Sheriff (character)

Sheriff is the unnamed protagonist of the arcade game of the same name. Making his debut as early as in 1979, Sheriff is the first Nintendo character ever created, preceding even Mario and Mr. Game & Watch.

Characteristics
Sheriff is a typical early video game hero, without any back story other than his profession. Based on his actions, he is a brave man, not hesitating to set out and challenge a group of offenders by himself. He might also be seen as slightly foolish however, risking his life for an unknown woman, clearly letting his emotions control him. This can be seen as a sign of nobility though, attempting a rescue despite the dangers.



Physical description
Because of the limitations of the media, Sheriff's appearance is kept simple and does not have any distinguishing qualities other than his cowboy hat. The artwork featured in the game's logo delves a bit deeper into his looks, adding a presumptuous expression, but doesn't do much to make him unique among cowboy characters. 

Sheriff
In Sheriff the hero sets out on his mission with the sole purpose to save a beautiful woman. A group of rogues have attacked the town and kidnapped her before making their escape. Wishing nothing else than to save her, he runs for her rescue. However, it isn't long before he is surrounded by her captors. Sixteen rogues circle around him, taking cover behind barricades. The sheriff has no choice but to take them down one by one. As he shoots his way though the situation, some of the captors sometimes makes a rush towards him, intensifying the battle.

Finishing of the offenders, a new group appears, just as Sheriff thought he was safe. He once again defeats them, but there are more of them around the corner. After finally taking down the third group the woman is rescued, and they share a moment of love.

Other appearances
Despite the honor of being Nintendo's first hero, Sheriff has made very few appearances since his debut. The game failed to be very successful, and with the release of Donkey Kong two years later, Sheriff was completely overshadowed by Mario.


 * Game Boy Camera: Sheriff is seen in an animation based on his game, that is found in the credits menu.
 * Super Smash Bros. Melee: Sheriff appears in his original 8-bit form as a trophy.
 * WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!: A microgame based on Sheriff appears. A larger recreation of the game can also be unlocked, where Wario's head replaces Sheriff's.