American Hero (2021)
Empty Clip Studios, Ziggurat Interactive
A restoration and remaster of a game lost to time for over 25 years, American Hero was originally designed for the Atari Jaguar CD as a “playable movie” with a groundbreaking, more fluid presentation than the FMV games of its time.
About the story
American Hero is the never-released outrageous and unforgettable FMV game that lets you play as the star in an over-the-top 1990s Hollywood action movie. Get a babysitter for the kids, this game is a madcap, mile-a-minute spree of spies, dives, and gun-toting bad guys that will have you on the edge of your seat. You take on the role of Jack, a handsome, jaded former intelligence officer pulled out of his retired life as a strip club patron for one last mission to stop the villainous virologist Krueger, who plans to unleash a mind-controlling virus on the unsuspecting citizens of L.A. Everyone is out to kill Jack now that he’s hot on Krueger’s trail, and he’ll need to use his mind, muscles, and mojo to stay alive long enough to stop Kruger’s plot. Your spur-of-the-moment decisions will help or hinder Jack as he tries to find and protect the only scientist who has the cure to counter Krueger’s deadly bioweapon.
Platforms
Switch PC PS4 PS5 XONEGenres
AdventureThemes
Action
Languages: English
| Interface | Audio | Subtitles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English |
Media
Critic Reviews
Impulsegamer
By Chris O'ConnorUltimately I do give credit for the restoration and remastering efforts… but unfortunately though you can polish a turd… at the end of the day, it's still a turd and bad acting, bad writing and pretty awful staging means this is really only a title for people who can find the humour in things that are really terrible… I'm just not one of those people.
Cubed3
By AthanasiosFMV games were never that great to begin with, so there was never much hope for American Hero, especially since it was actually an unfinished project. Even worse, the joy in low-budget movies (interactive or not) is their unintentional comedic side, and frankly, this doesn't have much cheese. Pick any bad action flick from the '90s you want (start with the filmography of Jean-Claude Van Damme), and it will be much funnier and corny. This is extremely forgettable, and it only has value as a piece of history that would otherwise be lost to the black void of abandoned video games.
FingerGuns
By Sean DaviesAn interesting, unreleased relic from the 90's, American Hero is a "so bad, it's almost good again" FMV game that probably would have been ahead of its time if it had released when originally intended. Today, it's corny, cheesy and clunky but that's why it's funny. FMV enthusiasts and those who would like a laugh will get something out of this.
Nindie Spotlight
By Justin NationGames that have been brought back from the dead are always going to be a risky proposition, especially ones that were never completed...
