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Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (video game)

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This article is about the video game. For the television series, see Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. For the card game, see Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (card game).
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
North American Nintendo 64 Cover Art
Developer(s)Player 1
Publisher(s)Titus Interactive
Platform(s)Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color
ReleaseNintendo 64
Game Boy Color
  • EU: September 14, 2001
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a 2000 action adventure game, based off the television series of the same name, developed by Player 1 and published by Titus Interactive for the Nintendo 64.[a] The player controls Hercules and his friends, Iolaus and Serena, on a quest to free Zeus from the forces of Ares and Hera.

The gameplay differs depending on the version played; the N64 version is a 3D game with elements of platforming and role playing games while the Game Boy Color version is a side-scrolling adventure game with shifting view perspectives.

The Nintendo 64 version has received mixed to positive reviews, with it being praised for its variety in content but criticized for feeling too similar to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time; meanwhile the Game Boy Color version has received mixed to negative reviews with it being criticized for its gameplay and challenges, with mixed reactions for the game's mix of gameplay formulas.

Gameplay

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A screenshot of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Nintendo 64) depicting Hercules attacking an enemy in a 3D space.

The player controls Hercules and his friends, Iolaus and Serena, to free Zeus against the forces of Ares and Hera and their minions.[3] The Nintendo 64 version of Hercules integrates elements of platform, role-playing and adventure games.[4] Players control characters to complete combat, quests and puzzles, with each having unique abilities, such as Hercules' ability to throw items, Iolaus' ability to reach otherwise inaccessible places, and Serena's ability to use ranged weaponry.[3] Combat is straightforward and uses direct attacks against player and enemy "life energy", as well as a "magic menu" to cast magical powers as a special ability. The game features twelve locations and five arenas.[5]

The Game Boy Color version of Hercules differs slightly from the Nintendo 64 version. The game is played in mixed perspectives as an overhead and side-scrolling action-adventure game.[6] The Game Boy version also contains the notable feature of being able to use the Game Link Cable with a system playing Xena: Warrior Princess to switch the characters in the game and unlock secret levels.[7]

Reception

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Reception of the Nintendo 64 version of Hercules was mixed. 64 praised the range of content in the game, stating "there are plenty of puzzles to crack, codes to break and people to save...you are never bored for want of something to do", and the "many different environments" in the game.[4] GameSpot assessed the game as a "moderately challenging" game and "decent adventure", praising the simple control scheme and "solid" presentation.[9]

Criticism directed towards Hercules was directed towards the derivative nature of the game, with several reviewers raising unfavorable comparisons to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Official Nintendo Magazine remarked the game was "not (ugly) but the levels are so big and empty" and "not exactly inspiring," labelling the game as a "Zelda wannabe" due to similarities in the control system and menu screens.[14] Similarly, Nintendo Power found the game to be a "pale Zelda wannabe", stating "much of the quest is bogged down with repetitive combat and uneventful exploration".[10]

The Game Boy Color version of Hercules received mixed reviews, with critics finding frustration with the execution of the gameplay. In a lukewarm review, Jem Roberts of Total Game Boy praised the "genuinely compelling" puzzles and found "loads to do" in the game, but observed the game was compromised by "stupid challenges" and an "unbelievably irritating" save system.[13] In contrast, Oliver Lan of Game Boy Xtreme dismissed the game as "monotonous" and "irritating", finding most of the gameplay involving "trudging around with nothing to do", although acknowledged the game contained an "interesting mix of gameplay styles."[7] Both reviews remarked the game was superior to the Game Boy Color counterpart Xena: Warrior Princess.

Notes

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  1. ^ Game Boy Color version developed and published by Titus Interactive in 2001.

References

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  1. ^ "Console Releases". Eurogamer.net. 2000-10-06. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. ^ I. G. N. Staff (2000-08-19). "Hercules and Blues for Rent". IGN. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  3. ^ a b Titus Interactive (2000). Hercules - The Legendary Journeys. Nintendo.
  4. ^ a b c "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". 64. No. 44. September 2000. pp. 46–49.
  5. ^ a b Mirabella, Fran (23 August 2000). "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". IGN.
  6. ^ Harris, Craig (19 May 2000). "Hercules". IGN.
  7. ^ a b c Lan, Oliver (September 2001). "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Game Boy Xtreme (3): 40.
  8. ^ House, Matthew. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Allgame. Archived from the original on 2014-11-15.
  9. ^ a b "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". GameSpot. 2000. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Nintendo Power. No. 139. December 2000. p. 154. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hercules: The Legendary Journey". Official Nintendo Magazine. No. 101. January 2001. pp. 36–40. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Pearson, Jeff. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Nintendojo. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Roberts (July 2001). "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Total Game Boy (19): 66.
  14. ^ "Hercules: The Legendary Journey". Nintendo Official Magazine (100): 36–38. January 2001.
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