Disney's Hercules

About

In Disney's Hercules, a action-packed game based on the movie, players become Hercules and navigate through three ancient worlds, ten stages, and face numerous mythological monsters. The game features legendary gaming elements such as hidden areas, Herculade power-ups, magical weapons, and passwords for continued gameplay. Battle against the Titans, defend Thebes, and rescue Meg while showcasing your heroic abilities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 300 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminding players of their childhood experiences with the Disney movie.
Despite its age, the gameplay remains enjoyable, with fun levels and a charming art style that captures the essence of the film.
The music and sound design evoke strong feelings of nostalgia, enhancing the overall experience for fans of the original game.

The port suffers from poor graphics and sound quality, lacking any significant updates or improvements from the original release.
Controls can be frustrating, with limited options for customization and difficulty in using modern controllers.
The game is quite short, often completed in under two hours, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied for the price.

graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic throwback to the 1990s, featuring retro 2D sprites and 3D models that many players find charming despite their outdated appearance. While some reviews praise the visuals for their impressive pixel art and faithful representation of the source material, others criticize the lack of graphical improvements in this release, noting that it feels like a direct port of the original with no enhancements. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, appealing primarily to fans of retro gaming and the original Disney film.
- “The music and graphics are top notch.”
- “The graphics of the environment look pretty amazing for a game from 1997 (especially for a video game based on a movie)!”
- “Graphically, this game combines 2D sprites with 3D models that fit well, and the sprite work is very impressive for how it resembles the animation seen in the movie.”
- “The game is a crap... a total mess... they ask money for what in the past was for free... and also very bad graphics, designed for Pentium 1... I regret I paid 6 euros for this mess... do not waste your money!!!!”
- “Exact copy of the game from 1997, no improvement, sound is bad, no multi-language, no bonus, graphics have 0 upscaling feature, no effort from Disney.”
- “It's unfortunate that Disney does not put any extra effort into these older games; they could really use some modern graphics filters.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic appeal and catchy tunes, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. However, some players noted issues with audio balance, specifically that the background music is too loud, overshadowing sound effects and voice acting. Despite these drawbacks, the soundtrack is considered excellent and a significant reason for replaying the game.
- “The music and graphics are top notch.”
- “The soundtrack was also amazing, with catchy tunes that I still can't help but sing along to.”
- “The music alone provides a level of nostalgia that only Disney can provide.”
- “Some musical cues are missing; the BGM sounds lower-quality and is too loud, drowning out the sound effects and voices.”
- “As others have pointed out, the music is too loud while the in-game voice volume is too low.”
- “Also, the sound is all messed up - the music is way too loud and the character voices are too quiet, so you're barely able to hear what they're saying.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
Overall, the gameplay is well-received, blending nostalgia with solid mechanics and enjoyable platforming elements. While some players note clunky controls and frustrating levels, the game offers a fun experience with diverse enemies and visually appealing graphics that stand the test of time. It is particularly recommended for fans of the original and those seeking a casual gaming experience.
- “Nostalgia certainly added an extra flavor, but the gameplay is still very good.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's a good action platformer with plenty of collectibles hidden in the levels.”
- “With its faithful representation of the characters, challenging gameplay, and visually appealing art style, it offers an enjoyable journey through Greek mythology for fans of the film and gamers seeking a dose of nostalgia.”
- “The gameplay and controls are clunky; the depth perception is basically non-existent.”
- “A few of the levels contain frustrating gameplay (level 3 is a pain, and a few sections in later levels as well), but on the whole, the game is very fun.”
- “+ two extra gameplay styles don't overshadow the main one.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
25%
The game's story, inspired by Greek mythology and the Disney movie, offers an engaging and visually stunning experience, particularly for younger audiences. However, many users note that it is heavily abridged and disjointed, omitting key elements from the original narrative, which detracts from the overall coherence of the story.
- “As a Greek mythology enthusiast, the art and story really adds to the fun experience, even though some things are mythologically incorrect.”
- “The game had everything a kid could ask for: stunning visuals, an engaging story, and epic battles with mythical creatures.”
- “Strap on your sandals and join Hercules on his heroic quest for an action-packed and fun-filled experience.”
- “Based on the Disney movie, it's the same story told in heavily abridged form.”
- “I found the story to be disjointed, as it does not include important aspects such as the beginning of the movie and part of the ending.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences significant stability issues, including freezing on initial launch, video glitches, and improper music looping in some levels. Users have found that reinstalling the game on a different drive can resolve some launch problems, but overall performance remains inconsistent.
- “It runs at 320x240, so it's stretched. Some levels' music doesn't loop properly, and there are a few glitches in the video scenes.”
- “Game freezes when I start it for the first time.”
- “After some troubleshooting, my issue was sorted by reinstalling to another drive. I don't know why it refused to launch properly on the first drive.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players expressing that it evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and heartbreak, reminiscent of childhood experiences.
- “10/10 made me feel like I was 8 years old again.”
- “It was heart-breaking...”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game offers decent replayability through the pursuit of better ranks and collecting letters, but its short duration of 3-4 hours limits overall replay value. Players may find enjoyment in revisiting levels, though it may be more appealing to purchase on sale.
- “The game has great replay value, allowing players to achieve better ranks on levels and discover all the letters that spell out 'HERCULES'.”
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and opportunities for improvement, making it a game you can enjoy multiple times.”
- “The variety of paths and choices keeps the experience fresh, encouraging players to return for different outcomes.”
- “The game offers a good action experience with a variety of styles, but it's quite short, lasting only around 3-4 hours, and lacks significant replayability. I would recommend buying it only if it's on sale.”
- “After completing the game, I found little incentive to replay it. The lack of different endings or meaningful choices really diminishes its replay value.”
- “While the initial playthrough was enjoyable, I quickly realized that there isn't much to draw me back for a second run. The game feels more like a one-time experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor and distinct personalities of the characters significantly enhance the game's enjoyment, contributing to a more engaging and entertaining experience for players.
- “The humor and personalities of these characters added to the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The witty dialogue and hilarious situations kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
- “I love how the game cleverly incorporates humor into its storytelling, making every moment entertaining.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of the game is criticized as a quick cash grab by Disney, with minimal effort put into its presentation, suggesting a lack of value for players.
- “This game feels like a quick Disney cash grab; don't expect any fancy ports or menus. It's just a straight-up mounted CD port from the PC into an executable, left with default settings.”
- “The monetization strategy is aggressive and feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”