# Mr. Cool <small style="color: gray">Last updated: January 30, 2026</small> ## Overview Mr. Cool is a Q*bert-inspired action game developed by Sierra On-Line and released in 1983 for multiple platforms including Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and IBM PC[^ref-3]. The game was designed by Peter Oliphant, who wanted to create "a game like Q*bert, but better" to address what he saw as the repetitiveness of the original arcade hit[^ref-10]. Players control Mr. Cool, an ice cube character, who must hop around a pyramid of color-changing platforms to change them all to the same color while avoiding flying comets and other obstacles[^ref-21]. The game was part of Sierra On-Line's early catalog during the company's formative years in the 1980s[^ref-32]. Published under the Sierravision label for some platforms, Mr. Cool represented Sierra's attempt to capitalize on the popularity of arcade-style games during the home computer boom[^ref-8]. Despite being a clone of the popular Q*bert arcade game, Mr. Cool received generally positive reviews for its faithful adaptation and addictive gameplay, though some critics noted its lack of visual flair compared to the original[^ref-10]. > [!info]- Game Info > **Developer:** [[Sierra On-Line]][^ref-10] > **Designer:** Peter Oliphant[^ref-10] > **Publisher:** Sierra On-Line / Sierravision[^ref-8] > **Platforms:** Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, IBM PC[^ref-10] > **Release Year:** 1983 > **Series:** null > **Sierra Lineage:** Core Sierra ## Story Summary Mr. Cool features a simple premise where players take on the role of an ice cube character who has ventured into a fiery realm. According to the game's colorful description, "Mr. Cool, icecubeman, has gone to hell (or something like that, I guess)!"[^ref-20]. The character is described as being "so cool, he can make fireballs frosty"[^ref-31]. The game's antagonists are the Hot Springs, described as entities that "resent this uppity ice cube, Mr. Cool, invading their private pyro-playground"[^ref-31]. While the narrative elements are minimal, the game's thematic concept revolves around the contrast between the cool ice cube protagonist and the hot, fiery environment he must navigate. This simple but effective theme reinforces the core gameplay mechanic of "cooling off" the hot plates by changing their colors[^ref-26]. ## Gameplay ### Interface and Controls Players control Mr. Cool using a joystick connected to port 2 on systems that support it[^ref-20]. The character moves diagonally around a pyramid-shaped playing field, though some players reported difficulty using joystick diagonals to control the character effectively[^ref-10]. The game supports single-player gameplay only[^ref-20]. ### Structure and Progression Mr. Cool features 15 rounds per level, with the game repeating at increased speed after completing the first level[^ref-10]. Players earn bonus lives every 20,000 points[^ref-26]. The game includes a special power-up called "Supercool Time" that lasts for 15 seconds, during which Mr. Cool becomes invincible and can safely collect enemy objects[^ref-10]. ### Puzzles and Mechanics The core gameplay mechanic involves jumping on a pyramid made of color-changing platforms to make all platforms the same color[^ref-21]. Flying comets enter the screen to hinder the player's progress, but they eventually turn into balls that can be collected safely[^ref-21]. As one review noted, "It does require some strategy, for like Pac-Man you must take the offensive for brief periods of time"[^ref-10]. The game also features levels with invisible platforms, adding an additional layer of challenge[^ref-20]. ## Reception ### Contemporary Reviews Mr. Cool received generally positive reviews from the gaming press of the early 1980s, though critics consistently noted its derivative nature. | Publication | Score | Notes | |-------------|-------|-------| | Softline | Positive | "Although Mr. Cool lacks Q*Bert's Escheresque assault on the eyes, it's a no less addicting game"[^ref-10] | | Creative Computing | Mixed | Noted it resembled Q*bert "but without the beautifully colored screen"[^ref-10] | | Addison-Wesley Book of Atari Software 1984 | C | Called it "a well-made clone" requiring strategy[^ref-10] | Softline magazine was particularly enthusiastic, declaring that "Mr. Cool deserves to be a sizzling hit for Sierra On-Line"[^ref-10]. Creative Computing's Arthur Leyenberger offered a more measured assessment, stating "This game resembles the popular arcade game Q-Bert, but without the beautifully colored