Retro game review: Hand-drawn art in Herc's Adventure still scores

Considered one of PlayStation 1’s best releases, the 1997 game has three playable characters and lots of great humour

Herc's Adventures was released in 1997 on the PlayStation 1 and Sega Saturn. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Gaming studio LucasArts started in 1979 when filmmaker George Lucas, creator of the Star Wars series, wanted to explore other areas of entertainment. The studio tried its hand at multiple disciplines, including a computer graphics department that would eventually break off and become Pixar Studios.

The studio began making video games by the mid-1980s, hitting its stride with titles such as The Secret of Monkey Island and Sam & Max Hit the Road. And while the studio was primarily known for its Star Wars video game output, its original games have become a hallmark of its quality.

One such game is Herc’s Adventure, released in 1997 on the Sega Saturn and the PlayStation 1. The action-adventure game has three playable characters and a multiplayer option, so players don’t have to go at it alone.

Herc’s Adventure has become a cult favourite over years with gamers remembering it as part of the PlayStation 1’s best releases. But what it’s like playing the game today, and is it worth your time?

Mythical banter

In Herc's Adventures, characters can utilise their surroundings to vanquish enemies. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment

When starting a new game, players can choose a character from Hercules, Atlanta and Jason to lead their adventure. Each character has a different main weapon and varying health and stamina bars.

The object of the game is to traverse the map, beating opponents, known as bosses, along the way and ending with an encounter with Hades in the underworld. From the first area, which doubles as a training zone to get used to the controls and inventory, it becomes instantly clear that the experience will be quite humorous.

The art style of the characters and how they move and react to things is silly, while the jokes and quips dealt by the enemies ridicule the main characters. There are no levels per se as the game operates in an open map, but players need to overcome bosses to keep going.

The game keeps throwing manageable enemies at the players, keeping players engaged between boss fights. These range from manic witches to skeletons of the undead. To aid the characters in their quest, there are weapons alongside the main weapon. The most accessible of these is arrows to throw but there is also the option to pick up eagles that are dispatches to annoy and hurt the enemies.

Variety within familiarity

The art style in Herc's Adventures is distinct and somewhat rare in today's gaming world. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Herc’s Adventure is a special game because playing it reminds you of other games, with the traversal resembling early Legend of Zelda games while the constant enemy fighting is like Streets of Rage. Despite the clear inspirations, the game is quite a singular experience.

The game keeps things interesting with different locales and bosses that require a mixture of playing styles to overcome. Some will be bested with a straightforward strategy of “keep hitting till they fall”, while other require a strategic approach of constant movement.

The stage bosses represent different aspect of Greek mythology, making it something of an educational experience to kids interested in learning history while they bash skulls.

Verdict

Herc’s Adventure is something of a special intersection. Most of LucasArts’s output for the PlayStation 1 was Star Wars games, making this game an outlier. It utilises an art style that the studio became known for, but mostly used in point and click games.

It’s also fun to play a game that isn’t completely computer generated, using hand drawn art instead, making it feel like you’re playing through a cartoon series rather than a video game. Even in the modern gaming world of high fidelity true-to-life gaming, hand drawn art games are few and far between and should be appreciated.