Retro Games Zone

Disney's Hercules

What is Disney's Hercules?

Developed by Eurocom and released in 1997, this PlayStation action-platformer is one of my favorite film-to-game adaptations from the era. You guide Hercules through sprawling levels based on ancient Greece, beating up minions of Hades and upgrading your strength between visits to Thebes and other iconic locations.

  • Hand-Drawn Film Fidelity
    Eurocom nailed the film’s painterly, muscular art style, so swinging your sword or climbing a pillar feels lifted directly from the animation cels.
  • Philly’s Progression Path
    Starting as a clumsy farm boy, you collect experience orbs to upgrade three core stats—Strength, Speed, and Endurance—gradually unlocking heroic combos and a charged spin attack that feels supremely satisfying against hordes of Satyrs.
  • A Cast of Mythological Mayhem
    Beyond the Hydra and Cyclops boss fights, you’ll swat annoying Pyro Girls in the Underworld and navigate levels besieged by Hades’ relentless goons, all while hearing James Woods reprise his iconic role as the Lord of the Dead.
Disney's Hercules

Why choose Disney's Hercules?

I keep coming back for its tight, weighty controls that make Hercules feel genuinely powerful, a rarity in licensed games of the time. The soundtrack’s upbeat Greek-inspired melodies and the surprisingly challenging Troy stage capture that specific late-90s Disney magic better than most.

  • Polished, Deliberate Combat
    The combat isn’t just button-mashing—you need to manage your special meter for the spin attack and time your swings against agile foes like the Centaurs, which gives battles a strategic edge.
  • A Vibrant Historical Snapshot
    Playing it now is like opening a time capsule to 1997 PlayStation platformers, complete with those distinctive pre-rendered backgrounds in the Olympus stage and collectible museum artifacts that unlock concept art.
  • Consistently Engaging Pacing
    The game cleverly mixes side-scrolling brawling, wall-climbing platforming, and even chariot racing without any mode feeling like a throwaway. However, I will admit the river rafting section with the hydra teeth can test your patience.

How to play Disney's Hercules?

Hercules controls like a heavyweight champ with a surprising degree of finesse. Mastering his jump-cancelled attacks and knowing when to burn your special meter are keys to surviving the later gauntlets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Disney's Hercules