screen. That is not to say the game is not fun or challenging enough"[^ref-10]. ### Modern Assessment Modern retrospective reviews have been mixed. User reviews on Lemon64 varied significantly, ranging from 4/10 to 10/10[^ref-20]. One particularly harsh modern assessment called it "A weak Q*bert clone that's good for about a minute or two of your time"[^ref-20]. However, other players have been more generous, with MobyGames user Katakis noting, "As Sierra's take on Q*Bert, the game is excellent and it mimics the Gottlieb game very well"[^ref-21]. The game currently holds a critics' score of 56% on MobyGames[^ref-21] and a user rating of 4.0/5 on Giant Bomb[^ref-15]. ## Development ### Origins Mr. Cool was conceived by Peter Oliphant after he finished working on Wall War[^ref-10]. Oliphant was motivated by his belief that Q*bert, while popular, suffered from repetitiveness and could be improved upon[^ref-10]. The Atari 8-bit version was completed remarkably quickly, being finished just three weeks after conception[^ref-10]. ### Production John Redekopp handled the programming duties for the IBM PC and Apple II ports of the game[^ref-10]. The game was developed using machine language programming[^ref-4] and was published under Sierra's Sierravision label for some platforms[^ref-8]. The development represented part of Sierra On-Line's broader strategy during the early 1980s to establish itself as a major publisher of home computer games[^ref-32]. ### Technical Achievements Mr. Cool utilized Sierra's Formaster Copylock protection scheme, which was also used for other early Sierra titles including King's Quest booter versions and Troll's Tale[^ref-25]. However, this protection system had notable limitations - it didn't work properly with DMA-less PCs like the PCjr and many early Tandy 1000 models, and was speed-sensitive, breaking on faster 286 machines[^ref-25]. The game was distributed on both 160KiB and 360KiB disk formats[^ref-25]. File sizes varied significantly across platforms, with the Commodore 64 version being only 6 KB, the Apple II version 19 KB, and the Atari 8-bit version 34 KB[^ref-23]. The IBM PC version was distributed as a self-booting disk[^ref-10]. ## Legacy Mr. Cool represents an important early entry in Sierra On-Line's catalog, demonstrating the company's willingness to experiment with arcade-style games during its formative years[^ref-32]. While the company would later become famous for adventure games and would acquire developers like Dynamix[^ref-11] (which was founded in 1984 and eventually became known for simulation games[^ref-11]), Mr. Cool shows Sierra's early diversification attempts. The game's preservation has been ensured through multiple archive sources, with versions available on the Internet Archive[^ref-3][^ref-4][^ref-5][^ref-6][^ref-7] and various abandonware sites[^ref-23][^ref-24]. Its inclusion in comprehensive game databases like MobyGames[^ref-22] and Lemon64[^ref-20] has helped maintain awareness of this early Sierra title among retro gaming enthusiasts. ## Downloads **Purchase / Digital Stores** - Currently not available on modern digital distribution platforms - [GOG Dreamlist](https://www.gog.com/dreamlist) - Community Dreamlist **Download / Preservation** - [MyAbandonware - Mr. Cool](https://www.myabandonware.com/game/mr-cool-5a5)[^ref-23] - [Internet Archive - Atari 8-bit version](https://archive.org/details/a8b_Mr._Cool_1983_Sierra_On_Line_US_k_file)[^ref-3] - [Internet Archive - Apple II version](https://archive.org/details/wozaday_Mr_Cool)[^ref-4] - [Internet Archive - Sierravision manual](https://archive.org/details/MrCoolSierravision)[^ref-8] ## See Also ## References [^ref-1]: [Abandonware DOS Search Results](https://www.abandonwaredos.com/search.php?search=Mr.+Cool) – - Search results page with no Mr. Cool game information found [^ref-2]: [Adventure Gamers Search Results](https://adventuregamers.com/search/?q=Mr.