The latest iteration of the HERO System bills itself as the "Ultimate Gamer's Toolkit." And it is indeed a comprehensive toolkit, with rules, options and examples that span all the major genres of roleplaying. HERO is probably best known as the Champions system, with an effects-based power system that can emulate most, if not necessarily, all the abilities and powers seen in just about any genre of fiction found in roleplaying.

The revised version of Fifth Edition distinguishes itself primarily by cleaning up typos and adding many new examples and sample power and item write-ups.