12 Labours of Hercules
- March 23, 2015
- Zoom Out Games
- 7h median play time
In 12 Labours of Hercules, join Hercules on a mission to rescue his wife from Hades. Travel through Ancient Greece, conquering beasts, reconstructing roads, and building wonders in this time management game. Enjoy stunning HD graphics, action-packed mini-games, and the inclusion of a flying horse .
Reviews
- Charming graphics and engaging soundtrack that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Fun and addictive time-management mechanics that keep players engaged.
- Easy to achieve all achievements, making it a satisfying experience for completionists.
- Gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, lacking variety in tasks.
- Some levels may feel overly easy, especially on casual difficulty.
- The story is shallow and not very engaging, with Hercules often portrayed as lazy.
- gameplay147 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "12 Labors of Hercules" is characterized by its engaging yet straightforward mechanics, which gradually increase in difficulty, providing a challenging experience for players. However, many users note that the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time, with a lack of innovation and variety in objectives. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its polished design, charming graphics, and the ability to offer a casual yet addictive experience, making it suitable for both casual gamers and fans of time management genres.
“The gameplay in '12 Labors of Hercules' is engaging and challenging, with its polished mechanics making it easy to jump in and start playing without feeling overwhelmed.”
“With its gripping gameplay, visually stunning environments, and a touch of mythological charm, it offers an engaging experience for those intrigued by the legends of Hercules.”
“The core gameplay is simple with 40 levels of enjoyment, and while it may not offer much in the way of innovation, its polished gameplay and charming graphics make it a fun and enjoyable experience.”
“The challenge comes mostly from optimizing your time rather than encountering new mechanics.”
“After a few hours, you might find yourself wishing for more varied objectives or additional mechanics to spice things up.”
“The gameplay is practically the same on each level and you will have to beat a level within a time limit.”
- graphics116 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are consistently praised for their bright, colorful, and cartoonish style, which enhances the overall charm and appeal for players of all ages. While not groundbreaking, the visuals are well-executed and contribute positively to the casual gameplay experience, making it an enjoyable option for fans of the genre. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, with many reviewers highlighting their quality and aesthetic appeal.
“The combination of strategic planning, engaging storytelling, and charming visuals make it an enjoyable experience for players of all ages.”
“While it may not offer much in the way of innovation, its polished gameplay and charming graphics make it a fun and enjoyable experience.”
“The graphics are pleasant and colorful, they will grab your attention and keep it.”
“The real failure here are the 3D graphics.”
“I personally don't like the art style.”
“Sad actually, since the graphics and scenes between levels are really cute and would deserve a better game.”
- story114 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "12 Labours of Hercules" is a lighthearted and whimsical take on Greek mythology, where players assist Hercules in rescuing his wife from Hades by completing various tasks. While the narrative is simple and often criticized for its lack of depth and accuracy to the original myths, it provides a charming backdrop for the gameplay, which focuses on time management and resource allocation. Overall, the story serves more as a framework for the game's mechanics rather than a compelling narrative, appealing primarily to fans of casual gaming and mythology enthusiasts.
“The combination of strategic planning, engaging storytelling, and charming visuals makes it an enjoyable experience for players of all ages.”
“"12 Labors of Hercules" seamlessly blends storytelling with gameplay, immersing players in the mythical world of Hercules as they tackle tasks from capturing the Erymanthian Boar to cleaning the Augean Stables.”
“The story really is an excuse to give the world a setting, but if you like the story of Hercules, then you must play this game, just for the fun.”
“Also, it really butchered Hercules's story.”
“The story is very shallow, being played out over 40 levels.”
“The storyline borrows a lot from the ancient mythology of Hercules, but overall I'd say that the storyline isn't very interesting to follow.”
- music78 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its pleasant, catchy, and thematically appropriate nature that enhances the overall experience. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, leading to a preference for muting it during gameplay. Overall, the music complements the game's visuals and atmosphere, making it a suitable backdrop for casual play.
“The soundtrack is pleasant and fits the mythological theme without becoming repetitive.”
“The background music and sound effects enhance the immersive experience, bringing the mythical world of Hercules to life.”
“Musically, the soundtrack is a joy featuring plenty of classically inspired themes that are quite impressive for a casual title.”
“They also couldn't be bothered to get their own music, using public domain ones only.”
“The music is a bit repetitive and nothing special, but it didn't annoy me.”
“The music also didn't grab my attention: I've listened to it for a while, but I quickly grew bored of it.”
