Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

My Hero delivers a straightforward yet demanding beat-’em-up experience that harks back to arcade golden days. Players control the eponymous hero armed with only punch and jump-kick moves, forcing them to master timing and positioning rather than rely on flashy combos. This limited move set adds weight to every encounter, making each successful takedown feel earned and intense.

The game’s unforgiving nature shines through as waves of diverse enemies—thugs, menacing pigs, rugged bulldogs, and even frogs—descend on you in relentless succession. Each foe type has its own attack pattern: pigs charge while bulldogs lunge, requiring quick reflexes and precise jumps to evade. In the arcade version, rescuing a citizen not only grants extra points but also temporary backup, turning tense solo fights into momentary tag-team skirmishes.

Level design varies dramatically between versions. The arcade release features three distinct stages—Present Street, Past Ninja House, and Future Space Fortress—each introducing unique hazards like disappearing platforms and projectile-throwing enemies. The Master System port, however, folds all three acts into a single Street setting, which streamlines progression but sacrifices thematic variety. Both versions still demand careful memorization of enemy spawn points and boss patterns to survive.

Graphics

Visually, the arcade original boasts crisp, colorful sprites set against richly detailed backdrops. Present Street is blanketed in neon signs and bustling pedestrians, while the Past Ninja House stage envelops players in lantern-lit corridors and tatami rooms. When you finally reach the Future Space Fortress, star-filled skies and sci-fi architecture signal that the game isn’t afraid to shift gears.

The Master System conversion, constrained by 8-bit hardware, retains the core sprite designs but simplifies backgrounds and color palettes. Although the Street-only setting repeats across all levels, character animations remain surprisingly fluid, and enemy designs still capture their animalistic quirks. Expect a slightly flatter look compared to the arcade, but don’t write off the charm—developers squeezed impressive detail out of the console’s limitations.

Attention to detail extends to boss encounters. In the arcade version, each level’s boss sports a distinct visual theme—samurai-inspired garb at the ninja house or futuristic armor on Space Fortress—while the SMS version reuses the Street boss with palette swaps. Despite these shortcuts, the bosses remain imposing and frantic, their larger-than-life sprites looming over the hero in memorable set pieces.

Story

My Hero’s plot is classic arcade fare: a valiant protagonist must rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from the clutches of Mohikan’s evil gang. It’s light on narrative nuance, but it serves its purpose—fueling the action and providing clear motivation for every punch and jump kick. The straightforward premise keeps players focused on the core experience: brawling through hordes of enemies.

The arcade version introduces extra flavor with citizens tied up in cages; freeing them not only boosts your score but deepens the sense of heroism. There’s a palpable thrill when a newly freed ally jumps in to assist, evoking that genuine arcade camaraderie. In contrast, the SMS release omits this rescue mechanic, leaning fully into combat without narrative distractions.

While the story may not win any awards for originality, it works perfectly within the beat-’em-up genre’s conventions. Minimal dialogue and a handful of cutscenes mean you spend precious seconds—and quarters—dive-kicking rather than reading text blocks. For many retro enthusiasts, that uncluttered, button-mashing approach is precisely the appeal.

Overall Experience

My Hero is a testament to simple, challenging gameplay done right. The arcade version’s diverse settings and rescue mechanics offer an adrenaline-fueled ride across time and space, while the Master System port delivers a leaner but still engaging home experience. Both versions demand patience, pattern recognition, and a willingness to embrace repeated retries.

Difficulty spikes and limited move sets can frustrate newcomers, but perseverance yields rewarding “aha” moments as you learn enemy behaviors and stage layouts. The absence of complex combos or power-ups means victory hinges on pure skill, timing, and memorization—attributes that define true arcade classics. Co-op mode, if available on certain ports, further elevates the fun, transforming solo punishment into collaborative chaos.

In the end, My Hero stands as a worthy pick for retro beat-’em-up fans and collectors alike. Its blend of tight controls, distinct level design (in the arcade), and sheer bite-sized challenge offers hours of couch-side brawling. If you crave old-school brutality wrapped in a nostalgic package, this title hits the spot—even if you end up inserting more credits (or continues) than you’d care to admit.

Retro Replay Score

5.2/10