How many black and white games can you name that are not Watera or on the original Nintendo Game Boy? On PC, there have been a few like Limbo but after that, I am extremely hard pressed to remember the name of a black and white game. I played one on the Commodore 64 in the late 80s that was black and white, you controlled a rabbit trying to get out of a pit via VERY rigid jumps but back to Hermano on the Sega Master System. It is black and white, and that design choice fits the idea of the game so well. Come, celebrate the Day of the Dead on Sega’s dead console.
One Game Three Platforms, No Color
It seems the original version of Hermano is the Nintendo Game Boy version by Pat Morita Team. SMS Power website member, toxa handling ports to the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear platforms. No matter which one you choose to play (the Game Boy version has a free demo and a paid full version) they all feature similar graphics – no colors.
I am not sure if the Sega ports are the same length as the demo available or not.
2D Action with a Spooky Vibe
Hermano is a 2D side scrolling action platform title with dark graphics. I don’t mean dark as in just the lack of color, which I think is amazingly well done on the Sega platforms. I mean in the setting, you are in a graveyard to start out and are throwing your head, similar to Decap Attack on the Sega Genesis, as one of your offense moves. You can also throw bombs, if you are ablet to collect them from defeated enemies.
You cannot touch enemies so do not try to Super Mario them. It will cost you a bit of life.
Your goal is to find a key in the level then trek back to the door to advance to the next level.
How you accomplish that goal is where the fun is in Hermano. Heads up, if you hate the Medusa heads/bats in the Castlevania series you will meet a similar enemy, a bat, that has annoying placement.
Going over to the itch.io page you will see screenshots from later in the game hinting at more levels. A desert, castles, forests, and more levels are waiting. The attention to detail in many of the screenshots displayed is amazing – the skulls in the platforms of a cavern looking level are well done.
One gripe I do have about the Sega ports is the lack of a life bar on screen and the missing bomb counter (both of which are on the bottom part of the screen on the Game Boy version). Other than that, the games are quite similar, choose your favorite platform and enjoy.
If you are able to, and like Hermano enough, please consider supporting Pat Morita Team on itch.io.