Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (game)

Nintendo 64

Once, a son was born to the king of all the gods Zeus and the earthly woman Alkmena . The boy was given a name - Hercules . Hercules inherited tremendous power from his father, and a kind heart from his mother. The wise centaur Chiron taught Hercules the art of fighting and made him a real warrior. Having matured, Hercules decided to help people and fight evil.

The story begins with the fact that Zeus, having drunk the drink poisoned by Hero, was greatly weakened and could no longer rule Olympus. Ares , the son of Hera and the evil brother of Hercules, took advantage of this to seize power over the gods and people. He enclosed Zeus in a glass ball, depriving the supreme god of his strength. Chaos reigned on Earth; Ares warriors robbed and killed people, but the gods could not stop them. Hercules must free Zeus, restore his lost power and stop Ares.

Game Boy Color

The king of all the gods Zeus had two sons - Ares, the son of the goddess Hera, and Hercules, the son of the earthly woman Alkmena. Once Zeus decided to test his sons: he put them in the crib of two snakes. Ares got scared, and Hercules killed both snakes. Zeus, having seen this, decided that Hercules, and not Ares, henceforth his legitimate son. Ares held a grudge against his brother.

Time passed, the brothers grew, became brave warriors. And then the day came when Zeus told Hercules a great secret - the gods will live and reign on Olympus until people believe in them. And because the life of the gods rests on the faith of people, they must "do what only gods can do." Now Hercules also needs to become a god in the eyes of people in order to gain the right to live on Olympus.

Nintendo 64

The game is an action game with elements of a quest and logic games. The levels in the game are made using three-dimensional graphics (the game world is perceived from a third person, although a first-person mode is possible) and are open locations associated with each other. The player can move along them in any direction, completing tasks (except in those cases where movement is impossible in the plot).

The tasks provided during the game are very diverse, but they are built according to the same scheme - the player needs to find some object (for example, a book, a magic stone or a rune ) or an NPC (for example, Hephaestus or Aphrodite ) in order to advance further in the story. Sometimes for this you need to perform a chain of actions: for example, to get a pearl for Morrigan , you need to find a network, buy a can of fish bait, exchange these two items for an oyster shell, and then remove the pearl from the shell. In addition, to complete some tasks it is necessary to look for keys and knife switches to open chests and doors, as well as destroy obstacles and overcome other obstacles (for example, abysses).

In addition to Hercules, it is also sometimes possible to play for Iolaus and the golden Hinda , armed with a bow and arrow.

The enemies in the game are Ares warriors, as well as various creatures ( satyrs , skeletons, wolves, etc.). Most often, they are found in groups of two or three and are armed with a variety of weapons (swords, axes, maces, etc.). Opponents have a different stock of health and strike power. After the destruction of the enemy, money remains (5 or 10 denarii ). Also money (100 denarii) can be found in chests.

In the chests, keys and useful items necessary for passing can also be found.

Also at some levels it is necessary to fight the boss - Cyclops , Minotaur , titanium , etc. Moreover, in most cases, in order to defeat the enemy, it is necessary to solve a logical problem - for example, to destroy one of the Minotaurs, the player must drop it into the lava pool, the level of which can be adjusted by hitting the gong hanging on the wall.

Useful items that replenish the characters' health (namely, an apple, a mug of ale , bread, chicken) are hidden in barrels. Items increase health levels in different ways - for example, an apple adds 100 units, and a chicken 450. Money in the game can be spent on buying spells that help fight enemies (they can be bought in the tavern from Salmonaeus ), and on some things necessary for passing (for example, a piece of leather from which you can sew a warm suit).

After the destruction of some bosses, special items remain (for example, the Heart of the Minotaur, which must be brought to Hephaestus and from which the rune will then be forged to enter the labyrinth of the next Minotaur).

In addition, during the game in temples located not at some levels, you need to buy artifacts with images of gods (Artemis, Apollo, etc.). Then these coins are used in one of the levels.

The game has "save points". Each point is made in the form of the house where the priestess lives, recording the deeds performed by Heracles. Such houses can be found on most levels on the scroll plates.

On the game interface, by default, the level of available health (as well as the opponent’s health level), the amount of collected money, artifacts and useful items are presented. You can also call up the slots with available spells.

In the pause menu, you can observe the number of collected useful items, image coins, money, as well as a map of the game world.

