I have been writing reviews about classic games for some time now. I often remember the games I played as a child. It suddenly occurred to me, since I am writing on the Hive blog, let all the memories be recorded here.
The "Hercules" game has been spinning in my head for some time. Running of the Hercules, jumping, stumbling on a rope, wielding the sword, fighting a five-headed dragon; I can remember everything still now!
*[Source](https://igg-games.com/disneys-hercules-free-download.html)*
It's hard to find any '90s kid, who did not play the Hercules game. Especially those who had a PC at home. However, the game was released simultaneously on Windows as well as PlayStation. Though I didn't see too many people around me playing Hercules on the PlayStation. One big reason for this was that not everyone in our time had the PlayStation available as it does now.
This game was based on the animated film "Hercules" which was released in 1997. The same year Disney developed and released Hercules game on Windows and Playstation. The storyline of the game is almost like the film.
Hades, ruler of the dead, somehow removed the immortality of Hercules, so of Zeus. After then he was sent back to earth. To regain immortality and to join with other Gods in Mount Olympus, he must complete some dangerous task. Which includes passing dangerous pathways, killing lots of enemies, and finally defeat Hades. And he must prove that he is the true hero!
This is one of the most addictive games I have ever played. This game has a total of 10 stages. And each level is different than another. In 3 levels Hercules has to run continuously and defeat the enemies, crossing the blockage at the same time. As you know now Hercules is not immortal anymore, he will lose a life if you are unable to defeat enemies or pass all the blockages.
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I still remember the first stage, which was a lot like a game tutorial. There are a lot of obstacles like sacks here. After a while it will be seen that some sand-filled sacks are turning, then some are falling on the head; The sacks hidden inside the tree are not visible at all!
In the midst of all of these, Hercules has to move on. But if you don't destroy all the sacks with a punch or a sword, the roadblocks won't move, and you won't be able to move forward. Another fun part is, you can collect the letter of the word "HERCULES" in every stage. Though it's not mandatory to complete the level, but it was fun. The letters are hidden in every stage and you have to find that with your talent and techniques. If you can collect all letters of the word HERCULES it will give you a chance to go directly to the next level. That means if Hercules dies you don't have to start from the beginning. you can also collect coins during the pathway.
*[Source](https://www.ps4home.com/a-blast-from-the-playstation-past/hercules-ps2-2/)*
Now the question is how will you regain if some portion of your life is lost. You will see Hercules Shape Icon and Drinking Cup with Hercules logo (which is also known as Herculad) on the pathways which will increase your life, actually the life of Hercules.
The background music of the game is fabulous and funny on the other hand. Sometimes you'll hear some comments from a commentator during the game. Like after finishing a level you'll hear - Niceeee Work! Excellent Dayyyy! Ummah! Which is funny indeed!
And after drinking ever Herculad you'll hear the word "Hercules". I think these types of commentary made the game more iconic!
*[Source](https://gfycat.com/delightfulcharmingbluebreastedkookaburra)*According to me, the graphic of this game is so smooth. It was good for back in 1997 and it still good for 2020. This a how a cartoon based games should be made. Which should look like a lively comic book.
Now let's talk about the bosses. You'll see almost every boss which was also seen in the movie. Every stage doesn't have a boss. There are a total of 7 bosses and several titans that can't be defeated with just a sword or punch. You have to apply some special skills to kill the bosses. For example, let's talk about the first boss Nessus the Centaur, who is half human and half horse. You can't kill him by fighting. You have to ride on him several times to reduce his life, like a cowboy! Which is quite funny! You have to defeat Nessus, to free Hercules's wife Deianeira, who was captured by him.
Then comes the Minotaur! As if it had just come up from Greek mythology. It has a head and tail of bull and body of man, quite like the opposite of Nessus. Again you can't kill Minotaur by fighting. You have to collect and through big rocks toward Minotaur to defeat him.
I don't know why but I will never forget the boss Hydra. Well, this is not the Hydra of Avengers! This is a six-headed dragon, Hercules has to cut its head to kill it. The scary part is if you cut one head another two head will grow!
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You don't have to kill Gorgon, the next boss. He will kill himself if you just follow some techniques. You have to just hide behind the pillars of the hall room, it will break all the pillars to kill you.
At the last stage, Hercules has to go to the underworld and defeat the ruler Hades. Because of who Hercules lost his immortality. It's quite hard to defeat Hades, which is why he is the main villain of course.
This could seem like an easy game to you now, but it was hard like hell when I was a kid. Games like Virtua Cup 2, House of the dead, Hercules, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs were my childhood! I completed these games more than 100 times.
I want to be child again!
Read all of my classic games reviews -
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Return from Disney's Hercules: 90's God of War! to pitboy's Web3 Blog