+Cool) – - Search results page with no Mr. Cool game information found [^ref-3]: [Internet Archive - Mr. Cool Atari 8-bit](https://archive.org/details/a8b_Mr._Cool_1983_Sierra_On_Line_US_k_file) – - Official listing with comprehensive metadata and original game details [^ref-4]: [Internet Archive - Woz A Day Mr Cool](https://archive.org/details/wozaday_Mr_Cool) – - Original source documentation for vintage Apple II game [^ref-5]: [Internet Archive - Sierra Disk Images](https://archive.org/details/20220303_20220303_0527) – - Comprehensive historical archive of Sierra On-Line game disk images [^ref-6]: [Internet Archive - Apple II Cracked Version](https://archive.org/details/a2_Mr._Cool_1983_Sierra_On_Line_cr_Apple_Mafia) – - Archival record of vintage Apple II game [^ref-7]: [Internet Archive - Atari 8-bit US Version](https://archive.org/details/a8b_Mr._Cool_1983_Sierra_On_Line_US) – - Archival game preservation with historical metadata [^ref-8]: [Internet Archive - Sierravision Manual](https://archive.org/details/MrCoolSierravision) – - Original manual and technical documentation for vintage Atari game [^ref-9]: [Dynamix Wiki - Sierra Entertainment](https://dynamix.fandom.com/wiki/Sierra_Entertainment) – - General company overview with no Mr. Cool information [^ref-10]: [Wikipedia - Mr. Cool Video Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Cool_(video_game) – ) - Comprehensive article with contemporary reviews and developer interviews [^ref-11]: [Wikipedia - Dynamix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamix) – - Full history and game catalog of Dynamix development studio [^ref-12]: [The Digital Antiquarian Search](https://www.filfre.net/?s=Mr.+Cool) – - Search results about Chris Roberts and other games, no Mr. Cool information [^ref-13]: [Games Database - Commodore 64](https://www.gamesdatabase.org/game/commodore-64/mr-cool.aspx) – - Basic metadata entry with limited detail [^ref-14]: [GameSpot - Sierra Closes Dynamix](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sierra-closes-dynamix/1100-2804068/) – - News report about Dynamix studio closure [^ref-15]: [Giant Bomb - Mr. Cool](https://www.giantbomb.com/mr-cool/3030-7990/) – - Database entry with basic game information and user ratings [^ref-16]: [Glitchwave - Sierra Entertainment](https://glitchwave.com/game-company/sierra-entertainment/) – - Part of comprehensive video game database tracking Sierra's catalog [^ref-17]: [IMDb Search Results](https://www.imdb.com/find/?q=Mr.+Cool&s=tt) – - Media listings with Mr. Cool in title across various platforms [^ref-18]: [JustAnswer HVAC Support](https://www.justanswer.com/hvac/msq9a-new-mr-cool-24-multi-zone-system-installed.html) – - Technical support for Mr. Cool HVAC system (unrelated to game) [^ref-19]: [Kagi FastGPT](/) – - AI search interface with no specific content [^ref-20]: [Lemon64 - Mr. Cool](https://www.lemon64.com/game/mr-cool) – - Community-driven game database for Commodore 64 games with user reviews [^ref-21]: [MobyGames - Mr. Cool](https://www.mobygames.com/game/9295/mr-cool/) – - Database entry with basic metadata and detailed player review [^ref-22]: [MobyGames Search](https://www.mobygames.com/search/?q=Mr.+Cool) – - Comprehensive database of video game information [^ref-23]: [MyAbandonware - Mr. Cool](https://www.myabandonware.com/game/mr-cool-5a5) – - Historical metadata about early 1980s arcade action game [^ref-24]: [MyAbandonware Search](https://www.myabandonware.com/search/q/Mr.+Cool) – - Historic game archive documenting early 1980s computer games [^ref-25]: [Nerdly Pleasures Blog](http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2021/03/breaking-disk-based-protection-on.html) – - Technical blog post about Sierra's copy protection methods [^ref-26]: [Pixelated Arcade - Mr. Cool](http://www.pixelatedarcade.com/games/mr-cool) – - Game database entry with technical specifications and gameplay mechanics [^ref-27]: [Reddit HVAC Advice](https://www.reddit.com/r/hvacadvice/comments/1dsg4r5/is_this_normal_mr_cool_diy_3_years_in/) – - User forum discussing HVAC product (unrelated to game) [^ref-28]: [Reddit Sierra Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sierra/comments/1i8sat8/dynamix/) – - Fan discussion about Sierra and Dynamix game studios [^ref-29]: [Reddit Home Improvement](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/i9f1zb/need_quick_help_please_how_do_i_remove_a_mr_cool/) – - DIY post about air conditioning unit removal (unrelated to game) [^ref-30]: [Sierra Fandom - Dynamix](https://sierra.fandom.com/wiki/Dynamix) – - Historical overview of Dynamix game development company [^ref-31]: [SierraChest - Mr. Cool](https://sierrachest.com/index.php?a=g&id=268) – - Comprehensive overview of vintage arcade game from Sierra On-Line [^ref-32]: [Sierra Gamers - Sierra Games List](https://www.sierragamers.com/sierra-games/) – - Historical list of Sierra games with contextual release information [^ref-33]: [SocksCap64 - Mr. Cool](https://www.sockscap64.com/games/game/mr-cool/) – - Game database with historical platform and release information [^ref-34]: [Space Quest Wiki - Dynamix](https://spacequest.fandom.com/wiki/Dynamix) – - Historical overview of Dynamix including founding, key games, and closure