As part of Epyx’s Computer Activity Toys line, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985) brought the legendary action figure line to life on the Commodore 64 and Apple II. This two-part action game pits the Joes against Cobra forces in a mix of top-down vehicular missions and side-view one-on-one battles.
In the strategic overhead mode, players take control of G.I. Joe vehicles like the Skystriker jet, MOBAT tank, VAMP jeep, or Dragonfly helicopter, piloted respectively by Ace, Steeler, Clutch, and Wild Bill. Missions span desert, forest, and arctic terrain, with objectives including the destruction of Cobra radar outposts, tanks, and headquarters.
The game transitions into a combat mode when characters from the Joe and Cobra rosters face off in one-on-one battles across various backdrops. Each character has unique weapon properties like reload time and projectile speed, and the defeated are sent to prison—removing them from play. The Joe lineup features twelve iconic characters including Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, and Roadblock, while Cobra’s forces include Destro, Baroness, Storm Shadow, and Cobra Commander.
While the gameplay was simple by modern standards, it captured the spirit of the G.I. Joe universe and allowed kids to play out action figure battles in digital form. The dual-mode structure and character variety gave it a broader scope than most action games of the time, and it stood out as one of the more ambitious licensed titles in Epyx’s catalog.
This was a really well-loved product that was specifically made to be the equivalent of simply playing with your favorite action figures. Some perfect kid-features:
1. There was no ‘ending’. You played until you felt like stopping. If you’re having fun, why end the game?
2. There was no real pressure, no high scores, just a match up between a Joe and a Cobra to see who would win.
3. It was varied with a lot of details; you never got bored.
While we loved it, the rights are clearly the property of Hasbro, so any revival of a GI Joe title would have to go through them…
