12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,072 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull Game Cover
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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.

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  • PC
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  • Windows
  • Android
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  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,072 reviews
gameplay42 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • The game features enjoyable new mechanics, such as puzzles and hidden collectibles, which enhance the gameplay experience.
  • It offers a casual and relaxing gameplay style, making it suitable for both kids and adults looking for a light-hearted game.
  • The achievements are generally easy to obtain, providing a sense of accomplishment without excessive difficulty.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, especially with the requirement to manually collect resources and deal with thieves.
  • Some players found the addition of beating developer scores for achievements to be frustrating and unnecessary.
  • The story is minimal and lacks depth, which may disappoint those looking for a more engaging narrative.
  • gameplay182 mentions

    The gameplay of "12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull" retains much of the original's mechanics while introducing new elements like thieves and puzzles, which some players find annoying rather than innovative. While the game offers a casual, easy-to-master experience with a decent challenge, many reviewers note that it can become repetitive and lacks significant improvements over its predecessor. Overall, it provides enjoyable, albeit simplistic, time management gameplay suitable for a relaxed gaming session.

    • “Very enjoyable gameplay, nice art, and a slew of achievements.”
    • “The second entry of the series adds a few new mechanics while retaining the same fun gameplay of the first one.”
    • “This game offers just as much enjoyment as the first, nice and simple gameplay, easy enough achievements with a 100% completion time of 9-10 hours.”
    • “The gameplay is boring in the long run; it hasn't changed from the prequel, and it won't for the sequels either.”
    • “They barely had an entertaining concept in the original, and rather than give this one a clearer sense of skill in how you interact with the mechanics, they just added annoying things, like how the resources get stolen after a couple of seconds - there's already a time limit, so having another time limit felt ridiculous.”
    • “The gameplay is fairly simple and gets boring fast but needs attention.”
  • graphics116 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally described as bright, clean, and cartoonish, appealing to a younger audience, though they lack significant innovation compared to previous installments. While some players appreciate the colorful 2.5D art style and polished HD graphics, others note that the visuals are simple and reminiscent of mobile games, with no major advancements. Overall, the graphics are considered decent and enjoyable, complementing the gameplay without being a standout feature.

    • “The '12 Labours of Hercules' series has extremely captivating resource-management games, with beautiful and enjoyable graphics, sound effects, and soundtrack.”
    • “It has cute and colorful 2.5D graphics and a lovely entertaining soundtrack (one song really sounds like Greek).”
    • “I really enjoyed this game; it has beautiful graphics, a beautiful soundtrack, and a nice story.”
    • “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.”
  • story112 mentions

    The story in "12 Labours of Hercules II: The Cretan Bull" is generally considered weak and simplistic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. Players embark on a light-hearted, linear quest involving Hercules and mythological elements, but many reviewers note that the narrative lacks depth and can feel more like an afterthought. While some find the story amusing and suitable for casual play, it is not a significant draw for those seeking a rich narrative experience.

    • “This one does, giving us a goofy Greek mythology-based story and some mythological allies.”
    • “The game is very fun; it is a time management, resource gathering game in which you play a story involving Hercules, his servants, and mythological creatures such as the Medusa, Minotaur, Cerberus, and others.”
    • “I enjoy it a bit more; the story is still small but lovely.”
    • “The story is linear, sounding like something out of a book you'd find in the children's corner of a library.”
    • “The story in this game is pretty weak and not the central driving force, nor did I find it as interesting as the story in the first title.”
    • “There’s no real story and it’s not important here as these types of games are just meant for some fun and not skill; something you can play and not really have to think, you just click things and win!”
  • music110 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as cute, relaxing, and suitable for a casual gaming experience, with many reviewers praising its endearing quality and ability to enhance gameplay. However, some players noted that the soundtrack is repetitive and largely recycled from the previous installment, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. While the music is often highlighted as a strong point, it may not be enough to elevate the game for those seeking variety.

    • “The music is just as good as the first game and plays nicely in the background.”
    • “The soundtrack itself was amazing, great songs, some I would like to listen to even out of the game.”
    • “The music is so lovely and relaxing and for the sales price of around $0.50, I guess, I clearly recommend it.”
    • “The music of the game is repetitive, sadly.”
    • “They even recycled the music and some of the levels seem awfully familiar as well.”
    • “The story is incredibly bareboned and the musical score is pretty forgettable (I turned it off after a few levels).”
  • replayability26 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players enjoying the challenges and time-based scoring that encourage repeated play, while others find it lacking after completing the main objectives. Features like collectibles and various gameplay elements add to its replay value, but many users report a decline in interest over time, leading to an overall average to low rating for replayability.

    • “The fact that it has challenges just adds to the replayability value.”
    • “They added thieves, obelisks, puzzle pieces, and birds to hunt, all with the intention of replayability.”
    • “Handling the large variety of timing choices will give you lots of replayability!”
    • “Little replay value since I grew bored with the gameplay - however, I was challenged beating the developer's times, and that was entertaining enough.”
    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
    • “It's a great deal if you buy it cheap (there is no replay value after you've beaten it 100%).”
  • humor20 mentions

    The game is praised for its lighthearted humor, with players finding it consistently funny, particularly in the quirky portrayal of Hercules waiting to be assigned tasks. While the plot is minimal, the humor adds charm and enjoyment, making it a relaxing experience reminiscent of childhood gaming. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, though some feel the puzzle mechanics could be improved.

    • “The funny part is that now Hercules doesn't sleep anymore, but he's rather waiting there until you can send him to work, like moving rocks for the most part.”
    • “Their isn't much plot, but the game does have a good sense of humor.”
    • “Very funny; I played this type of game when I was a child, and I will play now when I need to relax :)”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and burdensome, particularly in the later stages where resource accumulation becomes a slow and repetitive task. While the initial gameplay offers some mindless enjoyment, many reviewers express disappointment as the fun diminishes, leading to a sense of obligation to grind for achievements. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it feel elongated and less engaging.

    • “The sequel forsakes enjoyable mechanics for tedious clicking, transforming once-fun elements into burdens.”
    • “Honestly, for the first three-quarters 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.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game experiences stability issues, particularly with a half-minute freeze at launch and occasional bugs during the queueing process. However, it is generally considered bug-free and polished, providing a competent gaming experience overall.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game still freezes for half a minute at launch.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, receiving perfect scores for performance due to its smooth gameplay and well-crafted design. Players find it addictive and appreciate the strategic element of optimizing their approach to each level, enhancing their overall experience.

    • “As with the first 12 Labours of Hercules game, the game is well crafted and runs smoothly and finely.”
    • “This game runs smoothly, it's surprisingly really addictive, and the level design isn't repetitive.”
    • “I got the most out of my experience when I decided to strategize before each level and optimized my pathing.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game primarily relies on intrusive advertisements, often promoting rewards for other games, while users have noted the absence of microtransactions. This approach has drawn criticism for its reliance on ad-based revenue, reminiscent of previous titles in the genre.

    • “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 ^_^”
    • “I haven't seen any microtransactions yet either!”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently rated at 7.5/10, with reviewers noting that it effectively mirrors the game's intended ambiance, creating an immersive experience for players.

    • “However, what they do is mirror the atmosphere within the game perfectly.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users find the emotional experience of the game to be less intense and draining compared to the stress of potentially losing rank in competitive matches of CS:GO.

  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its charming and cute designs, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the peaceful atmosphere that enhances their connection to the characters.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

7hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
4-14hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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