List of levels:

• Cheiron's Farm . Chiron's Farm. Training level, where the hero is trained in the basic techniques used in the game. Here you need to complete several tasks - for example, to clear the farm yard from stones, move the access box to a high ledge, find a chest, etc. There is also the opportunity to complete a bonus task for a while.
  • Intermediate level . The road from Chiron Farm to the village of Traycus , passing through the forest. The task of the level is to go through it from beginning to end, finding several knife switches from the closed gates that block the path. In addition, there is the entrance to the cave where Hercules is waiting for Iolaus (only he can get to the Nespa level at the beginning of the game). Beware of Ares warriors and monsters living in the river.
• Traycus . The village captured by Cyclops. Hera bribed the giant so that he, blocking the river with a huge stone, deprived the inhabitants of the village of water. Here Hercules needs to find a teddy bear and exchange it with the keeper for the key to the gate to Cyclops Fort.
  • Intermediate level . The level passes through a large fortress guarded by Ares warriors and satyrs. Available only to Iolaus.
• Nespa . Greek city surrounded by a high wall. Here is the entrance to the labyrinth of one of the Minotaurs. At the beginning of the game, the level is available only to Iolaus. Ares imprisoned the mayor of the city in a force field, and to free him, you need to find a gem hidden somewhere in the city. Here is the entrance to the labyrinth of the second Minotaur.
  • Intermediate level. Road in the forest from Traycus' a in Thrace . The approaches to the city are guarded by the people of Ares and by packs of demon wolves. The door to Thrace is locked, which can be opened by finding several knife switches.
• Thrace . The city, which is a round fortress in terms of shape. It was abandoned by the inhabitants when the army of Ares invaded the fortress. From here, the hero through the gate in the walls can get to most levels in the game. In the city center, on the trading square, Hercules is waiting for Iolaus (at first he only has the opportunity to get to the Alpsius level). There are also gates to the labyrinth of the first Minotaur.
  • Intermediate level . A desert road connecting Thrace and San Tomanicus . Here is the entrance to the cave, where the hero is waiting for the golden Hinda; subsequently she will fight with titanium Mnemosyne . Enemies - Ares warriors attacking in large groups. You should beware of the abysses through which you can go, jumping on stone pillars.
• San Tomanicus . Village by the sea. The houses here are built on wooden stilts and connected by bridges, which makes access to structures somewhat difficult. Here is the entrance to the labyrinth of the third Minotaur.
  • Intermediate level . The action takes place in a snowy mountainous area connecting Thrace and Alpsius . The mountain road is guarded by armed priests, Ares warriors chained in armor, and packs of wolves. To open the gate to Alpsius, you need to find a large lever; it is located on a platform beyond the abyss, which can be passed through a narrow bridge. At first, the level is available only to Iolaus.
• Alpsius . The city is surrounded by snow-capped mountain ranges, in the center of which is the forge of Hephaestus. Hephaestus can forge runes to enter the dungeons of the Minotaurs. Here is the entrance to the intermediate level-fortress leading to Nespa . At first, the level is available only to Iolaus.
• Labyrinth of Gigantus . Labyrinth of the first Minotaur. Unlike the next two labyrinths, you can get here only with the help of Prometheus fire. Here you need to find a few buttons to open the door to the Minotaur shelter. Guarded by groups of armed skeletons; some of the opponents can be thrown into the abyss located in one of the chambers.
• Maze of Asterius . Labyrinth of the second Minotaur. It is a fortress with many chambers, some of which are flooded with water. Guarded by warrior skeletons and dog skeletons. The door to the shelter of the Minotaur opens with a large key, which is located in one of the chests hidden on the level.
• Labyrinth of Griphus . Labyrinth of the third Minotaur. It is located inside the volcano and is a dungeon with many moves. It is divided into two sublevels: on the first there are various traps (in particular, chambers and corridors with moving floors and ceilings, transitions with scalloped sliding doors, moving studded walls, etc.), and the second is devoid of traps, but is guarded by skeletons. On the first sublevel to activate the door mechanism in the shelter you need to find several large keys, on the second - several cameras with buttons.
  • Intermediate level . It connects the road to San Tomanicus and the Mnemosyne chamber. Guarded by satyrs and harpies . Available only for Hinda.
• Chamber of Mnemosyne . The chamber in which Zeus imprisoned the titan Mnemosyne. The monster is in the middle of a tank with liquid magmatic melt; attacks with pieces of red-hot rock and fiery streams. You can destroy it by hitting targets located on the walls of the camera. After defeating the monster, the Hinda brings his heart to Hephaestus, and he forges a key to enter Olympus from him.
• Sacred Garden of Shrines . Access to the level can be obtained from the city of Thrace . The Divine Garden, where several shrines of the gods are located. In these shrines, you need to place artifacts collected at the levels. After the hero collects all the artifacts, a teleport door to Olympus will open.
• Olympus The mountain, on top of which is the city of Olympian gods. A level is a platform system. Here Hercules needs to find several gems, through which the entrance to the temple of Ares will subsequently be opened, and then find the Hinda, since only she can defeat the dragon protecting the temple of Ares. The dragon attacks with fiery breath, and also occasionally wears a battering ram; You can destroy it by shooting from a bow. After defeating the monster, Hercules enters the temple.
• Temple of Ares . Here is a battle with the main boss of the game. First, Ares attacks the hero, then when a certain amount of damage is received, the boss becomes invulnerable, and all opponents encountered during the game attack the character in groups. Next, Ares creates two clones, after the destruction of which the level is considered completed ^[5] .

Game Boy Color

• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys on GameSpot
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys on Giant Bomb