12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull

About

In "12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull," players help Hercules tame the great bull wreaking havoc in Crete, while meeting gods, fighting beasts, and building wonders. The game features stunning HD graphics, new wonders to unlock, and extra bonus levels. This is a fun and engaging sequel that will appeal to fans of the first game and newcomers alike.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 708 reviews

gameplay29 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game offers a relaxing and casual gameplay experience, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
New mechanics, such as hidden puzzle pieces and the introduction of thieves, add variety and challenge to the gameplay.
The graphics are colorful and appealing, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the game.

The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks significant depth, making it less engaging over time.
Some players found the requirement to collect resources manually tedious compared to the automatic collection in the first game.
The story is minimal and not particularly compelling, which may disappoint those looking for a narrative-driven experience.

gameplay
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The gameplay of "12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull" is largely similar to its predecessor, featuring straightforward time management mechanics that involve resource collection and obstacle removal. While some new elements, such as resource thieves and additional challenges, have been introduced, many players find these changes to be more annoying than innovative, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game is accessible and enjoyable for casual players, but may lack depth for those seeking a more strategic challenge.
- “Very enjoyable gameplay, nice art, and a slew of achievements.”
- “The sequel of 12 labours of hercules brings more levels, increased challenge, and additional game mechanics to this enjoyable time management game.”
- “It's a fun casual family-friendly game that offers hours of fun gameplay.”
- “The heroic ambiance is lost in flashy levels, plagued by inconsistent mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is boring in the long run; it hasn't changed from the prequel, and it won't for the sequels either.”
- “They introduced new mechanics that are stupid and annoying, like thieves.”
story
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The story in the game is generally considered weak and simplistic, often serving as a mere backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus. While it incorporates elements of Greek mythology and features a light, comedic narrative, many players find it confusing or lacking in depth, with some describing it as linear and forgettable. Overall, the game is more appreciated for its gameplay mechanics and visuals than for its storytelling.
- “The story is connected with the Cretan bull, providing a light and amusing narrative as you accompany Hercules on his quests.”
- “I really enjoyed this game; it has beautiful graphics, a beautiful soundtrack, and a nice story.”
- “Journey alongside Hercules on a quest after his Cretan bull, while constructing your way effectively level after level.”
- “The story can be confusing.”
- “Moreover, the story seems to be all over the place.”
- “The story is incredibly bareboned and the musical score is pretty forgettable.”
graphics
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The graphics in the game are generally described as cute, colorful, and cartoonish, with a consistent comic art style that appeals to a wide audience. While some reviews note that the visuals are not groundbreaking and reflect the game's mobile origins, they are still considered pleasant and enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience. The improvements from previous installments include polished HD graphics and new character designs, although the core aesthetic remains similar.
- “It has cute and colorful 2.5D graphics and a lovely entertaining soundtrack.”
- “The artwork from the game is greatly satisfying as it's friendly for all ages.”
- “Bright and colorful artwork with the same music from the previous game.”
- “Despite passable graphics, the game's mobile roots show.”
- “The graphics are exactly the same as the previous one with no apparent advance or additional investment from the artist.”
- “Otherwise the gameplay has not changed remarkably and the graphics quality is still the same.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The music in the game is generally described as cute, relaxing, and enjoyable, with many reviewers appreciating its entertaining quality and suitability for a casual gaming experience. However, some players noted that the soundtrack is repetitive and largely recycled from the previous installment, leading to a sense of monotony over extended play. Overall, while the music enhances the game's charm, its lack of variety may detract from long-term enjoyment.
- “The music is just as good as the first game and plays nicely in the background.”
- “Absolutely great soundtrack, easily the best thing about this game.”
- “The music is so lovely and relaxing, and for the sales price of around $0.50, I clearly recommend it.”
- “The music of the game is repetitive, sadly.”
- “The graphics and music are pretty much the same from the first game, the only change being the narrator is female.”
