The Battle for The Best Activision Atari 2600 Game: PITFALL II vs H.E.R.O.

Ask any longtime Atari 2600 fan to name Activision’s best game, and the debate almost always comes down to H.E.R.O. or Pitfall II: Lost Caverns. Both pushed the aging console far beyond what anyone thought possible, but they did it in very different ways. Choosing between them isn’t easy—but that’s what makes the comparison fun.

I never solved the original Pitfall! and I know I’m not alone in that confession. But despite my shortcomings with Pitfall Harry’s first adventure, I couldn’t wait for Pitfall II. I spent hours exploring a game that felt completely different from the original—darker, deeper, and far more adventurous. Gone were the sunny jungles, swinging vines, and snapping crocodiles, replaced by shadowy caverns filled with bats and mystery. Gold bars were no longer the goal; instead, you were rescuing a trembling monkey. Even the punishment changed. Rather than instant death and a relentless ticking clock, Pitfall II removed time entirely, placing crosses on the ground where you’d respawn after a mistake, losing points based on how far you had to backtrack. To me, Pitfall II wasn’t just a sequel—it was a thoughtful evolution that built on the original and improved it in every way that mattered.

I don’t have the same childhood nostalgia for H.E.R.O. as an early Atari 2600 gamer. I either never saw it on store shelves, dismissed it because the box art felt goofy and unlike a “typical” Activision game, or had already moved on from the 2600 in favor of whatever passed for cutting-edge technology in 1984. That oversight turned out to be a blessing. Discovering H.E.R.O. as an adult made the experience even better, revealing a game I completely missed—and one that instantly earned my respect as a true Atari classic.

H.E.R.O. is all about precision, tension, and skill. Flying through dark caves with a jetpack, managing fuel, dodging enemies, and rescuing trapped miners creates a fast-paced experience that still feels impressive today. Every level demands focus, and scoring 75,000 points for the Activision patch felt like a true test of mastery. H.E.R.O. shines as a pure arcade-style challenge, rewarding quick reflexes and smart risk-taking.

Pitfall II, on the other hand, feels almost revolutionary. With its massive interconnected world, smooth scrolling, continuous background music, and focus on exploration over score, it feels years ahead of its time. The DPC chip inside the cartridge allowed it to do things no other 2600 game could, making it less about reaction speed and more about discovery, memory, and adventure. It’s often cited as one of the earliest examples of a console “adventure platformer.”

H.E.R.O. was pure adrenaline. Strapping on that jetpack and diving into dark, dangerous caves felt intense and exciting, especially as fuel ran low and enemies closed in. Every rescue mattered, every mistake hurt, and hitting that magical 75,000-point mark felt like a badge of honor—literally, thanks to Activision’s legendary patch program. It was a game that rewarded skill, focus, and practice, and it always pulled me back for “just one more run.”

Pitfall II felt different—almost mysterious. Its smooth scrolling, nonstop music, and massive underground world were unlike anything else on the Atari 2600. The DPC chip inside the cartridge allowed it to do things no other 2600 game could, making it less about reaction speed and more about discovery, memory, and adventure. It’s often cited as one of the earliest examples of a console “adventure platformer.” Instead of chasing points, you explored, remembered landmarks, and slowly uncovered secrets. At the time, it felt impossibly advanced, like the console was doing something it wasn’t supposed to be able to do. Even now, Pitfall II feels special for how bold and ambitious it was.

TALE OF THE TAPE

PITFALL II vs. H.E.R.O. (Atari 2600)

RELEASE YEAR

🥊 Pitfall II: 1984

🥊 H.E.R.O.: 1984

CREATOR

🥊 Pitfall II: David Crane

🥊 H.E.R.O.: John Van Ryzin

GAME STYLE

🥊 Pitfall II: Exploration Adventure

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Arcade Action Platformer

GOAL

🥊 Pitfall II: Rescue every explorer—no score, just progress

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Rescue miners and rack up points

DIFFICULTY

🥊 Pitfall II: Thoughtful, map-based challenge

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Fast, unforgiving, skill-based

TECH & INNOVATION

🥊 Pitfall II: DPC chip, smooth scrolling, nonstop music

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Incredible animation and precision on stock hardware

REPLAY VALUE

🥊 Pitfall II: Master the map, perfect the run

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Score chasing and patch hunting

ACTIVISION PATCH

🥊 Pitfall II: Patch at 99,000+ points and finish the game

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Patch at 75,000+ points

OVERALL FEEL

🥊 Pitfall II: Ambitious, atmospheric, ahead of its time

🥊 H.E.R.O.: Tight, intense, endlessly fun

FINAL VERDICT

WINNER: H.E.R.O. 🏆

Pitfall II may be the technical marvel—the game that proved the Atari 2600 still had secrets left—but H.E.R.O. wins the fight where it counts: moment-to-moment gameplay. It’s tougher, faster, more replayable, and capped off with an iconic Activision patch as proof of mastery. Pitfall II is a masterpiece—but H.E.R.O. is the champ you keep coming back to.