- humor28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its lighthearted and quirky elements, such as amusing tasks and sound effects. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with engaging gameplay, making it a fun and entertaining experience. While some feel that the humor could be more developed, overall, it contributes positively to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“More could have been done with the mythological characters, as (for example) the role of Medusa here appears hilariously to revolve entirely around headbutting minotaurs.”
“Funny, entertaining, just the right level of easy, casual and simply awesome.”
“Collecting food/supplies to continue their journey through 40 simple but quite funny levels, this game will give you hours of entertainment (also a great game for achievement collectors).”
- replayability13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the multiple objectives and the challenge of achieving gold stars, many others find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in incentive to replay. The consensus leans towards low replay value, with several users expressing boredom after completing the game.
“Replayability: with multiple objectives in each level, including the elusive gold stars, there’s plenty of incentive to replay and improve your performance.”
“Plus it has some replayability after beating the game as it's pretty hard to get gold on all levels.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“Easy, short, pretty much no replayability.”
“Little replay value since I grew bored with the gameplay - and the other games are much identical in gameplay and tasks.”
“The shortness and low replay value is reason enough to vote no.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for including ads despite being a paid title, which many players find unacceptable. Users express frustration over the presence of advertisements in a game they have already purchased, feeling it detracts from the overall experience.
“It's not a fun game, and it contains ads (it's a paid game).”
“It is cheap, but since it does cost money, advertising inside of it is inexcusable.”
“The gameplay isn't terrible, but I don't think any ads belong in a paid game.”
- stability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with minimal bugs or glitches reported, providing a smooth experience for most players. However, some users have noted issues with specific achievements being buggy, and those using multiple monitors may need to adjust their settings for optimal performance.
“Runs great on Linux (Mint 18.3), but if you have multiple monitors, you'll want to leave it windowed.”
“The last two achievements are extremely buggy - you may or may not get them.”
“No game freezes, or unexpected quitting.”
“Bugs and glitches: during my time playing the game, I did not encounter any major bugs or glitches.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles and mini-games feeling similar and easy to complete. While some enjoy the straightforward resource management and find the game entertaining, others caution against binge-playing, as it can lead to a monotonous experience. However, the game is generally perceived as accessible, allowing for completion without extensive grinding.
“As an adult, it's a little tedious and the puzzles are pretty much all the same.”
“If you decide to give this game a try, I only advise you to take it easy, as binging can turn your experience into something really tedious.”
“Mini-games are tedious and feel out of place but they're easy, so... meh.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized, running smoothly without any glitches or bugs, which reflects the developers' commitment to quality. Its design encourages replayability through multiple objectives, making it an effective micromanagement simulator for short play sessions.
“With multiple objectives in each level, including the elusive gold stars, there's plenty of incentive to replay and improve your performance.”
“Good micromanagement optimization simulator for small chunks of time.”
“The game runs smoothly and without issue, which is a testament to the developer's attention to detail and commitment to quality.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its cute and well-drawn 2.5D graphics, creating a relaxing and peaceful environment. Players appreciate the charming visuals and soothing music, which contribute to a positive and enjoyable experience, making it suitable for all ages. Despite some strategic elements in later levels, the overall vibe remains light-hearted and stress-free.
“The game has a nice relaxing atmosphere, but there is some strategy and planning required in the later levels. Restarting is easy and doesn't feel too punishing.”
“Really nice and peaceful game with a lovely atmosphere, nice music, and a positive message that I really liked. It's very good for relaxing.”
“It's a cute time-waster for any age. The atmosphere of the game is really charming, and the environments are well drawn with cute 2.5D graphics, maybe even 3D.”
“The atmosphere of the game is really cute, but it feels a bit shallow and lacks depth.”
“While the environments are well drawn, they don't evoke much emotion or immersion.”
“The game has a charming aesthetic, but the overall atmosphere feels more like a distraction than an engaging experience.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in "12 Labours of Hercules" is minimal, with the titular character lacking depth and personality despite being a recognizable figure. While the character designs and animations are praised, they do not compensate for the absence of meaningful growth or complexity in the characters.
“The depth of character development really enhances the overall storytelling experience.”
“While Hercules is a well-known and recognizable character, there isn't much in the way of character development or personality in 12 Labours of Hercules.”
“The character designs are well done, as are the in-game animations.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, with some feeling unexpectedly moved to tears despite initial skepticism. The gameplay, which involves performing menial tasks for a character like Hercules, adds to the emotional complexity, highlighting a sense of frustration and absurdity.
“Oh man, oh man, the last time I spent money on a game like this, I wasn't even hyped, but I cried because the game was so emotionally impactful.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in, making me feel connected to their struggles and triumphs.”
“I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it resonated with me on a personal level and left a lasting impression.”