- “The story is incredibly bareboned and the musical score is pretty forgettable (I turned it off after a few levels).”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it highly engaging due to challenges and the pursuit of high scores, while others feel it lacks significant replay value after initial completion. Features like expert modes and collectible hunts enhance replayability for some, but many users report growing bored with the gameplay, leading to a general consensus of low to medium replay value overall.
- “The fact that it has challenges just adds to the replayability value.”
- “Of these, the expert mode can be quite challenging, especially if you want to beat the developer high score, thus greatly increasing the replay value of the levels.”
- “They added thieves, obelisks, puzzle pieces, and birds to hunt, all with the intention of replayability.”
- “Doesn't have replay value.”
- “This game has virtually no replayability outside of leaderboards.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its humor, described as light-hearted and amusing, with a silly take on Greek mythology. Players find the gameplay and story entertaining, often highlighting the absurdity of the tasks and the comedic elements that make it enjoyable and relaxing. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
- “It's an easy to play, funny little game.”
- “The Greek mythology-lite story is pretty dumb, and clearing the levels is hilariously and mockably easy.”
- “Their isn't much plot, but the game does have a good sense of humor.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the mindless fun and challenges early on, many feel that it becomes tedious and elongated in the later stages, requiring repetitive actions to achieve objectives. The need for multiple replays and resource gathering can lead to frustration, with some players ultimately giving up due to the grind.
- “Contrary to appearances, the game is not tedious and boring if we play at a slightly higher level.”
- “The sequel forsakes enjoyable mechanics for tedious clicking, transforming once-fun elements into burdens.”
- “Honestly for the first 3/4 of the game it was some mindless fun and a nice way to pass some time, but the last quarter becomes a bit tedious and elongated as you slowly wait for your resources to trickle in and pool enough to complete the objectives.”
- “About 10-15 hours of gameplay after which you're likely just grinding to get the last achievement.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game is highly praised for its optimization, with users noting its smooth performance and well-crafted design. Players appreciate the strategic elements that enhance their experience, making it particularly appealing for those who enjoy optimizing their gameplay. Overall, it receives a perfect score for performance, indicating exceptional optimization.
- “Good for optimization freaks.”
- “Performance 10.0/10”
- “I got the most out of my experience when I decided to strategize before each level and optimized my pathing.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game experiences occasional freezing at launch and some bugs during the queueing process, but overall, it is considered stable and bug-free. Players appreciate its polished presentation and engaging gameplay, despite the minor stability issues.
- “Bug free, as far as I could tell.”
- “It's competent, bug free, polished, with cute art, entertaining heroic music, decent level design, and a bit of strategy and challenge if you're trying to get all the time-related trophies.”
- “Again, the game still freezes for half a minute at launch.”
- “The queueing process is sometimes buggy, but I like this kind of game to spend extra casual time.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its intrusive advertising, which resembles typical mobile game promotions, while players have noted the absence of microtransactions. Overall, the experience feels similar to previous titles in the genre, leading to frustration among users.
- “I haven't seen any microtransactions yet either!”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization is optional and doesn't affect gameplay.”
- “Again, there's advertising on the menu, and it's blatant fear-of-missing-out rubbish like 'get your reward' for some other game.”
- “Same cow clicker as the last one but now with ads -_- thank jebus for steam refunds ^_^”
- “Kinda like some of those mobile game ads.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotions, with players reporting a deeply moving experience that can lead to tears, highlighting its impactful storytelling and character interactions. While it may not be as intense as the stress of competitive gaming, it still resonates powerfully with players, making it a memorable emotional journey.
- “Made me cry all the way through, not for the faint of heart.”
- “Basically, you direct a few actors, minions, or characters from Greek mythology to get rid of each level's obstacles, ultimately touching often multiple 'goal posts'.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere of the game is well-executed, effectively mirroring the in-game environment, and is generally rated positively at 7.5/10.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
- “The sound design and visuals work together to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that keeps you engaged throughout the experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is praised for its charming and cute designs, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable experience for players.
- “The character designs are incredibly cute, and I found the overall experience to be very relaxing and enjoyable.”
- “The depth of character development really adds to the immersive experience of the game.”
- “I love how each character evolves throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”