast vermin and slice through walls.

Your men begin each game and every mineshaft level with six sticks of dynamite. These can be used to demolish a small wall.

A heat-resistant raft floats on some stretches of the lava river to help you along in the adventure. Lanterns light the murky mineshafts. Touch or shoot one and that section of the mine will go dark.

All the time you are in the maze dangers are lurking, including springing spiders, shaft bats, mine moths and nesting snakes.

You must locate a miner on each level before moving lower down the mine. Points are awarded for, for example, shooting a creature and bringing down a wall. Also, the more units of power remaining when a minor is rescued, the more points are gained.

After the rescue operation is completed the instruction booklet implies something else happens. I have not reached this far yet so I am still waiting to find out what it actually is!

H.E.R.O. is a rather comical game because, for example, of the prop-pack and the strange looking snakes, but because of these factors it is very entertaining.

Explosion sounds can be heard and the graphics are excellent, especially the dynamite explosions and Hero himself, and also some of the labyrinth walls are of gorgeous colours.